As health insurance professionals, we often think we understand the intricacies of healthcare. A personal experience has shown me just how wrong I was. On December 7, 2023, my father passed away after a traumatic fall on November 28. This short, 10-day journey revealed just how little I knew about hospital systems and the vital role of advocacy.
Hospital systems are fundamentally designed to preserve life, often at the expense of respecting a patient’s wishes. Despite having all the necessary legal documents, including a medical power of attorney and a notarized do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, I found myself repeatedly fighting to honor my father’s wishes. His adamant refusal to be put on a ventilator was a constant battle, even with a DNR bracelet.
