A fine line between DNR and denied treatment for the elderly

Mar 8, 2023

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In this episode, we welcome Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, to discuss the issue of autonomy and treatment for elderly patients. He shares his experiences in the long-term care setting, and the disturbing trend of interpreting do not resuscitate (DNR) orders as orders not to treat a patient. He recounts instances where elderly patients were denied treatment and left to die, despite their wishes to be treated like a younger patient.

Alan emphasizes the importance of respecting patient autonomy and making sure that elderly patients are not denied medical treatment simply because of their age. He shares a heartening story of successfully treating a 95-year-old patient with urosepsis and restoring him to his previous state of health.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the thin line between "do not treat" and assisted suicide and the need to ensure that elderly patients are not denied medical treatment based on their age.

Alan Lindemann is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Breaking the silence: a doctor's plea for clarity in end-of-life care."

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