“Your dad declined the surgery to repair his hip fracture,” the anaesthesiologist blurted out incredulously over the phone. “Okay. I guess there’s no surgery then,” I responded. “Well here, talk to the orthopaedic surgeon,” he protested. I shrugged and said, “Okay” to no one as the anaesthesiologist handed the phone to the orthopaedic surgeon. The surgeon came on: “Your dad declined the surgery!” he exclaimed. “I heard,” I said. “I mean, your father said ‘No!’” I could visualise the surgeon’s wide eyes.
My dad was 85 years old with advanced congestive heart failure and severe lung disease. He had fallen two days before and sustained a neck of femur (NOF) fracture, also known as a hip fracture. I had been very involved in my dad’s healthcare for several years. His mind was sharp.
Several years
