CPR is brutal, undignified... and few survive it. That's why I've had Do Not Resuscitate written on my medical notes, writes former cancer surgeon Liz O'Riordan

she's talking about England because I think the numbers are far better here in the US....

however, essentially, its true...

problem occurs when CPR is not discussed and settled EARLY on in an illness....

then we start CPR, do all this trauma to the patient, send them to ICU , black and blue and on a vent....

and then the horrible part for the family having to decide to have it all stopped....

one case I remember was a terminal patient, with cancer of the esophagus, who was going to go home/hospice to die, but did not have a clear "no code" order.....he had been spitting up some but when helping him get back into bed he started spitting up and then vomiting fresh blood every where...everywhere....code was called, they did all this stuff until we finally got hold of the family to make the "no code" order....

sadly this happens more than you think....

its best to get your desires in early when sick....

like most people, the perfect death would be to just slip away in your sleep....

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