Euthanasia is a very touchy subject, especially within the medical field. As a healthcare advocate, it is our job as professionals to better the lives of our patients. What happens when there is nothing more you can do?
I understand, being a Home Health Aide that works a lot with Hospice, that comfort care is important. But truly, when a suffering patient looks to you to ease the pain what do you do? Should you apologize and say their is nothing more I can do?
I can hardly say no more treats to my cat when he gives puppy dog eyes, much less a patient dying alone of cancer. In my opinion, for what it is worth, Euthanasia is most certainly not murder and should never be referred to as such.
If Euthanasia was legal, but very strict in regulations and rules, it would be very beneficial to many terminally ill patients. This may be the only healthcare decision a patient makes within their life, and they should be allowed to make such a decision when conditions permit. We all have choices in this world, what gives you or I the right to take such choices away from someone in such a situation.
What is your opinion? Do you agree or disagree? Do you have a story, personal or not that pertains to this topic?
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
If a patient doesn't qualify for hospice, do you think if a doc believes the patient should have the benefit of that kind of care, he/she could work with a Home Healthcare Agency ( as in PDN) and write orders that align with the kind of care hospice might deliver if the patient were qualified? It'd require a doc who didn't mind the extra work that might entail, if a new dx. couldn't be found as in the above example by kbrn2002 ?
As a matter of interest, a recent poll of physicians about this topic showed that although many physicians felt uncomfortable with this entire topic with regards to their patients, they were perfectly clear about wanting that big slug of morphine when they asked it for themselves. Hypocrites, cowards.
As for me, if I am in the bed and I ask you for that big bolus of fentanyl to be followed three or four minutes later by a big bolus of potassium, I will come back and haunt you to the end of your days (and perhaps beyond) if you don't give it to me. If I don't ask you for it, then you can feel better. But if I do ask you for it, it's because I am tired of feeling a lot less than better.
What Doctors may want for themselves, does not give them the right to push those beliefs unto their patients. Healthcare professionals are trained to set their personal beliefs aside and follow a strict set of regulations, regardless of individual preferences.
A doctor should have an issue with intentionally taking a patients life! I would stay clear of any physician that showed no contentions or hesitations on this subject. They are not cowards or hypocrites! They are healthcare professionals, that are in the business of sustaining life and not the distribution of lethal drug cocktails.
If a patient doesn't qualify for hospice, do you think if a doc believes the patient should have the benefit of that kind of care, he/she could work with a Home Healthcare Agency ( as in PDN) and write orders that align with the kind of care hospice might deliver if the patient were qualified? It'd require a doc who didn't mind the extra work that might entail, if a new dx. couldn't be found as in the above example by kbrn2002 ?
It's a matter of financing. Medicare and commercial insurance doesn't cover it outside of the hospice benefit. OOP feasibility is rare. I'm not familiar enough with all of the LTC insurance options if they ever cover skilled nursing in the home but any LTC coverage is also not common.
If a patient doesn't qualify for hospice, do you think if a doc believes the patient should have the benefit of that kind of care, he/she could work with a Home Healthcare Agency ( as in PDN) and write orders that align with the kind of care hospice might deliver if the patient were qualified? It'd require a doc who didn't mind the extra work that might entail, if a new dx. couldn't be found as in the above example by kbrn2002 ?
I may be way off base here, so Hospice specialists please correct if I'm wrong.
My guess is it would be difficult to find a primary MD willing to write the orders for controlled substances for pain/anxiety in the doses that Hospice patients require, especially with the current climate regarding prescription med abuse and the requirement for patients to sign narcotic agreements in many places.
I truly don't think that those of us with qualms about euthanasia or assisted suicide would ever walk over a person's dying body in front of a K-Mart white sale . . ... that's simply not a fair statement.
You're absolutely right, and I see that. My comments were really directed at some specific posts I found to be almost cavalier in nature. Simple "this is this and that is that" statements - presented as pure fact and begging no alternative - were making me nuts.
I really just resent any threat to sovereignty over this body I inhabit. I don't care a shred about what anyone else does. And I don't mean that in a negative way - I want everyone to do what's right for them. Just leave me alone... and don't lobby for laws to limit my options.
Its not my job to decide who should die or who should live. I personally would want no parts of it. If you want to kill yourself, you have that right but, I also have the right to NOT participate in it.
IMHO, this adds unnecessary noise and confusion to the discussion. No one is suggesting that healthcare workers be forced to participate in anything. Your rights are not in question. That's silly.
IMHO, this adds unnecessary noise and confusion to the discussion. No one is suggesting that healthcare workers be forced to participate in anything. Your rights are not in question. That's silly.
Actually, many people seem to think that those of us who disagree should either be forced, or forced to leave health care. I've seen those comments on this very board. How have you not?
Some people have no ability to tolerate and live alongside people who think differently than they do, and want them shut up so they never have to hear anything that challenges them, ever.
Frankly, so far, this has been one of the most civil threads I've ever seen on the topic. Let's keep it that way.
IMHO, this adds unnecessary noise and confusion to the discussion. No one is suggesting that healthcare workers be forced to participate in anything. Your rights are not in question. That's silly.
I answered the questions presented by the OP. Sorry if you think its "Silly"
Not really. Besides, there are lots of laws on all our bodies already.
Seat belts. Bicycle/motorcycle helmets. No smoking in public buildings. Vaccinations. 21 years of age to buy liquor to put in your body. Consent from spouse to get a vasectomy/tubal ligation (in some states). Can't rent your body to someone for sex. Can't sell your kidney. Can't take illegal drugs.
That bumper sticker has never made much sense to me.
No Stars In My Eyes
5,653 Posts
If a patient doesn't qualify for hospice, do you think if a doc believes the patient should have the benefit of that kind of care, he/she could work with a Home Healthcare Agency ( as in PDN) and write orders that align with the kind of care hospice might deliver if the patient were qualified? It'd require a doc who didn't mind the extra work that might entail, if a new dx. couldn't be found as in the above example by kbrn2002 ?