A son demands full resuscitation against his mother's advance directive
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Mrs. Margaret Lowell, 82, has a perforated sigmoid colon and septic shock. The surgeon recommends an emergency laparotomy within the next hour, and the patient is too drowsy to take part in decisions. Her living will, written two years ago with her lawyer and her primary care physician, says that if she has a condition from which she is not expected to recover, she does not want CPR or to be kept on a breathing machine long term. It does not refuse surgery. Her son, Daniel, holds her health care power of attorney and is in the family room.
Your task: discuss with Daniel the plan for resuscitation and life support during and after his mother's surgery. Do not obtain general anesthetic consent. You have 8 minutes; a warning sounds at 6 minutes.3