17 months ago I was called to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield where my Mum was extremely poorly. It was a Saturday afternoon and she was in a bad way when I arrived and I was told that her heart had gone beserk and that they had shocked her heart back into a proper rhythm in order to save her life.
I was bemused rather than angry at the time that her wishes had been so ignored and had to accept a rather lame "I'm sorry - but I didn't know." from the doctor who had overseen her treatment.
She had a 'living will' lodged at her local surgery; I had informed the paramedics of the situation when she left our house by ambulance for the final time and I had informed the senior nurses on the ward. I really do not see that I could have done more.
IF - and with this government I always mean IF - there had been a better system in place perhaps Mum's nightmare could have been avoided.
God be praised that she did not drag on for more miserable months. She died 16 hours after this incident - just five hours after I had prayed very specifically for The Lord to take her.
