When it comes to healthcare, the American consumer generally believes that the consumption of more healthcare is better and leads to improved health. Is that really true? There are many instances when medications, treatment, and procedures shorten one’s life span and lead to diminished quality of life.
When you think about the circumstances of the elderly population, these negative outcomes of treatment can be even more profound.
Consider the case of a very ill elderly patient who has bleeding from their rectum. The prescribed evaluation by a gastroenterologist is likely a colonoscopy. For starters, can the senior tolerate the prep for the colonoscopy?
If we need to place a tube down their nose and into their stomach to instill the prep, is that a quality of life or dignity issue?
If, while inserting the tube, they are physically fighting the insertion and yelling STOP, is this abusive?
If we tie their hands down, so they do not pull the tube out so that that we can instill the prep, is that humane?
We finish the prep, and they have massive stool incontinence, and the indignity of having someone clean their bottom, is that acceptable?
When the prep is done, and we find an operative lesion in the colon, if the senior is not able to tolerate the surgery or the probably of death secondary to the surgery is high, do we proceed?
Who makes these decisions?
We each make them for ourselves and if we are acting as an agent for power of attorney we make them for our charge. If you have not had to assist someone with this decision making, you are soon to be in the minority. It is not easy, but remember that the senior has lived with dignity, autonomy, and independence their entire life and they deserve this until their journey ends.
If you need help making these decisions call for help. There are healthcare providers like Charism who you can ask to assist with these decisions