Recent discussions regarding "death with dignity" remind us that there is often much unnecessary suffering in the last days or months of one's life as Americans are subjected to expensive and painful treatments that have no efficacy for prolonging a true existence ("Raven O.J. Brigance joins emotional debate over 'death with dignity' bill," March 10). As the president of LifeSpan Network, the largest senior care provider association in the Mid-Atlantic, I want to let Marylanders know that dying badly does not necessarily have to be part of dying for many. Once you are an "older adult" there are steps you can take to ensure your end-of-life care is filled with compassion, sensitivity and respect.
One way to accomplish this is by executing a MOLST form (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) with your doctor or nurse practitioner. The MOLST form consolidates important information into orders that are valid across the continuum of care, reminds patients and providers of available treatment options and, above all, increases the likelihood that a patient's wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments are honored throughout the health care system. For more information or to access the form, visit marylandmolst.org.
Isabella Firth, Columbia
The writer is president of the LifeSpan Network.