End of Life Decisions

End-of-Life Decisions

End-of-life planning includes the decisions people with mesothelioma can make regarding medical care and financial matters. After receiving a terminal cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis, the onset of severe symptoms can occur quickly, making important end-of-life financial and healthcare decisions particularly challenging. It’s important for patients and caregivers, family, friends, and loved ones to consider the necessary planning in these final difficult stages.

With the right resources, end-of-life planning can proceed smoothly, allowing patients to enjoy their last days as much as possible. A good first step in this process is to consult with the person who has the terminal illness’s physician, typically their oncologist. Engaging in open conversations with their healthcare provider will help provide a clearer picture of how the end of this mesothelioma journey may look. This understanding helps families and people with the disease make informed decisions about their preferences for care and additional choices related to finance.

Legal End-of-Life Decisions

End-of-life planning for people with terminal lung diseases like mesothelioma involves making life-altering decisions regarding both medical care and financial matters. A terminal diagnosis of mesothelioma indicates that the cancer is advanced and ultimately incurable, leading to a limited life expectancy, often measured in months rather than years.

Patients have the right to specify their preferences for treatments during this time, including decisions about their pain management and resuscitation efforts. These discussions with healthcare providers need to occur to properly create advance directives and living wills, while also addressing financial decisions such as estate planning, wills, and funeral arrangements.

Medical End-Of-Life Decisions

Medical end-of-life decisions are essential to uphold someone’s wishes after they pass and can no longer speak for themselves. Many individuals may not consider these matters until faced with a diagnosis, making clear legal planning helpful to reduce confusion and get a head start on any legal avenues that need to be pursued.

Important aspects of medical end-of-life planning include advance healthcare directives, which are legal documents that outline a patient’s healthcare preferences, including treatment options and the designation of decision-makers when the patient can no longer communicate. With these decisions in place, patients can maintain control and dignity during their final days. We will explore other types of these decisions below.

Living Wills

Living wills are a type of advance directive that specifies a patient’s wishes regarding important decisions regarding their medical care while they are still alive and diagnosed with a dangerous illness like mesothelioma. When a patient can no longer communicate or make informed decisions about their health, a physician may use a patient’s living will to determine (1) who to communicate to in regard to the patient’s wishes for end-of-life care as that person designated and (2) any specific medical decisions that the patient wants to be followed regarding their terminal illness. A living will lose legal power once the patient has passed away.

Part of living wills include:

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNRs)

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is a legal document that tells medical staff not to perform resuscitation if a patient stops breathing or their heart stops beating. This order includes different resuscitation methods, such as CPR, intubation, and defibrillation. It’s important for patients to discuss the details of a DNR with their physician to understand what each option means entirely. DNRs must be signed by the patient, their doctor, and a witness to be valid. People with mesothelioma or a terminal disease can change their minds about a DNR at any time, and it only applies if the patient is unresponsive, has no pulse, or is not breathing.

Power of Attorney

Once a mesothelioma patient receives a terminal diagnosis, they may begin making end-of-life decisions, including assigning a power of attorney. A power of attorney is an individual chosen by a patient to make decisions on behalf of the patient. A power of attorney can make treatment decisions, such as medications or life support, on a patient’s behalf. People with mesothelioma often assign someone to make decisions about their estate and other financial affairs.

Portable Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Portable Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is a medical order that goes beyond a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) directive, providing comprehensive instructions about a patient’s preferences for medical treatment in emergencies. Also known as Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) or Transportable Physician Orders for Patient Preferences (TPOPP), this end of life document is created through discussions between the patient and their healthcare provider. It covers different aspects of healthcare, including whether the person wants resuscitation, intubation, or other treatments. Unlike advance directives, which individuals complete independently, POLST forms are signed by both the patient and their doctor, ensuring that the patient’s wishes are clearly understood and respected in any healthcare setting. POLST forms are designed to be portable, meaning they remain valid across different locations, providing consistent guidance for medical teams regarding the patient’s healthcare choices.

