Fong encourages healthy people to contemplate life planning while they still have plenty of time. EXECUTING life planning can be categorised into three parts: end-of-life care, funeral planning, and ‘last wishes’. In my journey as a palliative care service provider, I found that only few patients can complete all the planning for their end-of-life care, mainly because most of them do not have enough physical strength to complete it.
Just being able to complete some parts that one considers most important is already great. Therefore, we encourage healthy people to contemplate life planning while they have plenty of time. End-of-life care Knowing about the illness and discussing it are two separate matters.
Discussions of the illness often involve financial matters, treatment options and care issues. Some healthcare teams offer family conferences. These sessions are led by doctors, nurses and social workers to discuss and plan together with patients and their families.
Emergency treatment means that I hope to continue with various medical treatments and active resuscitation to try to prolong my life. Hospice care means I forgo active treatment for the terminal illness, but choose to let my life end naturally with nursing support and symptoms management. When I am conscious, I can try to communicate with the doctor.
If I feel uncomfortable, I can instruct the doctor to remove the nasogastric tube. However, I would not be able to make any decision for myself if I am in a coma.