ATLANTA — In April 2018, Charles Milne picked up the phone to hear that his 73-year-old sister was fighting for her life.
A nurse from her Marietta nursing home said his sister was having trouble breathing, he said. He asked the nursing home on the phone to send her to a hospital. But the nurse said Leona Milne signed a non-resuscitation (DNR) order and refused to go to the hospital, he said.
kAm{6@?2 |:=?6 5:65 E92E 52J 27E6C D96 DE@AA65 3C62E9:?8 2?5 5:5?’E C646:G6 r!#]qFE 96C 3C@E96C =2E6C =62C ?65 E92E 96C s}# @C56C 925 366? :>AC@A6C=JD:8?65[ 2 =2HDF:E 2==686D] %96 DF:E 2==686D :E H2D A2CE @7 2 A2EE6C? @7 >>@C6 E92? `h_ 5@?@EC6DFD4:E2E6 @C56CD E92E H6C6 :?4@CC64E=J 4C62E65 3J E96 ?FCD:?8 9@>6’DH@C<6CD]k^Am
kAm“xE D66>65 =:<6 ?@3@5J 42C65[” r92C=6D |:=?6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D6G6C6[ E96 2==682E:@?D 😕 E96 42D6 9:89=:89E 2 A6CD:DE6?E :DDF6 E92E AFED C6D:56?ED 2?5 A2E:6?ED 2E C:D< :? D6?:@C 42C6 724:=:E:6D 24C@DD v6@C8:2] u24:=:EJ 6>A=@J66D @7E6? 92G6 EC@F3=6 4@>A=6E:?8[ 7:=:?8 @C :56?E:7J:?8 A2E:6?E s}#D[ 2? pE=2?E2 y@FC?2=r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?2=JD:D 7@F?5]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6HDA2A6C :56?E:7:65 >@C6 E92? `__ v6@C8:2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>F?:EJ w62=E9 WsrwX :?G6DE:82E:@?D H96C6 s}# A2A6CH@C< @C AC24E:46D H6C6 ?@E AC@A6C=J 7@==@H65 :? ?FCD:?8 9@>6D[ 2DD:DE65 =:G:?8 724:=:E:6D 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 9@>6D 😕 E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD] p?5 😕 D@>6 42D6D[ DE277 72:=65 E@ 25>:?:DE6C r!# 2?5 C6D:56?ED 5:65[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96:C >65:42= C64@C5 :?5:42E65 E96J H2?E65 E@ 36 C6DFD4:E2E65]k^Am
kAm!2E:6?E 42C6 25G@42E6D D2J E96 D:EF2E:@? 😕 v6@C8:2 😀 A2CE @7 2 3C@256C ?2E:@?H:56 4C:D:D E92E AFED =:G6D 2E C:D< 2?5 G:@=2E6D 2 724:=: EJ C6D:56?E'D 5:8?:EJ E@ 49@@D6 9@H E96J H:== =:G6 2?5 5:6]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 5@?6 G6CJ =:EE=6 — v6@C8:2 @C 2?J3@5J — E@ >26D EC2:?[ F?56CDE2?5 2?5 92G6 E96 C64@C5D E@ 8F2C2?E66 E92E ,s}#D. H:== 36 9@?@C65[” }6H *@CAC@76DD@C 2?5 >65:42= 6E9:4:DE pCE9FC r2A=2? D2:5] “%96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 😀 ?@E E96C6]”k^Am
kAmr@?7FD:@? 2?5 4@?D6BF6?46Dk^Am
kAmx?4@>A=6E6 A2A6CH@C<]r@?EC25:4E@CJ s}# DE2EFD6D]$E277 F?46CE2:?EJ 23@FE 2 C6D:56?E'D s}# DE2? 5:?8]k^Am
