Page 30 - Unlikely Stories 4

Not in his Right Mind

Shaking off an unpleasant memory, Aaron continued.
“We had given up hope and were resigned to making arrangements
for end-of-life care, either at home or in a dedicated facility. Then we
received a call from our father’s gerontologist, Dr. Altman. He told
us about a new medical technology that might be life-saving. It was
still in the testing stages, but the government had approved a
compassionate use program under which the normal safeguards
could be waived. It had to be life or death, of course. We knew that,
but we had questions. They were answered by a representative from
Ariadne, the company developing a revolutionary method to treat
dementia, even in cases like our father’s. It turned out that we
wouldn’t have to pay anything—insurance wouldn’t cover it, in any
event—and we could sign the necessary papers under the terms of
the health care proxy he had set up long ago.”
Beryl wrote “has POA” on her notepad. “I see,” she said. “Then I
presume he also had a living will.”
“You mean a DNR—do not resuscitate—no heroic measures, no
intubation—that form?”
“Yes.”
“We have it, but I don’t see how it could have been applicable. I
mean, he was cognitively gone, unresponsive. Wouldn’t even respond
to his name, but—”
“I think he did, once, Aaron,” interjected Rose Narishke. “You
weren’t in the room. He blinked.”
Her brother frowned, took a deep breath, and collected his
thoughts.
“All right, Sis. Let us ask the lawyer. If a patient is able to breathe
on his own, then how can any document preclude his getting
treatment? Wouldn’t it be tantamount to assisted suicide if you can
create documents like that?”
Beryl shrugged.
“That may depend on the wording—which I would have to see. At
any rate, it is hypothetical until the occasion arises. And I think you
are indicating that you did in fact approve this experimental
procedure for your father, Morris Narishke. Is that correct?”
“Yes, ma’am. We did not know much about it in advance. Beyond
the usual disclaimers of liability by Ariadne, the details were

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