Old-Timers

[Griff]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroic_measure

In medicine, heroic treatment or course of therapy is one which possesses a high risk of causing further damage to a patient's health, but is undertaken as a last resort with the understanding that any lesser treatment will surely result in failure.[1]

Heroic measures are often taken in cases of grave injury or illness, as a last-ditch attempt to save life, limb, or eyesight. Examples include emergency trauma surgery conducted outside the operating room (such as "on-scene" surgical amputation, cricothyroidotomy, or thoracotomy), or administration of medication (such as certain antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs) at dosage levels high enough to potentially cause serious or fatal side effects.[2][3]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a particularly well-known heroic measure; vigorous chest compressions often result in fracturing one or more of the patient's ribs, but since the alternative is certain death, the technique is accepted as necessary.

Patients with advanced AIDS and concomitant pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) are in serious danger of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A heroic rescue could use the chemotherapeutic drug trimetrexate, which would destroy bone marrow as well as the PCP, although leucovorin can protect the marrow.

Trying to think about level of care vs quality of life... too many known unknowns.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Griff

Trying to think about level of care vs quality of life... too many known unknowns.

Ya do the best ya can do, and that's all ya can do.

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. The mind numbs.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Fuck that, resuscitate me so I can grope the nurse and curse you motherfuckers one more time. [evil]Bwahahahahaha!![/evil]

Ran across an interesting tidbit awhile back.
Since 2000, hospice patients have tripled in Minnesota, accounting for half the deaths.

Better insurance? More doctors recommending? Get the almost dead one out of the way of normal routine? Ain't nobody got time for that? I'm agonna inherit that house I don't want 'em dying there?