'While we are social distancing in our homes, it’s time to have that conversation that most of us have avoided ― or didn’t even know we needed to have.'
During my last several night shifts, I continued talking to patients about advance directives. “Do you want to be resuscitated including being on a ventilator, having electric shock applied to your chest and chest compressions that can break your ribs?” I asked. “Would you want a feeding tube?” “If you were unable to make medical decisions, who do you want to make those decisions for you?”
“I don’t know what he would want ― making this decision for him is too stressful,” the sister of one 37-year-old patient said tearfully. This patient didn’t have advance directives in place. His sister now had the emotional burden of deciding his care. She too was fighting COVID-19 but from home. Her brother was on a ventilator, unable to communicate. To say it’s an overwhelming situation to be in is an understatement.
Recently, for the first time, I picked an advocate for myself, thought about my resuscitation wishes and even considered my own funeral. It wasn’t easy but it was important ― both for my own good and for the emotional well-being of my family.
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