Pain Management and In-Home Care

Towards the end of life, mesothelioma patients can experience chest pain, coughing, dizziness, and other challenging symptoms. Mesothelioma patients may turn to in-home care to spend the rest of their days surrounded by loved ones. In-home care allows a patient to receive pain management care in the comfort of their own home. Patients who choose in-home care have access to 24-hour assistance with feeding, administering medications, and bathing. Due to the wide range of options, choosing an in-home care service can be intimidating. Mesothelioma patients can ask their medical team for recommendations for well-known and trusted in-home care providers.

Organ Donation Instructions

Organ donation is a compassionate option that allows individuals to help others even after their passing. Patients with mesothelioma or other terminal illnesses may wish to consider organ donation as part of their end-of-life decisions. It’s important to understand that organ donation requires specific instructions, which can vary by state and medical center. Interested patients should communicate their wishes with family members and document them through an advance healthcare directive. Discussing organ donation with healthcare providers can also provide valuable information about eligibility and the donation process. For those who are unable to donate organs, tissue donation may still be an option, allowing for the possibility of enhancing the quality of life for others in need.

Hospice Care

Many mesothelioma patients have a life expectancy of less than a year. Patients who want their treatment to focus on pain management can consider hospice care. Through hospice care, patients can receive pain-relieving treatment at home without traveling to a medical facility. The overall goal of hospice care is to alleviate pain and discomfort in the patient’s last weeks.

Financial and Asset End-of-Life Decisions

Financial and asset end-of-life planning encompasses various directives distinct from medical decisions but equally important. This planning ensures that patients’ wishes regarding their estate and financial matters are respected and followed after their passing. Creating a last will and testament is a common step, as it details how a person’s assets will be distributed, who will manage them, and any specific instructions for final arrangements.

A Living Trust

A living trust is a legal document that helps manage and transfer a person’s belongings after they pass away. The person who creates the trust is called the grantor, and they put their assets, like money and property, into the trust. These assets stay in the trust until the grantor dies. After their death, the assets are given to the beneficiaries, the people chosen by the grantor. The grantor also selects a successor trustee to handle the assets and ensure they go to the right people. Living trusts can help distribute assets faster than a will, and unlike wills, they are kept private.

End-Of-Life Decisions on Funeral Planning

Cancer patients may plan their funerals to help families make important decisions about what they would like done following death. Planning a funeral can be difficult and emotional for patients and loved ones. Caretakers can assist a loved one who is planning their funeral and honor their wishes once they pass away. Things to consider include:

• How the patient wants their remains stored
• If they prefer to have a religious service or non-religious service
• Who the patient wants to deliver the eulogy, post-service gatherings, and pallbearers

Important Medical Specialists and Individuals

In the face of a terminal diagnosis like mesothelioma, having supportive specialists and individuals involved in the decision-making process can significantly improve the process of your mesothelioma journey. Key figures often include healthcare providers, such as oncologists and palliative care specialists, who offer guidance on medical options and help patients understand the implications of their condition.

Family members, close friends, and caregivers also play important roles, providing emotional support and assisting with discussions about treatment preferences and end-of-life wishes. Establishing an open line of communication with these important individuals ensures that the patient’s desires are honored, creating a collaborative environment for making informed decisions about both medical care and financial planning during this difficult time.

Additional End-Of-Life Decisions and Considerations

Patients struggling with financial burdens may be eligible for financial assistance. Programs throughout the United States are available to help patients purchase necessary products such as food, clothes, cell phones, and more. Meal delivery services such as Meals on Wheels can provide older patients with food.

Some medical care team members, such as social workers, are available to educate patients on available resources to help with end-of-life decision-making and costs. Patients and their loved ones can also turn to mesothelioma support groups, caregiver support groups, and other cancer-related groups. 

Mesothelioma patients can receive additional funding by filing an asbestos lawsuit. Mesothelioma lawsuits can help cover medical bills, loss of income, and end-of-life costs once the patient passes away. Contact us for a free case evaluation to see how we can help.