kAmp== @7 E96 23@G6 92G6 92AA6?65 😕 v6@C8:2’D ?FCD:?8 9@>6D[ 2DD:DE65 =:G:?8 724:=:E:6D 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 9@>6D — 2?5 D@>6E:>6D[ E96 4@?D6BF6?46D 2C6 5625=J[ E96 pyr C6G:6H 7@F?5]k^Am
kAm%JA:42==Y[ ?FCD:?8 9@>6D 2?5 @E96C D6?:@C 42C6 724:=:E:6D 2D< :?4@>:?8 C6D:56?ED :7 E96J H2?E E@ 36 C6DFD4:E2E65 @C ?@E 😕 E96 6G6?E @7 2 >65:42= 4C:D:D] %96:C C6DA@?D6 D9@F=5 36 5@4F>6?E65 😕 E96:C 7:=6]$E277 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ C676C E@ E96:C C64@C5 7@C 8F:52?46 @? H96E96C @C ?@EE@ ECJ E@ C6DFD4:E2E6 E96 A2E:6?E :7 E96:C 962CE @C 3C62E9:?8 DE@AD]k^Am
kAmx7 2 A2E:6?E 5@6D?’E H2?EE@ 36 C6DFD4:E2E65[ 2 s}# @C56C D9@F=5 36 HC:EE6? 5@H? 2?5 A=2465 😕 E96:C 7:=6] ~7E6?E:>6D[ C6D:56?ED H9@ 49@@D6 s}#D 2C6 E6C>:?2==J :== @C D@ 7C2:= E92E E96:C 3@5J 42??@E 92?5=6 E96 D@>6E:>6D 3CFE2= D:56 67764ED @7 r!#[ =:<6 4C24<65 C:3D @C E@C? @C82?D]k^Am
kAmqFE 6G6? H:E9 E96 HC:EE6? 5:C64E:G6D[ C6D:56?E H:D96D 2C6?’E 2=H2JD 7@==@H65[ C64@C5D D9@H]k^Am
kAm%H@ ?FCD:?8 9@>6 C6D:56?ED 2E {2FC6= !2C< $<:==65 }FCD:?8 2.5 #6923:=:E2E:@? :? $E@4<3C:586 5:65 27E6C DE277 >:DE2<6?=J E9@F89E E96J 925 s}#D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63=:?<]549]86@C8:2]8@G^(63{:?<^t=64EC@?:4u:=6]2DAIn5@4:5l`eh`e`U2>Aj53:5lcU2>AjC6A@l(tqQm2 srw C6A@CE:? a_`h]k^2m x? @?6 @7 E96 562E9D[ DE277 25>:?:DE6C65 r!# E@ E96 C6D:56?E 2? 9@FC 27E6C E96J H6C6 7@F?5 F?C6DA@?D:G6] xE E@@< E92E =@?8 7@C DE277 E@ =@42E6 E96 A6CD@?’D 7@C> E92E :?5:42E65 E96J H2?E65 E@ 36 C6G:G65[ C64@C5D D9@H]k^Am
kAmx? 2 HC:EE6? DE2E6>6?E[ E96 724:=:EJ’D A2C6?E 4@>A2?J !CF:EEw62=E9 D2:5 :E 😀 4@>>:EE65 E@ EC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 4@>A=:2?46]k^Am
kAm”(6 4@?E:?F2==JH@C< H:E9 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6 C68F=2E@CD E@ :56?E:7J 2?5 255C6DD 2C62D @7 A@E6? E:2= 4@?46C?[” !CF:EEw62=E9 DA@<6DH@>2? %@?;2 qC:586D HC@E6 😕 2? 6>2:=]k^Am
kAmx? 42D6D 2E @E96C 724:=:E:6D[ DE277 D@>6E:>6D E@@< E@@ =@?8 E@ 7:?5 2 A2E:6?E’D s}# DE2EFD — =:<6 :? E96 $F:E6D 2E (:==@H !@?5[ 2 D6?:@C =:G:?8 724:=:EJ :? $E2E6D3@C@] t>6C86?4J |65:42= $6CG:46D Wt|$X A6CD@??6= 2CC:G65 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2;4]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6TtaTg_ThcC68:@?2 =^562E9DE:65G:@=2E:@?D86@C8:2D6?:@C42C69@>6D^9pB)zdb”*qF9qzB)xy|sv{^Qm2 42== :?a_`f E@ 7:?5 E9C66 DE277 >6>36CDk^2m DE2?5:?8 2C@F?5 2?F?C6DA@?D:G6 C6D:56?ED=F >A65 @G6C :?2 H966=492:C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63=:?<]549]86@C8:2]8@G^(63{:?