This Week's Health Headlines

Drinking Coffee or Tea May Reduce Risk for Diabetes
Black Pepper and Curry: Two Great Tastes that... Fight Breast Cancer?
Volunteering Keeps Older Minds Sharp
FDA Panel Makes Major Change in Cholesterol Drug Recommendations
Meeting Spiritual Needs Improves Quality of Life for Dying Patients

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This Week's Health Headlines

Relief for Sufferers of Cluster Headaches
Study: Most Hospitalized Patients Don't Know Their Medicines
Study: Doctors Leave Gaps When Talking to Patients About Their Cancer
Discovery Could Lead to Pill That Makes Curly Hair Straight
Kissing a Frog Won't Get You a Prince, But It Could Get You Sick

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This Week's Health Headlines

CDC: H1N1 Vaccine Has Proven Safe So Far
French Scientists Create Human Skin Using Adult Stem Cells
NIH Opens Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cells in Spite of Ethical Concerns
Slim-Fast Recalls All Products Due to Non-Lethal Toxin
Weight Loss Eases Sleep Apnea in Obese Men
Study Says Loneliness is Contagious

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Oregon state registry for end-of-life wishes: a good idea?

Oregon recently launched a state registry for patients who sign a form known as POLST (Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment).  This transferable order set allows patients to give specific instructions on the treatments they would or would not want in certain situations.  For example, a patient may opt for or against resuscitation for cardiac arrest, for or against IV antibiotics, or whether or not to place a feeding tube in different scenarios.  The POLST orders go beyond most states' DNR (do not resuscitate) orders, which only apply in the event of cardiac arrest.  POLST allows a patients to direct their care even when they have become to ill to express their wishes.

One of the biggest problems with advance directives is that emergency crews or hospital staff cannot locate the documents in a crisis, the time when the expressed wishes are most crucial.  Unless medical personnel have a verbal or written directive from the patient, we are obligated to perform certain procedures like intubation and mechanical ventilation, which many terminally ill patients do not want.  POLST tries to ensure that wishes are honored, but even in states where POLST has been implemented, relying on a paper form has its risks.  This program in Oregon would allow medical personnel with a password to instantly access the POLST record electronically, even if the paper document cannot be found.  Many times I have encountered situations when a patient was in a crisis, unable to speak, and we could not locate the advance directive or power of attorney.  Too often the patient had something done that went against his or her expressed wishes, simply because those expressions were not available when needed.

I understand concerns that people may have about an electronic record of private and personally held wishes that can be used to direct medical care.  I believe that this system would give more control to patients, not less.  If you take the time to document your wishes, shouldn't they be available to health care personnel in a time of crisis?  The registry is purely voluntary; Oregon residents are not required to participate. There is no coersion to choose one option over another; patients may direct care however they see fit, even to request all available treatments or procedures be given under any circumstance. While I do not agree with Oregon's policy on legalized physician-assisted suicide, I believe that a voluntary electronic registry of patient wishes is a helpful addition to the health care system, and I hope that more states adopt such a program.

As I have said before, the best way to ensure that your wishes are honored is to name a Power of Attorney for Health Care.  Read more here.

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