Easy way to do living will/DNR stuff?

[USRufnex]

I'm having surgery a week from Monday... had never really done much as far as legal wills or DNR and would like to get some of it in place ASAP...

Suggestions?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex

I'm having surgery a week from Monday... had never really done much as far as legal wills or DNR and would like to get some of it in place ASAP...

Suggestions?

If you are worried about being kept on life support:

Last two times I had surgery, St. Francis supplied me with a living will/DNR upon my request at my pre-op appointment.  I think they actually asked me if I had one on file on the earlier of the two surgeries.

If you are concerned about what happens to your finances or personal property:

Write a simple hand-written holographic will and leave it in a sealed envelope with someone you know before you go into surgery.  Attornies will argue with doing that, but it's perfectly legal and recognized by probate courts.  

Unless you have children, or there is a chance that someone could wind up with your assets you don't want to, or a major fight would break out amongst family contesting it, a holographic will should be just fine.

From the OK Bar website:

"The second type of will recognized in Oklahoma is a holographic will. This will is entirely written, dated and signed by the testator himself. A holographic will must meet the requirements of all valid wills, but it does not have to meet the requirements for an attested will. For instance, a holographic will does not have to be witnessed. Holographic wills are not the most popular choice for estate planning. Courts are very strict with the requirement that the entire will be completely in the testator's handwriting, including the date. As there are usually no witnesses to the document, the validity of these wills is frequently contested, and will contests are expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, most experts in estate planning agree that one desiring a last will should consult an attorney to draft an attested will."

Good luck with the surgery, I hope it comes out fine.  I've not had anything "major" done, but the wording in the releases is a little unnerving when they start mentioning death.

[RecycleMichael]

I told my wife that if I was ever kept alive by fluids and just staring away and doing nothing, that she should kill me.

She took away my beer and turned off my computer.

[FOTD]

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

FOTD is somewhat right (can't believe I just said that!).  Unless you have your wife and attorney traveling with you, with papers in-hand, a DNR order is always a point of debate with your medical staff.  

If you have DNR orders, make sure your doctor has a copy, the hospital has a copy and you are wearing a medic-alert bracelet that says DNR, or a Tattoo on your chest that says DNR.

I worked in an ER  for 5 years and only witnessed one DNR that didn't get resuscitative treatment.  That was an old man with a DNR Tattoo on his chest.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

Certainly you wouldn't be $peaking of ho$pitial$ and doctor$ prioritizing and maximizing their income$ over patient welfare, now would you?

Balderda$h, complete fanta$y.

[USRufnex]

Well, alot of us go through our 20s and 30s without much regard to this kinda stuff... after living the starving opera singer lifestyle, there shouldn't be a big family fight over my "assets."  LOL.  Just want family to avoid the big probate mess just in case...

I don't really want to be an exhibitionist on the internet... although the capability is always there... have had to tell family and friends the last couple of days...

Before things get too snarky []... the operation's for colon cancer and I guess I won't know until after the surgery if there's going to be chemotherapy afterwards...

In the "silver lining" dept, my  tulsaroughnecks.com website will soon be offering an ebay store in conjuntion with a company in Cincinnatti... I got this shirt yesterday...



Tres cool.  []

[Conan71]

Ruf,

It's a surviveable cancer, I'm wishing you all the best and will remember you in my prayers.

A friend of mine's mother went through this about 10-12 years ago, she's been in remission for over 10 years.

[FOTD]

Ah man. I will be sending you healing vibes, Ruf.

Hope you will keep us informed and know you are in our thoughts!

Cancer sucks.

Be well.

[RecycleMichael]

You are in my prayers, Rufnex

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

Certainly you wouldn't be $peaking of ho$pitial$ and doctor$ prioritizing and maximizing their income$ over patient welfare, now would you?

Balderda$h, complete fanta$y.

nope, try again... what a load of delusional BS...

do you really think doctors make money by seeing you in the hospital? the reimbursement is horrible...

go look up "PPS" and "DRG" and see what you learn... ok, i'll make it easy for you here...
the short version is, hospitals get paid the same based on your final diagnosis regardless of whether you are there for 1 day or 10 days... so, in reality, they'd want to admit you with very complex problems and discharge you quickly or have have you die immediately...

RUF, i wish you the best... I'm sure you'll be fine... and, the hospital will provide you with a living will... and, i see living wills and dnr status respected every day... but family members can play hell with them if they disagree with patients plans...

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

Certainly you wouldn't be $peaking of ho$pitial$ and doctor$ prioritizing and maximizing their income$ over patient welfare, now would you?

Balderda$h, complete fanta$y.

nope, try again... what a load of delusional BS...

do you really think doctors make money by seeing you in the hospital? the reimbursement is horrible...

go look up "PPS" and "DRG" and see what you learn... ok, i'll make it easy for you here...
the short version is, hospitals get paid the same based on your final diagnosis regardless of whether you are there for 1 day or 10 days... so, in reality, they'd want to admit you with very complex problems and discharge you quickly or have have you die immediately...

RUF, i wish you the best... I'm sure you'll be fine... and, the hospital will provide you with a living will... and, i see living wills and dnr status respected every day... but family members can play hell with them if they disagree with patients plans...

What, they see you in the hospital out of pure altruism?  Not everyone is on Medicare or Medicaid, though the pre-determined reimbursement scheme is not vastly different than negotiated rates for procedures with insurance companies.

"so, in reality, they'd want to admit you with very complex problems and discharge you quickly or have have you die immediately..."

So, basically what you are saying is that they would put profitability over patient welfare...

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The local hospitals really don't pay much attention to "lower order" living wills. They serve to a higher purpose than our country's laws.

Ok, pile on.

Conan, nice avitar.

Certainly you wouldn't be $peaking of ho$pitial$ and doctor$ prioritizing and maximizing their income$ over patient welfare, now would you?

Balderda$h, complete fanta$y.

nope, try again... what a load of delusional BS...

do you really think doctors make money by seeing you in the hospital? the reimbursement is horrible...

go look up "PPS" and "DRG" and see what you learn... ok, i'll make it easy for you here...
the short version is, hospitals get paid the same based on your final diagnosis regardless of whether you are there for 1 day or 10 days... so, in reality, they'd want to admit you with very complex problems and discharge you quickly or have have you die immediately...

RUF, i wish you the best... I'm sure you'll be fine... and, the hospital will provide you with a living will... and, i see living wills and dnr status respected every day... but family members can play hell with them if they disagree with patients plans...

What, they see you in the hospital out of pure altruism?  Not everyone is on Medicare or Medicaid, though the pre-determined reimbursement scheme is not vastly different than negotiated rates for procedures with insurance companies.

"so, in reality, they'd want to admit you with very complex problems and discharge you quickly or have have you die immediately..."

So, basically what you are saying is that they would put profitability over patient welfare...

no, i'm saying that if they DID, as you stated, your argument makes no sense...

and yes, most insurance providers follow medicare/medicaids drg policies...

[USRufnex]

thanks for the kind words... hopefully I won't torture family or friends too much with my sarcastic sense of humor...

More lemonade, please... []

[USRufnex]

Lacroscopic surgery Monday afternoon... Just came home today (Thursday afternoon)

Post op polyp/tumor examined was T1.  CT scan last week already came back "clean."

No chemo or radiation recommended.
Will have another colonoscopy in a year.

Yay!