@Chelly, I. think your directive makes a lot of sense. I pretty much feel the same way, although I might allow my daughter (RN). to make a call about a temporary use of a ventilator. Fortunately, many doctors are not rushing to ventilators as quickly as before. So hopefully, if you ever get CV (and you might not), you can survive it without those invasive measures.
I think having those instructions forces doctors to try other things. Antivirals need to be used early on. So do not wait to go to the ER if you have a sudden loss of sense of smell or taste, or a new cough or, especially, shortness of breath. Lots can be done without a ventilator.
If my family wants me on a ventilator while they come to terms with what's going on, I'm okay with that (I will be in no shape to know or care at that point). I was on one in January, a bit unexpectedly and only briefly - as I had feared, even a minor surgery necessitated a ventilator for me, an asthmatic. I think it was out of abundance of caution, but boy did I like the anesthesiologist and her explanation of why she did it - I was of course under sedation.
My biggest worry is that if I die, our very good health plan dies with me and my DH is uninsured. He would have to spend a big chunk of money on health insurance, plus the cash-out of my main retirement account is not as great as if I were to live another 10 years. It's good to think about these things though.
And thank all you fellow Americans for giving me my piece of the communal pie.
......Do it like the Germans....
