Doug's story

Doug was a 47-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with a recurrence of his acute leukaemia. He lived with his fiancé, Jessica, and had a sister, Brenda.

Doug was immediately commenced on chemotherapy. However, while under treatment he became very unwell with an infection. He displayed signs that within hours he would require life-support treatments in the intensive care unit.

The RPC Consultant spoke to Jessica about Doug’s wishes and whether Doug had ever spoken to her about what medical treatments he would want if he couldn’t communicate for himself. Jessica began to cry and said “he wouldn’t talk about these things”. When the RPC Consultant explained that Doug would be transferred to the intensive care unit and would be receiving life-support treatments, Jessica was confronted with the reality of having to make Doug’s decisions. Jessica said she didn’t know if she could make decisions for Doug and she did not know what Doug wanted.

The RPC Consultant arranged to talk with Doug and Jessica together. After explaining to him how sick he was and that he may not be able to communicate soon, the Consultant asked Doug whom he would want to make decisions for him. His response was immediate- “Jessica – she knows me the best”.

The Consultant then discussed what might happen in the intensive care unit and how Jessica needed to know what treatments he would want - and was there was anything that he would not want. Doug looked at his fiancé and said, “I will do anything to be with you and I will fight all the way”.

That was all Jessica needed to hear to support her fiancé through the following days in the intensive care unit. Many times the staff required her consent to provide treatment to Doug and she did so knowing that he wanted to fight this illness.

After 2 weeks in intensive care Doug’s condition deteriorated and he died. Jessica was very appreciative for all the care that he had received in the intensive care unit and was very grateful to have known what Doug wanted following the discussion with the RPC Consultant.