Re: letting another doc operate on you

September 1, 2001

This is not correct. Physicians can make you a DNR (Do not

recuscitate) if it is clear that you cannot recover and you don't

have advance directives or a family member saying otherwise. This is

dependent on the state you are in and the hospital.

in Seattle

> I do believe, at least in American hospitals, that unless you have

> a living will that the hospital has agreed to abide by (and maybe

> not even then), they cannot just let you die in a hospital,

> regardless of any other contract or spoken wish. If an

> emergency arises, they have to do anything and everything

> possible to save your life and you can complain about it later. If

> an emergency arises and your designated surgeon needs

> assistance, then he/she can (and darn well better) ask for

> assistance.

September 1, 2001

There's also an issue of " medical futility " that can sometimes even override

existing " full code " directives. It's rare that things are set totally in

stone cos all circumstances possible are difficult to predict....folks just

have to do their best to have friends and/or family involved in their lives

and knowledgeable of their wishes, papers filled out, and things go from

there.

- SC

----- Original Message -----

> This is not correct. Physicians can make you a DNR (Do not

> recuscitate) if it is clear that you cannot recover and you don't

> have advance directives or a family member saying otherwise. This is

> dependent on the state you are in and the hospital.

> in Seattle

>

> > I do believe, at least in American hospitals, that unless you have

> > a living will that the hospital has agreed to abide by (and maybe

> > not even then), they cannot just let you die in a hospital,

> > regardless of any other contract or spoken wish. If an

> > emergency arises, they have to do anything and everything

> > possible to save your life and you can complain about it later. If

> > an emergency arises and your designated surgeon needs

> > assistance, then he/she can (and darn well better) ask for

> > assistance.

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