FREE Seminar - A Living Will is Not a Medical Order

Advance Directives ? a DNR (do not resuscitate), Living Will, and Health-Care Power of Attorney are three important documents to have in place if a person wants to have some say in their health care during a situation where they may be near the end of life. A lot of people believe that a Living Will is the same as a DNR order. It is NOT! A Living Will includes the individual?s wishes regarding extreme measures at end-of-life care - feeding tubes, mechanical ventilation, heroic measures, dialysis, etc. A Living Will helps to direct the physician?s decision-making during care of the critically ill person who has little chance of recovery. What people should understand is that a Living Will is NOT a medical order that can be followed if there is not a DNR or a MOST form (Medical Order for Scope Treatment) signed by a physician, which comes into play when a patient has stopped breathing and their heart has stopped beating. A DNR is a medical order not to start chest compressions or other cardiac drugs on someone?s heart when their heart has already stopped beating, and not to put them on mechanical ventilation or artificially ventilate them when they have stopped breathing. A MOST form includes a DNR and other life-saving and life-prolonging interventions when someone is in critical condition. The majority of people don?t know what a MOST form is and some are afraid to complete a DNR, fearing that they will not get treatment as a result. Come learn the facts on Tues., March 3 from 10 a.m. - noon and have your questions answered. Learn why the MOST form is so important and how it can be helpful. Although this seminar is open to the general public, it is specifically designed to train and educate individuals that work with older adults in the use of a DNR and the MOST form, as a means of helping and informing older adults and their families in having a say in their health care during end of life situations. The seminar will be led by Kimberlee Driscoll, RN, BSN Nurse Liaison and held at South Iredell Senior Center, 202 N Church St. Mooresville. To register, call 704-662-3337 by Thurs., Feb. 26. The seminar is sponsored by Palliative Medicine Consultants of Hospice Palliative Care Charlotte Region and The South Iredell Senior Center.