Published
We take people off life support on a pretty regular basis. Never had a family memebr do it for us!!!!! I always tell people, even on the brain dead ones, we don't know how long this may take. I don't want you to expect him to pass immediately because it may not happen that way. You DO know that it is the patient that you predict out loud to the family will die instantaneously who will live another 10 years, RIGHT??????
So did the patient die right away? Hmmm...maybe it's because I am in the biz but I think I would have wanted a MSO4 drip hanging and the cuff deflated!!!!
You are right about the media-they make it look like nothing!
wendyssmile
16 Posts
I was caring for a patient in which the family was considering withdrawal of care. The family had finally come to a consensus to "take the tube out" and withdraw care. The resident I acknowledged their request. We left the room for a minute and then I heard the ventilator alarming when I went back in the room the daughter had pulled the patient off the ventilator and had unplugged the vent as well. It was all I could do to keep a straight face.