Why does Hospice sound like assisted suicide?

Asked a question 9/21/2017 at 2:58 am


Has anyone had a family member with Alzheimer's and cancer?

I FIRED HOSPICE !!! The Hospice nurse wouldn't consider Morphine for my Mom and she was in terrible pain. It was an ordeal.

My Mom, who is 88 years of age, has had Alzheimer's Disease for 10 years. She currently resides in a nursing facility (8 years). She had breast cancer about 15 years ago and the breast was removed and chemo. One year ago, she had a small lump appear on her chest. Now, she has the lump the size of a small fist and it is cancer, has begun to ooze. She had a directive in place for no heroic measures. When the diagnosis came as cancer, I made the decision not to treat or surgery. With Alzheimer's and she hasn't know me in over 4 years, it just seemed cruel to put her through such an ordeal. She had pain - facial expressions and movements, and was prescribed Percoset. The last few weeks, she's been more agitated and appears to be in more pain. Hospice came and I signed up. BIG MISTAKE for my situation. I fired them and I've finally convinced the doctor at the nursing home to consider low doses of Morphine. That helped, but now had to prescribe more Morphine and Ativan. At this time, she is still drinking Mighty Shakes. She is much calmer and seems to be in not much pain with the scheduled an PRN drugs. Alzheimer's Disease patients cannot tell or express pain. What can I expect later from these drugs? My goal is to keep her pain free and comfy. I'm an only child (65) and I'm extremely devoted to my Christian Mom. The only thing I'm hoping is that God sends his best ANGEL to take her home and she can be whole again. The hardest thing I've had to do is watch her suffer. With the new meds, I hope we can stay ahead of more agitation and pain. Your opinion will help, please give it. I do want to be with her when she passes. I understand even if I'm there all the time, that one moment that I step away, she can go. PLEASE HELP! Thank you in advance. God Bless You.

Find a different hospice organization!

My mom didn't have cancer, but she had dementia and fell, fracturing her wrist. She wouldnt/couldn't get out of bed and developed pneumonia which was treated. She began to express through facial expressions, horrible pain or anx9. Doubling her regular pain meds did nothing to alleviate.

We called hospice and the came, evaluated and stated her her on a low dose of morphine and the next day added Ativan. She had stopped eating even the ices we brought her the day before.

Her facial expressions and breathing eased and she passed peacefully two days later.

Get another hospice group in.

Seeing someone take their last breath was really messed up for me and having to administer the poison morphine into someone's veins is atrocious and I had to get out of the medical field. It really troubled me to the point that I feel like a murderer, although the dosage was administered according to the doctor's orders. I can't sleep or function properly. So, I believe in having a DNR, without poison running through my body. I'm not shaming anyone for their choice.

LilMonkey - depending on the circumstances morphine can be the greatest blessing or the worst curse. When you are facing unendurable pain as my brother was from pancreatic cancer, you will bless that drug. Believe me. Why deny a person in agony relief from their pain? Couldn't that be considered torture?

Many hospices do practice a form of stealth euthanasia. I have witnessed this myself.

The Hospice Patients Alliance website has a wealth of information about these things and how you can protect yourself and loved ones.

Er, because you make it sound that way?

#mylovedonetoo

I am sorry for the impression. But with all those conditions when there is no other cure, you should agree to comfort measures agreement, although it sounds like you are in denial about her condition which is a normal reaction in this case.

This post is 6 YEARS OLD folks! I'm sure her mother has long passed away--with or without hospice.

Hospice is the last resort. I have dealt with 5 in hospice. Watching someone die is not a pleasant experience. Lets face it no one gets out of here alive. Watching someone with Alzheimer's have their body deteriorate quickly and no way to communicate is excruciating. Watching them convulse and take on sever pain is horrible. What ever can be done to help them with their pain is what hospice does. They do not cause the pain they help to reduce the pain. Very few people die in their sleep sounded by their loved ones. Many die in pain and alone. I watched my grandfather and held his hand while he went through high fever and seizure for days until he passed. He was in tremendous pain. I watched my sister in law go from normal to bedridden and unconscious in a matter of weeks due to brain cancer then fevers and seizures and no way to take on food. I watched friends in severe pain with cancer riddled all over their body. Dying is a horrible thing. All the hospice facilities I have dealt with were angels on earth. Yes morphine is the drug of choice but it is really one of the few things to help their pain. My mother suffered a stroke, she was unconscious. Once the vent was removed it took some time for her body to give up. She was in pain and she was given morphine. Did it speed up the process? It may have by a tiny bit but the end result was the same. Was it the hospice benefit? No. Was it the family benefit, no. I wanted more time with mom but no one wanted her to be in pain. Drugs were given to calm her body down. Hospice is about helping people at the last moment. If it were me and I had a choice I am sure I'd say give me all you got until I can take it anymore. Healthy people do not enter hospice.......