The founder and lead surgeon of the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise talks about end-of-life decisions.

Decatur, TX – Giving patients the ability to die in peace and dignity without heroic medical interventions that may only briefly extend life is becoming a prevailing trend in medicine. As the paradigm shifts, healthcare providers and the patients they serve must grapple with the ethical and emotional issues that often surrounded end-of-life care.

“It is a very difficult topic to broach for both patients and medical professionals, but it is often one that must be faced head-on to ensure patient wishes are known and acknowledged,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise. “Ultimately, the most important directives in end-of-life care come from the patient personally.”

A recent study casts light on the changing thoughts surrounding end-of-life care. That study found that nearly 42 percent of primary care physicians felt they over-treated patients in end-of-life scenarios. Another study, however, found that some patients do not want their doctors to give up on them. In some cases, patients that pushed for heroic interventions were able to overcome medical issues and have their lives saved.

“The seemingly at-odds perspectives shine a light on the importance of communication between patients and their healthcare providers,” says Dr. Echt. “Advanced directives that spell out wishes are important to address situations where a person might not be able to speak for him or herself. For patients facing terminal conditions, ongoing communication is crucial to make certain those providing care know and respect patient wishes in regard to heroic interventions.”

As people age or if life-threatening conditions arise, it is recommended that people make their end-of-life wishes known. Completing advanced directive forms is just one facet. It is also vital for patients to communicate their preferences to their healthcare providers.

About North Texas Cancer Center at Wise
North Texas Cancer Center at Wise, a division of Choice Cancer Care, is now operating as the Cancer Center at Wise Regional and is one of the most renowned cancer treatment centers in Texas. The center unites some of the best cancer doctors and surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Our expert team delivers superior cancer treatment in Texas, with the best results available.