| Choosing the three words "Allow Natural Death" over | | | | This is one of the many things that makes me shudder |
| "Do Not Resuscitate", the other three words used | | | | when I think about the loss of dignity people |
| when making the decision to provide no resuscitation | | | | experience in the hospital, especially in end-of-life |
| to keep someone alive, can make such a profound | | | | (thank goodness for hospice where dignity is |
| difference in the lives and hearts of grieving families. | | | | maintained). It is also one of the many reasons why I |
| There is a movement rising in health care systems | | | | was so insistent that my parents die at home (which |
| throughout the country to institute this new terminology. | | | | they wanted for themselves) if the conditions were |
| These medical orders to "Do Not Resuscitate" written | | | | right in that there was no need for ventilator or other |
| as a prescription by a physician in a patient's chart, are | | | | equipment. |
| usually given at a time when the patient has no | | | | Five years ago this week my mother, who was |
| chance of survival with medical means or following an | | | | hospitalized at was University of Penn for her kidney |
| 'advance directive' that the patient wrote him/herself. | | | | cancer, was told by her physicians she had very little |
| One of the more difficult duties I had as a nurse | | | | time left to live. The topic of "Do Not Resuscitate" |
| working in a hospital was talking to families about the | | | | didn't even come up. Without a second thought we |
| decision to "DNR", or "Do Not Resuscitate", their sick | | | | called Samaritan Hospice in Marlton New Jersey and |
| and dying loved one. | | | | brought her home to "Allow a Natural Death" in the |
| I always thought the expression "Do Not Resuscitate" | | | | comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones. |
| sounded cold and commanding. In discussions with the | | | | We believed this helped to create conditions to allow a |
| families it was evident to me that they took this to | | | | natural death...comfortably and peacefully. And she did |
| mean "do not keep my loved one alive", and of course | | | | have one weeks later. The beautiful thing was that as |
| they wanted to keep their loved one alive! | | | | a family we always used natural healing methods in |
| "Do Not Resuscitate" sounds withholding and like a | | | | our home, and just as we used them for living a good |
| 'take-away'. | | | | life, we also used them for dying a good death (for |
| I'm so glad to hear that "Allow Natural Death" will take | | | | both of my parents). |
| its place. | | | | Seven years ago after my father died a peaceful |
| "Allowing" is not a command, it sounds like an | | | | death at home, I took this concept and I created |
| appreciation of an organic inevitable process. Let me | | | | "Peaceful Passages: Complementary Therapies in End |
| rant for a bit here.......... | | | | of Life Care" to create awareness of our ability to use |
| So my experiences of the DNR's in the hospital | | | | wonderful holistic modalities for comfort and care, |
| were...once the families had to make the gut-wrenching | | | | involvement of family members, and to facilitate a |
| decision, they then had to put their signature on paper | | | | natural and peaceful death. |
| stating that command - which carries some emotional | | | | I also started a scholarship fund to help pay for |
| weight in and of itself. And to top it off, when the | | | | education for people who want to study holistic |
| decision was made and the papers signed, then it was | | | | modalities like energy healing, aromatherapy, massage, |
| advertised! The letters "DNR" were posted all over the | | | | reflexology if they are going to use it in end of life |
| place...on the walls...near the patient's bed...on the doors | | | | settings or situations. I would like to share this aspect |
| going into the room...and sometimes even written on | | | | of my work with you. |
| the patients clothing or skin! | | | | |