Altered States
Season 11, Episode 17 of the NBC medical drama Chicago Med featured a scenario that briefly left me speechless. Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Charles, has an apparent stroke and is found unresponsive on the floor of his office by his friend and hospital Executive Director Sharon Goodwin. After an assessment of his condition, it is determined that a risky surgery may save his functional abilities, and his health care proxy is needed to make a decision about how to proceed.
This is where my jaw dropped.
Dr. Charles’ daughter Anna stepped in, assuming she was responsible for making the life-saving decision. She is then told by a member of the surgical team that she does not have decision-making authority. This rests with her father’s boss and friend, Sharon Goodwin. Neither Anna nor Sharon knew of these arrangements because Dr. Charles had apparently not:
Asked Sharon for permission to list her on the health care proxy form.
Told his daughter Anna what his plans were.
Informed Sharon of his medical wishes.
Luckily, through the magic of television it worked out and Dr. Charles was saved.
But this doesn’t always happen in real life.
A health care proxy, sometimes referred to as a medical power of attorney, is a person who makes health care decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated. This is a big responsibility, and it is important to ask the person you want to name in this role for permission, and then to make sure they understand your goals for your health, functional abilities, and quality of life. This communication helps clarify:
The roles you want people to play in your EOL process, which can eliminate hurt feelings, duplication of effort, or dropped balls.
Your wishes for your EOL experience, so you can be sure to get as close to what you want as possible.
For many people, particularly those who are uncomfortable talking about death, it is easier to just name someone on a form without (a) asking permission, and (b) clarifying the decisions you want made on your behalf.
EOL Blueprint Advisors can help you identify the roles you want people to play in your EOL experience. We can also help you plan and even facilitate conversations with the people you want to ask to play a role in your health and life decisions.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help.