<^t=64EC@?:4u:=6]2DAIn5@4:5l`abba`U2>Aj53:5lcU2>AjC6A@l(tqQmsrw C64@C5Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 C6DA@?56CD 2D<65 H92E H2D 92AA6?:?8[ 2 DE277 >6>36C 2E E96 724:=:EJ =67E E@ 76E49 E96 C6D:56?E’D s}# DE2EFD[ 7:?5:?8 :E “D@>6 E:>6 =2E6C[” E96 C6A@CE D2:5] t|$2EE6>AE65r!# 27E6CH2C5 2.5 EC2?D76CC65 E96 C6D:56?EE@E96 9@DA:E2=[ 3FE E96 C6D:56?E 5:65[ C64@C5D D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 4FCC6?E 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 $F:E6D 2E (:==@H !@?5 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E[ D2J:?8 D96 5:5 ?@E H@C< 2E E96 724:=:EJ :? a_`f]k^Am
kAmpere?5 😕 D@>6 42D6D[ :E H2D?’E 4=62C :7 2 A2E:6?E 925 E96 4@8?:E:G6 2H2C6?6DD E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96J H6C6 D:8?:?8 2 s}#]k^Am
kAmpE q@F?E:7F= w:==D $6?:@C {:G:?8 😕 r@>>6C46[ 2? 2DD:DE65 =:G:?8 C6D:56?E :?5:42E65 😕 a_a_ E92E E96J H2?E65 2 s}#] qFE E96 724:=:EJ 72:=65 E@ 92G6 E96 A6CD@? D:8? E96 4@CC64E 7@C>D[ C64@C5D D9@H]k^Am
came|@C6 E92? J62C = 2E6C[ 2D E96 C6D:56?E’D 962=E9 564=:?65[ 2 DE277 >6>36C 925 E96 C6D:56?E D:8? E96 s}# 7@C>[ 2 a_a` k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63=:?<]549]86@C8:2]8@G^(63{:?<^t=64EC@?:4u:=6]2DAIn5@4:5l`fg_feU2>Aj53:5lcU2>AjC6A@l(tqQmsrw C6A@CE D2:5k^2m]qJ E92E E:>6[ E96 C6D:56?E H9@ 925 366? 5:28?@D65 H:E9 56>6?E:2 H2D =6E92C8:4 2?5 ?@E 23=6 E@ DA62<[ E96 C6A@CE D2:5] %9:D 492:? @7 6G6?ED 4@?46C?65 2? F??2>65 H:E?6DD H9@ D2:5 E96 C6D:56?E H2D 😕 ?@ 4@?5:E:@? E@ >2<6 E96D6 EJA6 @7 564:D:@?D @C "4@?D6?EE@ 2?JE9:?8[” C64@C5D D9@H]k^Am
kAmsrw 4:E65 E96 724:=:EJ 7@C 72:=:?8 E@ DFAA@CE C6D:56?EC:89ED]qFE }:49@=2D %6CKF==:[ q@F?E:7F= w:==D’ 2EE@C?6J[ >2:?E2:?D E92E E96 724:=:EJ 5:5 ?@E >:D92?5=6 E96 C6D:56?E’D s}#]k^Am
kAm“t?5 @7 =:76 564:D:@?D 2C6 2=H2JD 5:77:4F=E[ 2?5 @FC DE277 H@C
kAms}# 4@?7FD:@? 😕 D6?:@C 42C6 =:G:?8 724:=:E:6D :D?’E ?6H[ D2:5 r2A=2?[ E96 >65:42= 6E9:4:DE — 2?5 :E 42?’E 36 2EEC:3FE65 E@ 2 D:?8=6 42FD6] $@>6E:>6D :E 92AA6?D 3642FD6 &]$]962=E942C6 724:=:E:6D =24< 2 F?:G6CD2= DJDE6> @7 C64@C5<66A:?8[ H9:49 42? 42FD6 A2A6CH@C< E@ 72== 36EH66? E96 4C24
kAmqFE >@DE @7E6?[ :E’D 3642FD6 724:=:E:6D 5@?’E :?G6DE 6?@F89 😕 E96:C DE277[ H9@ 2C6 FDF2==J F?56CEC2:?65 2?5 F?56CA2:5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ r2A=2?] |2?J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2;4]4@>^?6HD^DE277D9@CE286AFED6=56C=J:?;6@A2C5J2E>2?J 86@C8:2?FCD:?89@>6D^!++e’fq~adu!qu$f%}*abdq’*|^Qm724:=:E:6D 2C6 2=D@ DEC6E4965 E9:?k^2m CJEU:?8 E@ 42C6 7@CD@ >2?J C6D:56?ED[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
