TALKING to your family about your wishes as you approach end of life can be difficult.
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Surprisingly, many people find it even more difficult to talk to their GP or specialist. What do you say? Where do you begin? Has your GP or specialist agreed to sign your advance care directive? If not, what do you do?
How do you ask for a second opinion without damaging your existing patient-doctor relationship? When should you ask for a second opinion?
How do you tell your doctor you want to stop treatment? The treatment is keeping you alive but your quality of life is diminishing as you seemingly live day to day, week to week on a medical merry-go-round.
Annie Quadroy, convenor of MidNorth Coast DWDnsw, said that "nothing is ever absolute, and I believe that we all adjust our end of life wishes incrementally as we become more unwell.
"After all, no one ever really wants to die, and we all want our end of life to be comfortable and pain-free. The dilemma is how can we best convey that to our medical team?"
These are just some of the questions that will be answered by guest speaker Dr Jill Gordon at the MidNorth Coast DWDnsw 'Dying to Know Day' forum at Port Panthers on Saturday, August 17 from 2-4pm.
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Dr Gordon, who lives and practices in Sydney, has taught generations of medical students. Firstly at Newcastle University (1997-85), and later at the University of Sydney (1997-2006), and in between was the NSW State Director for training GPs for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Ms Quadroy says MidNorth Coast DWDnsw is responding to community feedback to hold events at times that working people can attend. "So here's the opportunity to participate and engage, and I hope many do so," she said.
Everyone is welcome. There is no need to book a seat. $5 entry includes afternoon tea.
