The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
65°F
Current Conditions
Scattered clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

EndNotes

  1. Blogs
  2. EndNotes
  3. Last wishes: write it down

Last wishes: write it down

I am at a Hospice Foundation of America's national conference, telecast throughout the country, and that 's how I can attend in Spokane. The theme: End-of-Life ethics. One message so far. Figure out what you do and don't want at the end of life. Write it down. And talk with family members who will be part of the decision making at the end of life. 

One example given. A dying woman who was a Holocaust survivor, no written directive and now needing a feeding tube to survive but can't make the decision because she's not conscious. So two family members argue.

One says: "She was a holocaust survivor,  of course she'd want a feeding tube." The other says: "She's a Holocaust survivor, of course she wouldn't want a feeding tube."

Who is right?

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.