My 80 year old dad wants treatment for infections in wound MD and hosp say its time to die, what can i do?

my father suffered a brain injury from a fall, at 78 yrs. working skiing living independently suffered brain bleed and paralyzed left side. drs tried to get my brother and i to pull the plug said he'd never wake up but did after 20 days, i am an RN many years my brother and i both work and advocate for my father's care my father expresses his desire to continue treatment and living, has no living will or advanced directive, the doctors say it's time to die and the ethics committee said he has no right to live please help me if you have any advise i've sent certified letters to administrator medical directot, & ethics. made appointment to see chart, they cleaned everything out of chart such as studies and tests. a 2 year resident said to me today the whole hospital's opinion is to let my father die. i feel like i'm sweeping the ocean with a broom, why can't an elderly person make the decision to live and get treatment? we have been caring for my father for a year & a half , need advice.

From what I have learned over the years that is medical malpractice. No medical facility can deny a patient of care. If he is not in a coma (and hasn't been for a long time) there is no reason why he shouldn't receive care. I think it is time to seek another doctor/hospital and get a second opinion. If that was their parent what would they do? Given what you have told me, I am not sure if I want to know the answer to that question. If your father has the will and wish to live they should let him do just that. Your father does need to make up a living will and possibly assign you and your brother or atleast one as power of attorney. You will then be able to make the decisions if he becomes incompacitated. Heaven forbid, but if he passed on right now that hospital would be in a world of trouble for refusing a patient care. Take care and good luck.

you need a lawyer to get the hospital to do their duty...sounds like a 'money' problem...they don't want to spend it...so you'll have to, to get help for your father.

Guess who the bad guy is??/ Medicare!

as long as he has a will to live , by goodness let him. do you have an LTACH facility near where you live? No one has a right to tell you when you can die ONLY GOD! surely there is an M.D. in area willing to take case head on for your fathers side.

I don't know where you're from, but your father should have the option to choose life and get the care her needs. Can you move him to a different hospital? Maybe nursing home? Get a different physician?

Get your dad out of that hospital right away and find another doctor right away. there might even be a good one in that hospital. Listen to me PLEASE.

The hospital kidnapped then starved my mother to death. I'm not kidding.

Get him out of there. Just because he is old doen't mean he has to suffer or have a bad life.

My God mother just made 83 and she is bragging all over the USA. Flying on airplaines and doing whatever she wants. Listen to your dad. You know hats he wants too. Do it and you will see him get happy over night.

I agree with Kathy A. Get a darned good lawyer, one who handles cases like your father's. Look in the yellow pages, network with co-workers and friends. Contact your state attorney general and/or your state assemblyman. Document everything you've done so far, keep copies of letters you've written. Also have lawyer make up and dad sign power of attorney papers for you and your brother, both for health care and financial, so that when dad can't make his own decisions, you boys can take care of things legally. Can you move him to different hospital? Check with their administration also on what their policies are. Good luck to all 3 of you.