Published
He was comatose and given little chance of recovery (but was breathing on his own). His family wanted nothing to do with the guy because they said he was a child molestor. A medical review board at the hospital made the decision. Here's what bothers me. My friend was ordered to give 2mg/hr IV. (as needed), but told that he would need the medication every hour. Our instructor said that this will kill most patients within a couple of days, and that respirtory depression wasn't "such a bad way to go". She said that this is done in hospitals everywhere only it's just not called what it is. I'm not sure how I feel about euthanasia (there are good arguments on both sides), but the point is that I thought that it was currently illegal in the United States. Is this true or is my instructor just wrong about this dose killing most people within a few days? If it is true is this really common or what? Seems like an attempt to implement a policy (euthanasia) without a public debate on the issue.