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All questions are from the
patient's perspective.. |
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How will I
make sure the doctors and nurses understand what I want?
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How will I
make sure I do not suffer?
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How will I
make sure I get the support of my family and friends?
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How long do I
want to stay in the hospital?
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What am I most
afraid of and how will I get help to reduce this fear?
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How will I get
other opinions on what should be done for my condition?
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Following are questions to be shared with patient
only if appropriate for the patient's situation.
General Questions
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How important
are independence and self-sufficiency in my life?
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What kind of
living environment is important to me if I become seriously ill or
disabled?
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How do I
imagine handling severe illness, disability, dying and death?
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How do my
personal relationships affect my decisions about treatment options?
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How do my
financial considerations affect my decisions about treatment
options?
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How do my
religious beliefs affect my decisions about treatment options?
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If my heart
stops beating or I stop breathing, do I want to be resuscitated?
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If I end up on
life support, how long do I want to stay on it?
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If I should
die, am I ready? Is my family ready?
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Specific Questions with Commentary
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What
options do I have?
You have several choices. You can continue with the curative
approach, meaning you have a condition which is curable or from
which you can recover. If your condition is not curable, recovery is
not possible or you simply do not wish to be treated with curative
care, then you can choose comfort care. Comfort care is designed to
help you be as comfortable as possible. Testing or other procedures
that do not help you remain comfortable are eliminated.
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If I choose
not have curative treatment, will the doctors and nurses treat me
differently?
There should be no change in their attitude towards you. Their goal
is to help you achieve your desired wishes.
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Can I go
home?
Of course. If at all possible, this is often a good choice. Ask your
doctor or nurse if this is an option for you.
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Can CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) save my life?
Sometimes. Unfortunately, most people who's heart stops beating will
die regardless of what the doctors and nurses do.
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Should I
have CPR if my heart stops?
It depends. Since most people die if their heart stops beating, it
is important to talk to your doctor. You may be one of the few who
would benefit from CPR.
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What else
can be done if my heart stops?
Defibrillation (shocking the heart with electricity) is better at
restarting hearts than CPR. CPR only buys time until defibrillation
takes place or your doctor finds what caused your heart to stop
beating. For defibrillation to work, it needs to be done very
quickly, within five minutes.
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What does
it mean if the doctor asks "Do you want everything done?"
The doctor wants to know if you want life support measures, such as
breathing machines, CPR, and defibrillation. You may want to
postpone this decision until after more detailed discussions with
your doctor and loved ones. Try to understand and envision what your
life would be like after these measures were provided.
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How long
might I be kept alive on life support?
That is not something we can predict. Depending on many factors, it
could be from hours to years. Life support measures partially
replace the body's vital functions - they do not cure anything. If
life support provides you with a chance of recovery or lifestyle you
can accept, you may want to consider it.
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Questions for the Patient
