Medical Choices

[poliphilo]

We take my mother to the anti-veg clinic every two months. They give her an eye test and a scan and then the doctor reviews the case. The first two or three times they gave her injections to stop a bleed in the left eye- but that's a long time ago now.

Yesterday the doctor- an Eastern European whose abruptness was probably just an Eastern European thing and not intentional rudeness- offered surgery for one eye and laser treatment in the other. My mother hasn't a clue so the response was mine to make.

Personally I think a 94 year old should be kept away from the knife, but that's just my opinion. It would be nice if my mother had opinions of her own but she doesn't any more. What would she choose for herself if she still could choose? I've no idea. She's had laser treatment in the past but then was in her late seventies or early eighties- and still leading an active life.

It's not as if her eyesight were her chief problem. Her chief problem is understanding what she sees.

Comments

[basefinder.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. The pain and confusion of recovery would probably outweigh any benefits of the treatment. Sometimes treatment isn't the best choice.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It isn't. We don't always have to be fighting the natural processes of decay.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

What a tough choice. But I guess I agree with ^^^^ - and you. She probably won't understand what she sees.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Was said medic actually aware of the issues your mum has?

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

94 is definitely too old for that sort of surgery of the elective sort and the doctor should have known better or at least known to ask about your mother's other health issues.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

She gave up reading a long time back- because she could no longer follow a sentence.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I doubt it. We'd never seen this doctor before- and all she had were the medical notes. She's an eye specialist and my mother's mental condition is quite outside her remit.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you agree. For all her mental impairment my mother has a reasonable quality of life; I see no reason for medical intervention.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

OTOH, it's not a general anaesthetic is it?

Although if the patient needs to be able to cooperate during the procedure (which is often while sedated) she'd be at risk.

(NB - This is me pondering, I respect whatever decision you make.)