LPA Health and Welfare - what to advise my attorneys?

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.

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

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.

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.

The LPA is not the same as a DNR though.

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

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

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.

lionsmessageinabottle.co.uk/

Link to Lions Message in a bottle

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.