cAm“!6@A=6 H9@8@:? E96C6 F?244@>A2?:65 @C 364@>6 56>6?E65[ E96J 42?’E =@@< @FE 7@C E96>D6=G6D[” r2A=2? D2:5] ‘p?5E96J’C686EE:?8E2<6? 42C6 @7 3J A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 32C6=J >2<:?8 H92E E96J 86E 2E qFC86C z:?8]”k^Am
kAmV%9:D 42?’E <66A 92AA6?:?8Vk^Am
kAm{6@?2 |:=?6 H2D 25>:EE65 E@ #@D6=2?6 w62=E9 2?5 #6923:=:E2E:@? r6?E6C:? |2C:6EE2:? pAC:= a_`g E@C64@G6C 7C@> 2 E@6 2>AFE2E: @?]$96 925 2EC:2= 7:3C:==2E: @?[ 2 4@?5:E:@? E92E 42FD6D 2? 23?@C>2= 962CE362E[ 3FE H2D @E96CH:D6 😕 C6=2E:G6=J 8@@5 962=E9[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 96C 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmx?E6==64EF2==J 5:D23=65 D:?46 49:=59@@5[ D96 925 E96 >6?E2= 42A24:EJ @7 2 `_J62C@=5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 96C 72>:=J’D =2HDF:E] $E:==[ E96 52J 27E6C 96C 2CC:G2=[ {6@?2 H2D 2==@H65 E@ D:8? 2 s}# 2E #@D6=2?6] w6C 3C@E96C 2?5 42C6E2<6C[ r92C=6D |:=?6[ 5:5 ?@E
kAm{6@?2’D s}# 7@C> H2D 2 A2CE @7 2 A2EE6C? @7 >>@C6 E92? `h_ 7@C>D E92E E96 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 925 :>AC@A6C=J 7:==65 @FE[ E96 DF:E 2==686D] %96 724:=:EJ FD65 7@C>D A9@E@4@A:65 H:E9 AC66I:DE:?8 A9JD:4:2? D:8?2EFC6D :?DE625 @7 92G:?8 2 A9JD:4:2? 6G2=F2E6 6249 A2E:6?E’D D:EF2E:@? 😕 @A6CD?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DF:E] x? {6@?2’Q 42D6 — 2?5 😕 23@FE 92=7 @7 E96 @E96C s}#D — E96 7@C> 925 E96 D:8?2EFC6 @7 2 A9JD:4:2? H9@ 925 =67E E96 724:=:EJ >@?E9D 367@C6 :E H2D D:8?65 3J E96 A2E:6?E[ E96 DF:E 2==686D] %96 7@C>D H6C6 2=D@ ?6G6C C6G:6H65 3J 2? 6E9:4D 4@>>:EE66 2D A6C =2H[ E96 DF:E D2JD]k^Am
kAm%96 724:=:EJ 2?5 :ED A2C6?E 4@>A2?J[ $2G2$6?:@Cr2C6[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 H96? E96 pyr C624965 @FE 7@C 4@>>6?E] %96 4@>A2?J C6D@=G65 ED: A2CE:? E96 = 2HDF:E 27E6C 2? F?5:D4=@D65 7:?2?4:2= D6EE=6>6?E:? a_a`]qFE r92C=6D |:=?6 92D 4@?E:?F65 E@ ECJ E@ 9@=5 {6@?2’D AC:>2CJ A9JD:4:2? 2E E96 724:=:EJ 244@F?E23=6]x? |2y[ 96 EC2?D76CC65 E96 =2HDF:E 2?5 ?2>65 96C 2D 2 5676?52?E C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C {6@?2’D 562E9]k^Am
kAm”%96C6’D ?@ 4@>6324< 7C@> 2s}#[” D2:5 |:4926= !C:6E@[ E96 72>:=J’D 2EE@C?6J] “%9:D =25J H2D 56AC:G65 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C64@G6C]“k^Am
kAm%96 5@4E@C[ E9C@F89 96C 2EE@C?6J[ 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E] %96 DF:E D2JD E92E 96C ?68=:86?E @G6CD:89E @7 A2E:6?E >65:42= C64@C5D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ {6@?2’D 562E9 ]k^Am
