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O2 and neb treatments are COMFORT measures. If he
is terminal it sure isn't going to do anything but provide comfort. Sounds like
the attorney son needs an education.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 11:33
PM
Subject: Re: End of Life Issues
Thank you, Rena, for your response. You are correct. The physician/ Medical Director should be and was at the center of these
discussions He told the son that he was not comfortable giving the
orders he requested, explained the reason, and stated that he would bring this
issue up at the Hospice Ethics Committee. You
also correct in terms of the
son speaking as his father. My only concern is that the father had never made
any statements Re: meds R/T his terminal illness before he became
incapacitated, and that he has not been declared incapacitated. The son is now
stepping forward with his fathers wishes, at a point were his father is really
no longer able to voice his wishes. I believe that the resident would have
voiced his preferences in this matter well before he was unable to do
so.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
These are medical issues, and I believe the physician should be
at the center of these discussions.
Regarding the question of the son
speaking as his father, in many states, that is the case when an individual
is no longer capable of making decisions and the surrogate decision-maker
takes over. It is very important to know your state's regulations on
this.
Rena
Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-C
Chair,
American Association of Nurse Assessment
Coordinators
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subj: End of Life Issues
Date: 1/9/04 4:22:05 PM
Pacific Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent from the
Internet
Although not related to MDS, I have to throw
this out to the group. Have a resident with end stage lung disease, under
Hospice care. His son has POA, and is requesting that all meds R/T
pulmonary condition, including O2 and neb TX be provided on a "as
requested by resident" basis. His reasoning is that those meds would
prolong the resident's life since they are used to treat the lung
condition, and that is not what the resident would have wanted. The
resident is not capable to request any meds, and the son is aware of this.
He is requesting that the resident only receive Morphine and Ativan for
comfort. When asked why he did not want all meds D/C, i.e.,
antidepressant, antiulcer meds, etc, he stated he would like to continue
the other meds, as they were not R/T the terminal illness. The
resident was admitted last April, was still alert with intermittent
confusion. He is now no longer able to make health care decisions, but did
never mention that he did not want the meds R/T his terminal illness since
admission. He is not declared incompetent but the son is enforcing his
POA. He states that he speaks as his father (not on his behalf). It was
explained that the resident may experience discomfort if the meds are not
administered, and that they would not prolong his life, the son has made
his decision. He feels that the meds would prolong the resident's live
because without them, he would die sooner. Any
thoughts?
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