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DNR
The Sunday Free Press front page had an article on a family who had to fight their school system over a D N R order for their son. The acronym stands for Do Not Resuscitate. I find it appalling that a family has to fight the system over an agonizing decision they made. This family asked not to be identified due to the potential legal issues and loss of custody. This family has done everything humanly possible to keep their child alive. The doctor who signed the order described the extensive damage resuscitation would cause. For example, The rib cage being broken and the throat not being strong enough to support breathing pipes.
Where do we feel the legal or moral obligation to intervene? The school systems say they have to support the child and do everything to save the child. That would include causing more damage and harm to resuscitate the child. The school system has agreed to work with the parents and their teachers to make sure everyone knows about the order. I do not understand our need to interfere. This family has gone above and beyond through medical procedures to keep him alive. His body is wearing out.
Our societal view of quantity over quality needs to be altered. This child is a young adult and he could have his life extended for a few months by a respirator. Where is the quality in that? What good does that do? Why put the family through that? Why do we feel that as a society we have the right or obligation to tell the family what we would accept or allow? Twenty-Two years have passed and we have done nothing to help this family. We have not spent numerous hours caring for and deciding on the type of care. We have not gone to the doctors to try to find another way to sustain this child. We did none of the research to find the best school. We have done none of the legwork but we want to feel good by extending a life artificially to gain a quantity.
Some schools concerns are over the death of the child at the school and the effect on the other students. The death of anyone at school can be devastating and could occur at any time and yes even at school. The school system should have a plan in place. Well-structured plans help everyone at the school cope and deal with the situation.
School systems are putting plans into effect to help families, the local emergency facilities and the schools themselves. The plans have to include everyone who may be involved including local EMS, the mortuary choice of the family, the school personnel and the local hospital. The school systems that allow these orders follow strict guidelines. The child must have an ID bracelet. The legal papers must be in order. Everyone involved is notified.
The choice families make to have these orders signed has to be the most difficult a parent faces. These decisions are not taken lightly. A doctor has to be involved. Medical evidence has to be given.
As a parent, I do not know what I would do in their situation. I do know that I do not have the right to criticize, judge, or condemn their decision. I have not dealt with the experiences they have.
We are a society that has a problem with euthanasia. We insist on prolonging life at any cost, we fight death tooth and nail. Technology has made our lives incredible through medicine and mechanical means. It has increased our ability to live longer, but not always better. Technology makes it possible for our bodies to survive when our organs fail; allowing machines to keep us alive when our brains cannot.
There comes a time when enough is enough. I believe there is a time to let go and I believe in quality over quantity.
I cannot imagine a more difficult choice to be up against.
All rights reserved
Barbara J Smart-Fisher
copyright 2008
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