Isn’t It Time
We Talk About It?
by
Charles Antoni, LCSW, RN
© 2003
Many men are headed
toward a time in life were chronic illness begins to show itself,
untoward disease makes an unwelcome visit, and the wear and tear of
living life begins to take its toll.
In some cases these
issues will come to consciousness through the experience we may have
with another. A parent, sibling, co-worker or friend. They are
diagnosed with an advanced illness and we are thrown into
conversations about who will care for them and where will they be
cared for.
Is it better to have
chemotherapy or radiation or let nature take its course?
How will all this be
paid for, Medicare, savings, private insurance or funds thought to be
designated for that trip to Europe or a retirement cabin in the
Carolina’s.
What is informed
consent and how will it effect our decisions about the treatments we
will undergo or forego.
Isn’t it time we
talk about these things before we are in a crisis? Before we find
ourselves in the grip of blinding emotions clueless about what we or
our loved one’s might want.
This series of
articles will be an attempt to raise the issues, identify some of the
pot holes and dangers; and give enlightened direction. But most of all
they will be designed to stimulate the thinking and dialogue necessary
to prepare ourselves, families and communities far the inevitable as
large numbers go from caregiver to care receivers in the not so
distant future.
Copyright 2003 Charles Antoni, all rights reserved
