Choices to Make Before Death
Seriously ill people and their families may feel swept along by the fatal illness and the various treatments, as if they have no control over the events. Some people seem to prefer this sense of having no control because it relieves them of the responsibility of deciding what should be done. Other people prefer to determine all aspects of their care, sometimes even including the specifics of their funeral and burial.
Honest, open communication between patients and doctors about preferences for care at the end of life helps to ensure the best possible quality of life during a fatal illness. The doctors provide a candid assessment of the likely benefits of end-of-life treatments and their disadvantages, including effects on quality of life. People express what they do and do not want to experience. People have the chance to...