Categories | Examples of incongruities | |
---|---|---|
Congruence/Incongruity | Statements in interviews | Findings in advance directives (AD) |
Up-to-datedness | “After completion, I regularly signed it to reconfirm its contents.” (24S) | No more than one signature, dating from the day of completion in 04/2004. |
Place of death | “I want to die in a hospice or a palliative care unit.” (12D) | The preferred place of death, as stated in her AD, is her home. |
Values | “I described the values that are important for me when it comes to dying and that they are based on my faith.” (47D) | Neither faith nor faith-based values were mentioned. |
Requested/Wanted measures | “I want efficient pain control, no matter what happens.” (15 L) | The participant refuses any kind of measure or treatment. |
Rejected measures | “I would not want to live without legs or with paraplegia. For these situations, I refuse any further treatment.” (2B) | AD addresses permanent unconsciousness, probable permanent brain damage, permanent failure of vital body functions but neither amputation nor paraplegia. |
Time limits | “I am very clear about how long I would accept certain measures and have explained this in my AD. For example, I would accept a percutaneous feeding tube for no longer than 3 three weeks and then only if I will fully recover.” (14 W) | A time limit for a percutaneous feeding tube is not mentioned. AD states different time limits on different pages for resuscitation (e.g. no resuscitation after 7 min/3 min of cardiac arrest) and for discontinuation of certain measures in case of unconsciousness/coma (after a maximum of 3 months/3 weeks). |
Healthcare proxy and endurable power of attorney | “My two sons are my proxies. They live nearby and know very well what my preferences are.” (21S) | Not her sons but her husband is named in the document. He had died three years ago. |
Context of use of the AD (dying process, certain illness, emergency) | “If I am no longer able to speak, eat or swallow.” (16H) | The document is only valid for the dying process. |