“Do Not Resuscitate”

“Oh Grave, Where is they Victory? Oh Death, where is they sting?’ . Medical technology has, in recent years, progressed to the point that terminally ill and severely brain-damaged patients can be kept alive almost indefinitely by artificial measures. Cryogenically preserving specimens with uncurable diseases until such time that cures are available is not beyond the reach of many. Dying with dignity by choosing when and how one will approach death is an option in today’s world. The sting of death has, in many ways, been taken away.
Powers of attorneys, living wills, explicit instructions and “Do Not Resuscitate” orders have provided a sense of control over death for the person that is dying, as well as for the family members or others left in charge of a dying person. Although facing the inevitable end of one’s life is not a particularly enjoyable task, it is a way for everyone to have some control over their fate at a time they are no longer able to speak f...