Learn to earn end-of-life respect

(Via KevinMD.com) Pele, the famous Brazilian soccer star, reportedly stopped medical treatment for colon cancer. Media outlets stated he was receiving various iterations of comfort, hospice, and palliative care which were perceived as criminal and disrespectful. His daughter denied these allegations on Instagram.

How often are those with serious illnesses treated like criminals for wrongdoing?

When medical treatment is withdrawn or withheld, it seems the person has lost the battle or chose not to fight. “Ain’t it a shame” reverberates around the airwaves and within the person, especially after declaring to beat the odds. Self-esteem and others’ respect is difficult to realize.

We might learn to earn end-of-life respect by adopting a new language beyond medical terminology while speaking about the “stages” of a serious illness in the context of an advance directive. How would Pele like to be respected at this stage of life? Is his medical condition treatable, incurable, or terminal? What does he value? What are his wishes? Continue on…