Hospice

[MarieB]

A friend died of a terminal illness and had exhausted all medical help. Hospice was brought in and administered morphine to help with pain as well as fear. Later I learned that the comatose state of my friend was purposefully induce by high levels of morphine so that the person wouldn’t be in terror as they passed. I can imagine the fear, however, this seems like a sin that they died in such a drugged condition. I think the pain killer part is fine, but not making the person senseless. Am I wrong?

 

[February]

marie-
my mother recently died from organ failure brought on by complications of breast cancer. although the toxins from the liver failure made her basically sleep her last couple days, she was given doses of morphine and ativan (an anxiety med which ironically she took while she was on chemo) at the end. she had been on a ventilator after they did a procedure, and we chose to take her off because 1) we knew she didn’t want that and 2) there wasn’t anything more the doctors could do.

in my opinion, it was absolutely the right thing to do. i can’t imagine the pain she would have endured had she been “with it”, due to the organ failure. she kind of “woke up” a couple times prior to her being on the meds while she was on the ventilator, and it was rather scary to watch.

i’m not sure what your friend’s wishes were as far as dying. i don’t think it’s a sin to administer pain meds in the end; if it makes it easier on the person, great. though i didn’t actually witness my mom’s last breath, i can tell you that it was difficult to watch her last few hours. i can only imagine what it would have been like had she been “awake”.

 

[puzzleannie]

that is one of the best reasons to choose hospice, especially for a terminal cancer patient. The pain of cancer cannot be imagined by someone who has not endured it or watched a love one endure. In hospice they administer dosages of pain meds high enough to actually ease the pain, which they don’t do in the hospital. they manage the patient’s care to make them comfortable, and to the extent possible, free of pain and anxiety at the end. In the hospital, regardless of what orders the patient or family may have on file, they are more likely to limit meds because of fear of addiction, and to inflict further pain by useless invasive treatments and technologies.

 

[StCsDavid]

A friend died of a terminal illness and had exhausted all medical help. Hospice was brought in and administered morphine to help with pain as well as fear. Later I learned that the comatose state of my friend was purposefully induce by high levels of morphine so that the person wouldn’t be in terror as they passed. I can imagine the fear, however, this seems like a sin that they died in such a drugged condition. I think the pain killer part is fine, but not making the person senseless. Am I wrong?

First of all, I am sorry for your loss.

Hollywood has done a good job making people believe that death by terminal illness is peaceful. How often have we seen the scene where the dying person mutters a few final words and then just drifts off to sleep. In reality it’s often very painful and for lack of a better word, messy. It’s not always a matter of just managing pain. There’s some biological processes in play here, too. Hospice people have the training to help a person maintain their dignity as they pass which is what they likely did for your friend. Consider your friend blessed to have had that care available.

 

[valfreya]

I’m so sorry that you have lost your friend.When anyone dies that we’re close to,it’s a given that we’re going to worry over a multitude of “what ifs ?”.

I have been blessed to work with hospice patients and their families for many years. I have learned so much about heroism,sacrifice,and love from each of them.

I guess one of the most difficult questions is,what is pain?
Easy to define when we’re talking about a physiological type of discomfort,but terror is a kind of pain too.
Hospice recognizes all the types of discomfort/pain that the dying and their families go through,(depression,anxiety,fear,anger,spiritual distress, and financial).

I have to believe that God blesses the dying,by giving us a way to relieve all types of pain.
I know He see’s how heart broken you are over you friend’s death,and that His love will give you peace.