Extreme Prematurity (was Re: Update (not Good)???

Q: I was her legal next of kin. They put her on the ventilator without asking me or her husband. She was in a coma. They didn't once ask us what/if we wanted to continue the life support or not. All the while, an infection was eating away at her lungs. And this was only four months ago. After I've seen how much control a family actually has over a loved one when it comes to the medical field, I tend to look at it with a not so great perspective.

A: -The laws may be different in Canada; however, in the US, if your mother had prepared by creating a medical power of attorney you (or her husband, or whomever held the medical power of attorney) would absolutely have had a say and would have been able to refuse ventilation and would have been able to withdraw life support. She also could have drawn up paperwork specifying her wishes. I've been there more times than I'd like to have been there, and have never had a problem. Fortunately,

we've always had the appropriate paperwork in place so that the patient's wishes were known, respected, and safeguarded by the family. Anyone, of *any* age, who has not discussed this with their family and drawn up whatever documents are necessary to see their wishes implemented should do so immediately. - I just checked, and Canada *does* recognize medical powers of attorney, living wills, etc. "They" don't do it-- *you* do. Individuals need to take the initiative to set up these legal vehicles to ensure that their wishes are respected. It's something we all should think about now, because if you wait until it's an issue, it's probably too late.