Letters on end-of-life wishes, not Clinton or Bush, washboard road
Make end-of-life wishes known
Thursday is National Healthcare Decisions Day. Why is this significant? We all face the certainty of Tax Day on April 15, but none of us knows when an accident or acute illness will change our lives.
As a nurse who has worked in end-of-life care for more than 25 years, I too often witness the angst of families as they are trying to make health care decisions for their loved ones. The best time to talk about our wishes for end-of-life care is before we need it, when we can still speak for ourselves.
Fortunately, we have the tools to document our wishes through a living will or by naming someone we trust to be our durable power of attorney for health care in case we are unable to speak for ourselves. Another tool is the Transportable Physician Orders for Patient Preferences form, a means by which our treatment preferences can be translated into medical orders if we are facing an advanced or terminal illness.
For information on TPOPP, go to TPOPPWichita.org. Information on advanced directives and free forms are available at nhdd.org. Providing care that truly reflects your wishes begins by making them known.
DEANNA SPEER
Wichita
No Clinton, Bush
Democrats and Republicans: No more Clintons and Bushes, please. We citizens can’t take it.
Democrats: Your choice should be someone like John Kerry, a respected senator and now secretary of state who is doing a difficult job. At least he has real experience in Congress and internationally.
Republicans: Surely not Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. You have a proven governor in Scott Walker of Wisconsin. At least Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., would help with the Latino vote, and I feel he has the interest of the country at heart. He also shows intelligence.
Personally, I dislike both of our political parties. Each side has made serious mistakes in the true safety and well-being of this country and its citizens.
Asian and Mideast wars have been a complete drag on us and our economy. There has been overspending on political interests, not on the good of the citizens who pay for the financial burdens and blunders of politics.
Both parties should be ashamed of the $18 trillion U.S. debt. They are voted into power to work for the people and not themselves. This goes for local and state officials as well. If you only want political power, get out. Leave it those who care.
JOE HOLUB
Haysville
Washboard road
I drove recently from Augusta to Wichita on the new asphalt on U.S. 54. It was already a washboard. Where did you find these guys?
Whoever did the due diligence on this company should be fired for incompetence.
It should really be fun in a few years – if it lasts that long. Glad I don’t have to drive it every day.
JOE STEINER
Winfield
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This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Letters on end-of-life wishes, not Clinton or Bush, washboard road."