LPA Health and Welfare - what to advise my attorneys?

My mother-in-law has given us strong "do not resuscitate" instructions and lodged this with her GP.

Unfortunately, unless you tattoo this on your chest I think you can't always stop it in an emergency.

I would simply tell your adult children what you have told us,

- I don't want treatment if it isn't likely to improve my life.
- I don't want treatment if it is just prolonging my life.

You don't have to write this on your LPA if you talk about it with your attorneys.
Those pages can be left blank.

I realise you wanted scenarios but my children know me and I trust them to find a way through.... you can't cover everything but you can at least talk about what you are thinking.

NotSpaghetti I did hear of a lady who did have a tattoo on her chest DNR and on her back PTO!

Even if you don't decide to put your wishes in writing this NHS information is useful reading with links to various other resources.

Advance decision (living will) - NHS share.google/rBXlrZZog8CPe84aY
If you do have a DNAR, Advanced Statement or the like ensure it is easily accessible and whoever may need to access it knows where it is.

My children are (I trust) very clear about my thoughts on death and the pointless prolonging of life!

Nevertheless, I found myself in a terrifying position a couple of years ago when a close relative had a catastrophic brain haemorrhage. Although an emergency scan showed massive irretrievable damage she was rushed to the theatre for surgery to relieve pressure on her brain because she was still living.

The doctors had to follow protocol to ensure that they could not be prosecuted for failing to take action and a relatives opinion that it was against her wishes could not be accepted, for obvious reasons.

Actually it all happened so quickly that I’m not sure I could have invoked a written statement in a LPA immediately but afterwards it would have helped.

Thankfully she died after surgery. The terrifying bit was the way that the system is geared to saving life as the priority, and that I knew I would have to be the one to act for her if she had survived.

I’ve put in writing in my LPA that I am not to receive life-prolonging treatment if I am in a condition where I am unable to make that decision for myself.

That is, I think, how many of us feel, Lathyrus but often the "saving life" happens in an emergency.

I think we can't cover every base to be honest.

You need to carry a DNAR on you in the event you (or someone) may need it quickly. I know people who have it pinned by their front door (they are housebound)) so in the event of an ambulance it is right in front of them and if taken to hospital goes with them.

Message in a Bottle from the Lions is good to have at home but, of course these things don't always happen at home.

lionsmessageinabottle.co.uk/

Link to Lions Message in a bottle

You Need to tell your Gp so it can go on your records. Tell your children you want a DNR.
If you have a care package make sure there is a copy, I would tape it to the front, tbh.
I don’t see the point of trying to bring someone round who has dementia, or a terminal illness.

OldFrill

You need to carry a DNAR on you in the event you (or someone) may need it quickly. I know people who have it pinned by their front door (they are housebound)) so in the event of an ambulance it is right in front of them and if taken to hospital goes with them.

Good idea

Mt61

You Need to tell your Gp so it can go on your records. Tell your children you want a DNR.
If you have a care package make sure there is a copy, I would tape it to the front, tbh.
I don’t see the point of trying to bring someone round who has dementia, or a terminal illness.

No good added to your will

The LPA is not the same as a DNR though.

I have written nothing specific on my LPA.. I plan to talk to my attorneys. I am not sure it is possible to cover every possible scenario.

I know a lady whose husband died suddenly and she was so shocked and devastated she took an overdose and pinned a note to her jumper saying Do Not Resuscitate.

She was found and paramedics did resuscitate her and she is still with us.

Not saying it’s right or wrong, just saying.

They’d have to resuscitate. I mean somebody else could have pinned the note there🤔

I am finding this discussion a bit triggering.

My mother always said she did not want to be resuscitated but never did anything about it officially. She had a sudden out of hospital arrest and was successfully resuscitated then admitted to hospital.

I was able to travel down and be with her before she had a second arrest which she did not survive. Those extra couple of days she had enabled me to see her alive one last time.

Although this was well over 30 years ago I still get emotional about it.

IN addition to your LPA, you need to write an Advance Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) specifying your accepted and refused medical treatments and procedures. Signed dated and witnessed.

<https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/end-of-life-care/planning-ahead/advance-decision-to-refuse-treatment>

online format here

compassionindying.org.uk/how-we-can-help/living-will-advance-decision/

I've an idea that LPA and Advanced decision are incompatible. One overrides the other though I can't remember which.

I'm surprised - DNR seems to be the normal course of (in)action in the hospital my DH was in, without his or our consent and it was put on his notes without our knowledge. Luckily I found out and another Consultant took it off.

Butterandjam, that is a really useful link. Thank you.

kittylester

lionsmessageinabottle.co.uk/

Link to Lions Message in a bottle

We have ours in the fridge but need to update it. Thanks for the reminder.
This thread is very timely. I visited an old friend, old in both senses, last week in hospital. She is now going to have a horrible half life until she dies after having a stroke that has left her mostly paralysed.
I came home and instructed my DH to wait until I was dead before calling an ambulance. I must do something official though.

I think it is really wise to make your wishes known, very, very , obviously. This time last yeas a relative over whom I have POA ( never used previously) was taken into hospital. I live some distance away and it was some time before I found out her whereabouts.
She was initially unresponsive and visiting the hospital, I advised the ward. the chief nurse etc of the LPA.
I can only say they ignored this. Who ever was visiting at the time was asked their opinion on any amount of things pertaining to my relative’s care. Not once was I informed when a move to another hospital was mooted or when the decision was made to send her home.
I complained to the hospital but they have not had the grace to reply.
So make your wishes known.

Allira

I'm surprised - DNR seems to be the normal course of (in)action in the hospital my DH was in, without his or our consent and it was put on his notes without our knowledge. Luckily I found out and another Consultant took it off.

Same with us, my dad was put on a DNR by hospital, we had it removed but then had it reapplied a few years later due to his Alzheimer’s.