http://doctorfisher.com/2009/08/the-document-that-is-more-important-than-a-living-will/ Health News and Advice from a Family Physician Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:06:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://doctorfisher.com/2009/08/the-document-that-is-more-important-than-a-living-will/comment-page-1/#comment-36 hospicephysician Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:03:44 +0000 http://drdave.socialmediawisdom.com/?p=32#comment-36 I agree 100%! I tell my patients and families over and over that choosing a health care proxy is very important and should not be taken lightly. It really should be someone that knows you well and has had an open discussion about your wishes. As palliative care physicians we know that every scenario cannot be accounted for in the advanced directive, but a trusted Health Care Proxy can help the physician understand what was important to that patient, what quality of life means to that person etc. Also, guilt is a HUGE issue if the health care proxy was named casually, never discussed end of life issues with the patient and now faces difficult decisions. Also, patients put too much confidence in their physicians. They have a false belief that the physician will assess the situation and make the best decision for them during these difficult times. TRUST ME, physicians don't want to touch this with a 10 foot pole and I've heard them say over and over that they don't want to make decisions about life and death for patients. Anyway, I could go on and on, great post. I agree 100%! I tell my patients and families over and over that choosing a health care proxy is very important and should not be taken lightly. It really should be someone that knows you well and has had an open discussion about your wishes. As palliative care physicians we know that every scenario cannot be accounted for in the advanced directive, but a trusted Health Care Proxy can help the physician understand what was important to that patient, what quality of life means to that person etc. Also, guilt is a HUGE issue if the health care proxy was named casually, never discussed end of life issues with the patient and now faces difficult decisions. Also, patients put too much confidence in their physicians. They have a false belief that the physician will assess the situation and make the best decision for them during these difficult times. TRUST ME, physicians don't want to touch this with a 10 foot pole and I've heard them say over and over that they don't want to make decisions about life and death for patients. Anyway, I could go on and on, great post.

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