Whiff
If you have seen a dead person then you know what death looks like and its not pretty . I have watched 3 people die and seen 2 dead bodies hours after they died.
Once dead unless they do CPR then you are gone. Even with CPR there is no guarantee you will live.
Best friend did CPR on her husband until the paramedics arrived and they worked on him for 20 mins . She lost track how many shocks they gave him. But she knew he was dead even when she did CPR.
To be honest when I died that's it no CPR. Those that have loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer's know that they die long before their bodies . It's quality of life not quantity that's important.
So why worry about whether or not you are dead. If worried then leave instructions that they stick a big needle or scalpel into your arm.
Yes, and it isn't a pleasant sight, especially when it is your own daughter you find who had been dead for maybe 12 hours.
I've also been with many people as they died and that isn't as bad, assuming they've been kept pain free etc.
There now seems to be a growing amount of talk about DNR orders, and that they are being placed on people without consent, in many hospitals in the UK. A lot of people are saying it is happening to those over 60, which is a terrifying thought. Many others are saying that they have been harassed into signing one for themselves or their loved ones.
However, I do think people are confused about what exactly a Do Not Resuscitate order is, so I hope this can be of some use. It doesn't mean that you'll be refused life sustaining treatment, eg anti-biotics, it's only that you won't be resuscitated should you die of a cardiac arrest. BUT DNR is not a suitable thing for anyone elderly - my SIL recently had to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on a lady in her 90's who'd had a heart attack as she & her family insisted that she be resuscitated should it happen. As you age your bones become more brittle and many people suffer from osteoporosis. Being pummelled in the chest at any age can break ribs, but in this lady over 90, it caused her to be FLAT when they had finished, obviously not bringing her back to life. The staff were devastated, but had to do it.
I also performed CPR on a 39 year old neighbour and friend when I was 8 months pregnant. I worked on him for 30 mins as the ambulance couldn't find where we were - new housing estate and the road sign was placed just around the corner were they couldn't see it from the road. After I called the council the following morning it was moved by teatime! I didn't get him back, and neither did the paramedics when they finally found us. It was awful and I doubted my practice, but they said had they been stood by him with the de-fib, they still wouldn't have been able to bring him back. My GP who arrived to certify the death was rather cross with me, but my husband was useless and his wife had no idea - how could I not have done it for a friend ...?
I believe that my dreadfully stressful pregnancy (my dad died when I was 7 months pregnant, and I drove from Scotland to S Yorkshire every 2 weeks for 2 days during the whole time) and took my finals at 5 months pregnant) had a devastating effect on my daughter, who screamed with colic after she was born (Unplanned caesarean) for 17 months. I am sure that all that had an impact on her developing a serious psychiatric disorder culminating in her death. Sorry I've gone off track, but it helps me to write about it ...
