If it helps, they don’t ever deny people fluids who want or need them. What happens towards the end is the body stops being able to process fluids due to failing organs. Pushing fluids into someone in this state makes them less comfortable. People aren’t thirsty or suffering from a lack of fluids.
As far as putting someone out of their misery, there’s a reason that they put them on high dosage opioids. If you want to keep someone out of pain while helping their heart and lungs stop peacefully, you couldn’t pick a better drug.
At a hospice literally right now for a loved one (who is sound asleep). The nurse working there quoted something like this: ca. 95% of the people admitted will die of dehydration since they can't take in fluids after a certain point.
My knowledge of anatomy is poor, so I am unsure how I feel about this. It isn't helped by the morphine, which seems to further separate the loved one from reality in a manner that seem premature (compared to the other painkillers that the person has been on that have been having a high degree of efficacy).
And to be clear, I am 100% behind the idea of hospice and medically-assisted suicide. Just feel very torn right now with the impending loss of the loved one.
I hope it brings you peace to know just how much all of the hospice workers I know care. Everything they do is about comfort and dignity, and there are chaplains, and medical workers that can help you with these concerns.
Doctors are mandated to obtain informed consent, and patients have the right to refuse any treatment or medication they don’t want.
It appears that you may not be well-informed about end-of-life care protocols. Once a patient is admitted to ‘hospice care,’ the focus shifts from extending and preserving life to enhancing their quality of life.
Thank you for this comment. I have also worked a bit with hospice. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation regarding this issue. I find it sad that some are left with the incorrect notion that their loved ones were denied care at their last moment. I.v. fluids may somewhat alleviate sedation of a dying person, but they can increase swelling, formation of pleural fluids and cause shortness of breath. If a dying person won’t drink anything anymore, it’s mostly a sign that they don’t need any extra fluids.
If it helps, they don’t ever deny people fluids who want or need them. What happens towards the end is the body stops being able to process fluids due to failing organs. Pushing fluids into someone in this state makes them less comfortable. People aren’t thirsty or suffering from a lack of fluids.
As far as putting someone out of their misery, there’s a reason that they put them on high dosage opioids. If you want to keep someone out of pain while helping their heart and lungs stop peacefully, you couldn’t pick a better drug.