Content Overview 
- Summary
- It Is Your Choice Whether To Keep Fighting, How Hard, And For How Long
- Coping With Physical Issues
- Coping With Emotional Issues
- Coping With Financial Issues
- Hospice Care
- Get Your Affairs In Order
- How To Maintain Control Even If You Become Unable To Speak For Yourself
- Speak With Your Doctor About Your Wishes
- If You Are Likely To Be Hospitalized
- Donating Organs Or Your Body
- If Your Doctor Abandons You
- If You Choose To End Life Early
- Choose To Live Each Day To The Best You Can. Stay Hopeful.
- If You Have A Death Benefit On Your Credit Card
- If You Have A Partner Instead Of A Spouse: Visitation
End Of Life
Summary
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Even when we appear to be at an end stage, no one actually know what will happen until it happens.
Still, while it may be painful to think about, it is inevitable that at some point we all die. As wonderful as modern medicine is at prolonging life, it has not yet been able to overcome death. Please do not take this to mean that we suggest you give up hope. No matter how certain things seem, you can still have joy in your life. There is always reason to hope.Your choice
Just as you have control over how you live, you also have the ability to control the last period of your life.
As a practical matter, it is your choice whether to keep trying to eliminate your disease, to let go and seek the fullest life available in your circumstances, or to choose an in-between path. It is also your choice how much of your personal and financial resources you are willing to spend and for how long.It is even your choice how to make the decision: whether on your own, in consultation with family and friends, your clergyman, and/or in consultation with your medical team. Ultimately, we are talking about your life. The final decision is yours.
What care you want You are still entitled to good medical care and attention from your health care team. Thinking about what could happen is not giving up. Writing legal documents about events that could happen is not going to make them happen. The documents and discussions that accompany them just make it more likely that you will get the care you want and that you won't receive the treatments you don't want. Just executing the documents can bring peace of mind. Whatever you decide, you can change your mind as often as you desire. Continuing medical care If you want continuing medical care, in addition to providing treatment, your doctor can help control both physical and emotional symptoms. If your doctor isn't aggressive about reducing or eliminating pain, bring in a doctor who will provide such care. Do not be afraid of becoming addicted to pain medication. It is not common in this situation. To learn how to get the medical care you need, see Managing Your Medical Care. If you decide comfort is your goal rather than continue to fight the disease, hospice care is available. Hospice care provides physical and emotional comfort to you and your family in a variety of settings, including in your home. Hospice care is generally available for free if necessary. There are doctors who are known as Palliative Care specialists who specialize in end of life care. Leaving early
If you want to leave the planet before nature takes its course, speak with your doctor. Most deaths in this country are negotiated between patients and their doctor. As an alternative, while we do not recommend it, there is also the possibility of assisted suicide and ending your own life. Planning Ahead If you want to save your heirs unnecessary expense and stress, consider pre-planning your funeral. Pre-planning is different than pre-paying. Visitation from a Partner If you are part of an unmarried couple (heterosexual or homosexual), take steps now to assure your partner will be able to visit if you end up in a healthcare facility.
Ethical Will
Consider putting together a document known as an Ethical Will. It passes on to your heirs information they should know such as your family history, what you learned in your lifetime, and whatever else is important to you. You can create this legacy in whatever way is easiest for you - for instance, by writing a letter, or by putting together a scrap book with annotations.
Please share how this information is useful to you.
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