kAmr92C=6D D2JD 9:DD:DE6C’D 562E9 DE:== 92F?ED 9:>]w6 C6>6>36CD 36:?8 DEF4< :? DE2?5DE:== EC277:4 2=@?8 v2] c__ H96? 96 C646:G65 E96 A9@?6 42== 23@FE 96C 3C62E9:?8 AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAm“x 4@F=5?’E 86E E96C6]%96 2?8F:D9 x H6?E E9C@F89[” r92C=6D D2:5] “x <66A C6=:G:?8 E96 C:56 5@H? c__]"k^Am
kAm———k^Am
kAms~}~%#t$&$rx%p%t ~#st#$ t)!{px}tsk^Am
kAmp 5@?@EC6DFD4:E2E6 @C56C[ @C s}#[ 😀 2 >65:42= @C56C 😕 2 A6CD@?’D 7:=6 E92E :?DECF4ED 962=E942C6 AC@G:56CD E@ ?@E 25>:?:DE6C r!# :7 2 A2E:6?E’D 3C62E9:?8 @C 962CE DE@AD] %JA:42= s}# 42?5:52E6D :?4=F56 A6@A=6 H:E9 E6C>:?2= :==?6DD6D @C H9@D6 3@5:6D 42 ?? @E 92?5=6 r!#[ H9:49 42? 3C62< C:3D 2?5 52>286 @C82?D]k^Am
kAmx? v6@C8:2[ 25F=ED 42A23=6 @7 >2<:?8 564:D:@?D 42? 4@?D6?E E@ 2 s}# 2?5 42?46= :E 2?JE:>6] %96:C A9JD:4:2? 42? 2=D@ 42?46= E96 s}# :7 E96J 36=:6G6 E96 A2E:6?E D9@F=5 ?@ =@?86C 36 2 s}# 42?5:52E6]k^Am
kAm$@>6@?6 H:E9 A@H6C @7 2EE@C?6J @C 2 962=E9 42C6 H@C<6C F?56C 2? 25G2?465 5:C64E:G6 42? 2=D@ 4@?D6?E 7@C E96 A6CD@? F?56C E96:C 42C6 E@ 92G6 2 s}#[ :7 E92E A6CD@? :D ?@E 42A23=6 @7 >2<:?8 E96 564:D:@? @? 9:D @C 96C @H?]w@H6G6C[ 724:=:E:6D >FDE 4@?D:56C H92E E96 A6CD@? H@F=5 92G6 H2?E65 :7 E96 A6CD@? 4@F=5 F?56CDE2?5 E96 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^Am
kAmx? D:EF2E:@?D H96C6 ?@3@5J 😀 4@>A6E6?E @C 2G2:=23=6 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? 2?5 E96 25F=E :D C646:G:?8 EC62E>6?E 7C@> 2 962=E9 42C6 724:=:EJ E92E :D?’E 2 9@DA:46 @C 9@>6 962=E9 286?4J[ E96 s}# 8@6D E9C@F89 2 EH@DE6A AC@46DD 367@C6 :E 42? 364@>6 G2=:5ik^Am
kAm`X %H@ A9JD:4:2?D C6G:6H 2?5 D:8? E96 s}#[ H9:49 8@6D 😕 E96 A2E:6?E’D >65:42= C64@C5]k^Am
kAmax p? 6E9:4D 4@>>:EE66 C6G:6HD E96 s}#]k^Am
kAm%9:D EH@DE6A AC@46DD @7E6? 2AA=:6D E@ E96 >@DE GF=?6C23=6 C6D:56?ED 2?5 A2E:6?ED 😕 D6?:@C 42C6 724:=:E:6D[ >2?J E92E 92G6 4@8?:E:G6 :DDF6D E92E :>A2:C E96:C 564:D:@?>2<:?8 23:=:E:6D] r92C=6D |:=?6'D =2HDF:E 2==686D E92E 9:DD:DE6C[ {6@?2[ D9@F=5 92G6 C646:G65 E9:D EJA6 @7 C6G:6H]k^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >>@C6 23@FE s}#D[ J@F 42? C625 E96 v6@C8:2 962=E9 4@56 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@56D]7:?5=2H]4@>^82^E:E=6b`962=E9^824@56D64Eb`bhc^Qm96C6k^2m]k^Am
kAm———k^Am
kAm©a_aa %96 pE=2?E2 y@FC?2=r@?DE:EFE:@?]’:D:E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2;4]4@>Qm2;4]4@>k^2m]s:DEC:3FE65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC:3F?64@?E6?E286?4J]4@>Qm%C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86? 4y[ {{r]k^2mk^Am
