Chapter 1477: Even an Upright Judge Can’t Settle Family Affairs

Chapter 1477: Chapter 1477: Even an Upright Judge Can’t Settle Family Affairs

"Everyone, please quiet down. This is my first time doing such a mediation. You could even say this is the first time we’ve encountered such a situation."

After arriving at the small meeting room, Liu Banxia spoke up.

The patient’s family members stopped arguing.

"You are all the patient’s family. Now let me introduce the patient’s detailed situation," Liu Banxia continued.

"As I just mentioned, the patient is in poor health. If it were a young or middle-aged adult with the current test indicators, we could have more time for discussion."

"From the patient’s current condition, it can basically be determined as uremia. And the time left for us is not much."

"Currently, there are two treatment methods, and the method we recommend is dialysis. This can alleviate the patient’s disease progression. I don’t need to elaborate on the effectiveness, as you must have all heard about it."

"Doctor, then let’s do dialysis," the patient’s daughter spoke up.

"No matter what type of treatment we provide to the patient, it requires the consent of the patient’s family," Liu Banxia said.

"The current issue is that one of the family members mentioned to us that the patient had a prior instruction. This represents the patient’s wish, and we at the hospital must respect it."

"Normally, we would allow your family to discuss amongst yourselves and then give us a clear answer on whether or not to proceed with dialysis."

"But the patient’s current physical condition won’t give us that much time, so we need to speed up this process to leave as few regrets as possible."

"My opinion is to treat. If the elders can’t take care of him, he can come to my house," the patient’s second son spoke up.

"Although I can’t give my dad a kidney, dialysis should at least allow him to live a little longer, right? With better health, he could live two to three more years, or even three to five years."

"Do you think I don’t want to treat dad? Do you know why dad said those things?" the patient’s eldest son stood up.

"Ever since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, do you all know what kind of life dad has had? He almost set the house on fire three times and overdosed on medication twice."

"This illness sometimes makes him confused and sometimes clear-headed. When he’s clear, he knows what’s going on, and he doesn’t want to live like this."

"What can I do? If I don’t save my own dad, what will others say about me? Do you all think I’ve taken care of him enough and can’t wait for dad to pass away quickly?"

"Dad’s retirement is enough for me to hire a caregiver, and the care is not bad. If I really cared about money, wouldn’t it be better to let dad live a few more years?"

"Who knows," the patient’s daughter muttered.

"We should speak with conscience. The way we took care of the old man can be asked to neighbors, not just based on what we say," the patient’s eldest daughter-in-law spoke up.

"What about all of you? Besides looking at him during holidays, you eat and run out like you’re being chased. How much time do you really spend with him in a year?"

"Let’s speak less and focus on discussing the key issue, or else we won’t reach a conclusion," Liu Banxia hurriedly interjected.

If he didn’t speak, he had to, as it’s difficult to judge family affairs clearly and this has become a family issue.

And he’s a doctor, not a people’s mediator; he really can’t handle this.

"Let me ask, when the patient made a prior instruction, was there anyone else present?" Liu Banxia continued to ask.

The patient’s eldest son shook his head, "My dad is less and less clear-headed, sometimes only a few minutes of clarity, so it’s hard to find someone."

"But I know the old man is in a lot of pain living so confusedly. When we see him crying, we know he’s clear-headed again."

Liu Banxia was a bit stumped too; it seems the patient’s Alzheimer’s has progressed significantly.

It’s even harder to handle, as even if he mediates, it might not have much of an effect.

"Doctor, can’t you just make a decision?" the patient’s daughter asked.

Hearing this, everyone else also looked at Liu Banxia.

Liu Banxia could only shake his head, "I really can’t make this decision for you, as it’s beyond our capacity."

"The only solution right now is for you to quickly come up with a plan. Although our current handling could have some effect, it won’t be very significant."

"The only advice I can give is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Maybe after some empathy, you will find an answer."

"Doctor, can’t we first save him? Then we can stay with dad and verify his intentions when he’s clear," the patient’s daughter said.

Liu Banxia still shook his head, "That won’t work either because doing so would go against the patient’s wishes, and we would be held accountable."

