About half of heart procedure patients make end-of-life plans

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About half of heart procedure patients make end-of-life plans

By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Less than half of the patients who underwent a risky heart surgery at one medical center completed advanced directives to guide their care in the event they could no longer articulate their wishes, according to a new study. In addition to ensuring patients receive care that's in line with their wishes, the study’s senior author said advanced directives reduce the burden on family members who would otherwise make those decisions. “It’s really hard on loved ones to make those decisions if there has been no planning,” said Dr. Paul Mueller, chair of general internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Family members are often relieved when patients have already filled out an advanced directive, he said.

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