Too many homeless persons? Here’s a thought….
From PR Newswire:
Homeless persons prefer more aggressive medical care than the physicians making decisions for them, which may result in treatment preferences of homeless persons being overlooked. A new study published in the June issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, reports that homeless persons are more likely than physicians to want lifesaving procedures performed on them. As a result, homeless persons who must rely on physicians as surrogate decision makers for medical care may receive less aggressive treatment than they would choose for themselves.
Advocates for the homeless might suggest to their clients that it is especially important for homeless perons to make and have immediate access to advance directives . . . to protect themselves, it would seem.