"Because the patient has the right to accept or refuse treatment. Conducting unauthorized treatment is a responsibility we can’t afford."

"Doctor, we won’t hold you accountable. Wouldn’t that solve everything?" the patient’s second son asked.

"That still won’t work. This is a current limitation. If we proceed with forced treatment despite such instructions, the issue would be very serious," Liu Banxia explained.

"Alright, that’s all I can say. Discuss it amongst yourselves. We’re waiting for your rational decision."

After speaking, Liu Banxia left the small meeting room.

"Teacher Liu, Teacher Liu, what’s the outcome? To save or not to save?"

Just as he stepped out, Xu Yino ran up to him.

"Why are you so curious about everything? There’s no outcome yet. Whether to save him or not depends on their further discussion," Liu Banxia replied.

"Hey...Teacher Liu, do you think there could really be such a prior instruction?" Xu Yino asked.

"I’m not doubting the patient’s family, but this is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation. I’ve come across some patients refusing treatment after discovering symptoms."

"How do I put it? Personally, I lean toward believing the patient had such a prior instruction," Liu Banxia said.

"The patient’s eldest son mentioned that the patient’s retirement salary is enough to cover the caregiver expenses. Economically speaking, the patient shouldn’t be a burden to them."

"Also, the attitude of the patient’s eldest son is very sincere. Bringing this up is sure to attract some backlash. I’m just wondering, if faced with such a situation, whether to follow through or not."

"There are also pre-existing conflicts between the siblings, which are highlighted by this situation."

Xu Yino nodded, "Ah...let’s hope we don’t encounter such situations in the future. Teacher Liu, how can a prior instruction be clearly established?"

"Typically, it requires a lawyer or the patient’s children to bring it forward," Liu Banxia explained.

"A lawyer’s authorized document can make decisions on behalf of the patient. The patient’s family can also make decisions on behalf of the patient when they lose the ability to act."

"In many cases, these aren’t needed. Many people in our country don’t set up such prior instructions, which is quite different from foreign practices."

"Teacher Liu, can you predict what the decision might be?" Xu Yino continued to ask.

"I really can’t make that prediction. We can only start treatment after we receive clear authorization," Liu Banxia said.

"It’s such a complicated yet simple situation. For this patient, every decision has its pros and cons."

"Doing dialysis can save a life, but the impact of Alzheimer’s remains. Plus, dialysis isn’t a one-time treatment; it needs to be continued."

"But if we don’t do dialysis? This life would be gone soon. The patient’s physical indicators are too poor; they can’t hold on for long."

He remarked from his heart that, from his perspective, if his parents were in this situation, he would likely insist on treatment.

But if this matter concerned himself, he might make the same choice as the patient to forgo treatment.

He has also dealt with many Alzheimer’s patients and some brain tumor patients, which are illnesses that can affect a patient’s behavior.

Although they’re alive, the quality of life can’t really be mentioned.

If they are perpetually confused, it might not matter, but they do have lucid moments.

In the first couple of years, they might have mental support, but as the disease progresses, this support weakens.

The discussions among the patient’s family members continued, while Liu Banxia returned to Xu Hui to explain the situation.

"What’s wrong? Even you’re not effective?" Xu Hui asked.

"It’s hard to settle family affairs fairly, not to mention the complexities of today’s situation. I believe even if it went to court, the judge would have a hard time deciding," Liu Banxia replied.

"What we can do is wait until the family figures things out. Otherwise, there’s really nothing we can do, which is truly frustrating."

Xu Hui nodded, "If the director were here, I would just report to the director. But the director is in a meeting, and Old Chen has surgery today, so I had to ask you."

"No matter who you ask, the situation’s not much different. Even if it’s brought to Chief Director Chen, it’ll have to wait," Liu Banxia said with a bitter smile.

"Unless there becomes a clear legal provision on this matter, there’s this existing conflict problem. How do we judge and decide?"

A little helpless, but there’s really no option.

As a doctor, their opinions are only "for reference"; the actual decision-making lies in the hands of the patient and family.