a dear friend of mine was taken to the hospital from the nursing home with chest pains. He was diagnosed with phemonia (he also suffers from diabetes, which is not under control, dementia, edema (from the diabetes and heart disease). The morning after being admitted he arrested (cardiac arrest). The ICU doctor was there when it happened and he "worked on him for 35 minutes" and he is now on a ventilator and undergoing hypothermic protocal, which from what I understand is to help his brain. He is being warmed up now and they will test brain function. One member of the family with health power of attorney, wants to keep him alive. His wishes were not to be kept alive, but to be let to Go to His FAther in Heaven. I know God is in control. Has anyone ever seen someone come out of a situation like this have a good quality of life? Any suggestions, or ideas? Please pray for grace in passing or a miracle that will restore him to a good quality of life.
Thank you
2006-09-08 10:13:54 · 8 answers · asked by a friend 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
No sense agonizing over this until they get the EEG ( brain test)
2006-09-08 10:21:22 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel☺ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given all that you have written, the most important statement is him coming out with a good quality of life. We all have our own definitions as to what is a good quality of life. Was the person living at what their family considered a good quality of life before this happened? It is very hard to say what the outcome would be. I think that with the acceptance that all beings are to have a beginning and an end, and that those that we love will some day leave us, a more informed and rational decision can be made. and I must add that there is nothing more important than a living will. I wish you and your friend peace and Godspeed.
2006-09-08 10:23:36 · answer #2 · answered by vonneyone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I can answer honestly because I have a living will with exactly the same wishes, though using even more specific language.
The brain testing will provide an answer with some degree of confidence, but knowing from my mother's case, people in such a situation rarely come out unimpaired. I was praying that my mother would go with dignity while still unconscious, but she came out of it on her own, was severely impaired, and died about four years later in a nursing home. Those four years were not worth living. Not for her, not for us. She was not the person I knew as my mother.
My only suggestion is: if he cannot live on his own, let him go in peace and dignity.
Life should be respected, not inflicted.
All the best.
2006-09-08 10:26:19 · answer #3 · answered by Hermit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I does sound like your friend will sustain a physical and neurologic impairment if he comes through from his present status.
A cerebral blood flow study (brain scan) will show if he has blood circulation to his brain and an EEG will show if he has any brain activity. A negative result on these two tests will determine brain death.
My opinion is that the wishes of any person (to not be resuscitated or to not have his/her life prolonged by artificial means) be honored.
And a note for us : It is important for us to talk to our loved ones about these wishes today. Make a living will. Also discuss with family members any wish for organ donation. If we are ever in such a condition, it will help family members decide for us if they know what we want.
2006-09-08 15:32:10 · answer #4 · answered by OnThe36th 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if this elderly gentleman arrested, and they worked on him for 35 minutes, he is probably suffering needlessly while this crazy relative watches him on a ventilator. What kind of life does she expect for him to have? Does she have a mental problem or is their money involved? His doctor is going thru the motions to prevent from being called into a lawsuit over this poor mans family, and believe it or not people soo over things like this.
This is what you call abuse of technology. What ever happened to letting these old folks die peacefully without tubes and machines.
Sorry to say, but he is not an actor in a soap opera where people miraculously come out of a coma. He has suffered brain death or near brain death and he is never going to have any quality of life. He probably would love to be gotten out of his pain and suffering. She is not abiding by his wishes.
I will pray for the Lord to give his soul peace and rest.
2006-09-08 14:35:41 · answer #5 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry your friend is so sick. I wish him grace. It would take a miracle for him to have good quality of life. It sounds like he was having a tough time before the arrest. It's hard to get chronically ill people off ventilators. They're just not up to the challenge. Maybe when the shock wears off his family member will be brave enough to follow his wishes. If your friend gave his family member medical power of attorney, he may have written his advanced directives, too.
2006-09-08 10:40:40 · answer #6 · answered by everyotheraliastaken 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have came out of worse, yet as a Trauma Nurse, it is all the systems failing or thriving that determine the outcome. Bottom line, the pneumonia, diabetes uncontrolled, with heart disease ( one needs to know the severity of to truly weigh the odds, it could become overwhelming for his body to recover. The pneumonia will stress out the heart severly, if not resovled and if the chest cavity fills it could cause heart failure. Good luck and very sorry to hear.
2006-09-08 22:30:00 · answer #7 · answered by LadyDAnCali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a some chance of his returning home - but he is likely to be incapacitated and will need a great deal of care and support. If he had indicated that he should not be kept alive artificially, then let him go. I know that for the family members to pull the plug is a wrenching decision. But the person's wishes should be respected.
2006-09-08 10:22:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