[Kizzy]

Essentially yes, having said that it would be interesting to see the list of patients and causes of death before committing myself fully.
If it was due to a young person with a life limiting condition and a 98yr old with associated age related degeneration then there's a difference imo.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Whilst I understand all you are saying, I also understand why the parents made that choice, their main worry will be what will happen to her when they die, if she is unable to make a choice then they have to make this difficult choice for her, it's easy to stand on the outside and make choices, it's quite different to be emotionally involved especially when it is your child

I think the one thing any parent with a severely disabled child has to face up to is, what's going to happen to them when I'm no longer here?. In my cousins case, she doesn't live with them but is housed in a Mencap bungalow and cared for by support workers including her own key worker who is clearly very close to her.

I appreciate everyone isn't as lucky as her. There are still institution type environments for people with her sort of condition and that's the last place a caring parent would want their child to end up.

It has to be a decision reached on a case by case basis but always in the interest of the patient.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Essentially yes, having said that it would be interesting to see the list of patients and causes of death before committing myself fully.
If it was due to a young person with a life limiting condition and a 98yr old with associated age related degeneration then there's a difference imo.

Except if it was your relative I'm guessing you'd feel differently. Old people are not worthless and doctors are not Gods. If they can help someone they are duty bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do so.

People make the mistake of thinking that all medical staff are caring angels. I think the Liverpool Pathway put paid to that idea. And deciding who should die is not a decision anyone can make.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

Except if it was your relative I'm guessing you'd feel differently. Old people are not worthless and doctors are not Gods. If they can help someone they are duty bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do so.

People make the mistake of thinking that all medical staff are caring angels. I think the Liverpool Pathway put paid to that idea. And deciding who should die is not a decision anyone can make.

How do you know I haven't?...

Who suggested anyone was worthless? Personally I'd say there comes a point where nothing else can be done, and at that point then DNR be applied.
That said there should be a greater degree of openness surrounding the use of DNR.

[AnnieK]

When my mum was ill they discussed DNR with her alone and as she was quite poorly by that time she really didn't understand it. I wished they had waited for my dad to get there as it caused her quite a bit of distress. She had already refused treatment as her diagnosis was still terminal so I don't think they should have discussed it with her on her own but waited for my dad to get there.