April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).
中美文化差别极大，特别是在死的问题上。中国人忌讳谈死，认为不吉利。但美国人却常常把死挂在嘴上，不仅不怕死，而且对死亡和临终问题还有计划和遗嘱。孰是孰非？我认为在处理死的问题上，还是美国人高人一筹。
" 'Would you like to discuss your end-of-life plans today?' I ask my patients this question, though not as often as I'd like. Talking about death may be uncomfortable, but it's a conversation that needs to happen more often." --Kevin Pho, MD.
Dr. Kevin Pho's assertion is one that may have been cause for pause for patients and families years ago. However, as people continue to become educated on the value of advance care planning through initiatives like National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), it is a sentiment that is garnering the thought and consideration it deserves amongst medical professionals, patients and families.
And, with NHDD just one day away -- on Saturday, April 16th-- Pho has penned an incredibly timely piece on the subject. In his most recent column, published several days ago in USA Today -- Politics mustn’t silence end-of-life talks -- Pho expounds on the importance of advance care planning for a wide readership.
We hope this impactful op-ed will complement the many NHDD events across the nation and inspire people from all walks of life to not only 'have the talk,' but walk the walk by completing their advance directives.
Moved to complete your own advance directive or to help your loved ones engage in advance care planning? Check out tips on how to start the process in 'NHDD Blog Rally 2011' and take the NHDD 2011 Pledge featured in the website sidebar.
Get an Advance Directive
All adults can benefit from thinking about what their healthcare choices would be if they are unable to speak for themselves. These decisions can be written down in an advance directive so that others know what they are. Advance directives come in two main forms:
- A "healthcare power of attorney" (or "proxy" or "agent" or "surrogate") documents the person you select to be your voice for your healthcare decisions if you cannot speak for yourself.
- A "living will" documents what kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want at the end of life.
- AARP: End-of-Life Planning
- Advance Care Planning Day Initiative: Advance Care Planning
- Aging with Dignity: Five Wishes
- Amedisys: Discussion Guide for Advance Care Planning
- American Bar Association: Tool kit for Health Care Advance Planning; 10 Legal Myths about Advance Medical Directive
- American Health Lawyers Association: Guide to Legal Issues in Life Limiting Conditions; Loving Conversations (video) on Advance Care Planning
- American Hospital Association: Put It In Writing
- Caring Connections: Advance Care Planning; Financial Information; Planning Ahead Checklist; Free Brochures
- Center for Practical Bioethics: Caring Conversations Workbook
- Cancer.net: Advanced Cancer Care Planning Workbook
- National Association of Social Workers: Advance Care Planning and Psychiatric Advance Directives
MedicAlert Foundation
The MedicAlert Foundation offers emergency medical information and identification services including Do Not Resuscitate medical IDs and option to store advance directives for all 50 states.
The Will to Live Project
The Patients’ Rights Council
The Patients’ Rights Council offers a durable power of attorney document (in either multistate or state-specific versions) that expressly defines and prohibits euthanasia.
