Quality or quantity

A lot of times in healthcare you find a point where a patient is placed in a situation to decide if they will prolong their life by using extraordinary measures. As a person I can understand how hard it is to make a decision like that. As a nurse I can also see the results of these decisions. It's not for me to say whether or not a person should pursue these options. It's hard for me to understand how a person that is in certain conditions such as multi-organ failure already to choose operations that only allow them more time just to be stuck in a hospital bed for the rest of their extended time. I have seen people who are in advanced stages of dementia get open heart surgery and they don't even know they are on bought time. A lot of times after these measures are performed the patient is stuck in a place of such depression that they are unable or unwilling to participate in the treatment such as physical therapy. People don't realize that just because they are extending their life doesn't mean they are making it a better life. It actually becomes more complicated and harder to do the things they are used to be able to do in their regular life. Like I said before I can understand how hard this decision can be but at the same time I wish they can find out before what their life will be like afterward so they can make a more informed decision.