Jeanette saw her mother revived against her will: 'I just shouted stop, stop, stop'

Law Change for Those Over 60 Years Old

------------------------------

A law change comes into effect today that aims to ensure that fewer people are resuscitated against their will, like Jeanette Jensen Gehrts mother was. Now, all – healthy or sick – Danish citizens over 60 years old will have the right to refuse resuscitation if their heart stops.

>

> It is heartbreaking to see one's otherwise strong mother scream in pain and

> cry, 'help me, help me, help me in distress.'

> Jeanette Jensen Gehrt from Gram

It is important, says the medical chief for the pre-hospital area in Region South Denmark Gitte Jørgensen.

- We must respect the fact that the citizen has a wish about how their life should end, she says.

The wish to not be resuscitated in case of heart stoppage applies across the entire healthcare system. It will appear on the screen as soon as a healthcare professional enters your name or personal number into the system.

----------------------

What is a heart stoppage?

----------------------

Most heart stoppages occur due to a blood clot in the heart or in the arteries.

Other times, heart stoppage is caused by disturbances in heart rhythm.

During a heart stoppage, the heart stops pumping blood throughout the body. The body's organs do not receive oxygen and begin to suffer damage.

For every minute without first aid, the chance of survival decreases by seven to ten percent.

After four to six minutes, the brain begins to die.

If one does not receive help within approximately ten minutes, most people will suffer permanent damage or die.

The chance of surviving a heart stoppage increases by about three times if someone nearby can provide first aid until the ambulance arrives.

Source: The Heart Association

---------------------------------------

'Help me, help me, help me in distress’

---------------------------------------

The following three weeks were a living nightmare for Jeanette Jensen Gehrt and her closest family. The mother survived, but it was not easy to reach her.

- It was just not right. It is heartbreaking to see one's otherwise strong mother scream in pain and cry, 'help me, help me, help me in distress.'

One Friday in June, the mother's heart stopped for the second and final time.

- It was good that she found peace. But it would have been better if she had found peace the day she had the first heart stoppage.

--------------------

Sought law change

--------------------

>

> We must respect the fact that the citizen has a wish about how their life should

> end.

> Gitte Jørgensen, medical chief for the pre-hospital area in Region

> South Denmark

The right to refuse resuscitation attempts during a heart stoppage has been sought by several actors, including the Medical Association. Chief Physician and President Camilla Rathcke believes that the law change is fundamentally a good idea.

- Resuscitation is essentially a treatment offer that one can say no to.

The Ethics Council has also requested the right to self-determine the end of life. Chairman Leif Vestergaard Pedersen criticizes, however, that the law change has not been accompanied by an information campaign.

The problematic nature of this can be understood by Camilla Rathcke, but she hopes that citizens take the time to think carefully and consider their decision thoroughly before making one.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.