CRMC-West 214 E. 23 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
CRMC-East 2600 E. 18 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Health & Fitness 1620 E. Pershing, Cheyenne, WY 82001

(307) 634-CARE

Deciding to limit or stop life-sustaining treatments means you may choose to stop some or all attempts to fight a condition's progress or to extend life. Treatment may then focus more on increasing comfort until life ends naturally. This is considered when there is little or no chance of reversing a medical condition; life-sustaining treatment would only prolong dying.

This information is not a substitute for an informed discussion with a healthcare provider. Healthcare facilities policies or state laws may differ.

It may involve:

• comfort care - accepting only treatments intended to reduce pain and increase comfort;
• a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, which tells healthcare providers not to use CPR when the heart and breathing stop;
• being taken off a ventilator;
• refusing chemotherapy;
• refusing tube feedings or hydration;
• declining other forms of treatment;
• hospice care.

Possible benefits are a more peaceful death a way for patients to feel they are dying with dignity, free of tubes and machines time to spend with loved ones in comfort before the end of life the option of dying at home, if possible.

Points to consider are that dropping treatments may cause death to come sooner, and some pain medication may cause grogginess or unconsciousness.

Your healthcare provider can adjust your medication so you have an acceptable balance of pain relief and alertness.

Talk over the risks and benefits of refusing each type of treatment with your healthcare provider and your family.

Disclaimer - CRMC's core values are to provide quality patient care and outstanding patient satisfaction to all our patients. Part of providing quality patient care and outstanding patient satisfaction is respecting your privacy rights and maintaining the confidentiality of your medical records. For more information on patient privacy please read our patient privacy policy. CRMC will not use or disclose your health information for any purpose not described in this Notice without your written authorization.

Health information provided on Cheyenne Regional Medical Center's web page is intended as a guideline and not as a specific medical protocol. Every actual medical situation - emergency or non-emergency - is unique to each individual, and requires the clinical judgment of a qualified physician. For more information, or clarification, we recommend that individuals contact their personal physician.

Our Web site may include information and other material prepared by other sources. We also link to other Internet sites and resources. This information and links are provided as a courtesy. We are not responsible for the availability, updating, and accuracy of any information provided on these outside sites or for the privacy or security of these outside sites.

The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a doctor and a particular treatment plan. The material provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. Should you have any health-care-related question, you should contact a doctor and arrange a consultation. Any e-mail generated from this Web site may not be secure and is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. E-mail communication is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a doctor.