http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/12/20/doctors-and-family-members-often-push-for-futile-aggressive-care/ End-of-Life Choice, Palliative Care and Counseling Sun, 29 Jul 2012 05:06:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/12/20/doctors-and-family-members-often-push-for-futile-aggressive-care/#comment-439 Sally Carpenter Sat, 01 Jan 2011 03:29:03 +0000 http://blog.compassionandchoices.org/?p=1180#comment-439 I would like to see more information on options to discontinue medications that are related only to prolonging life in the end stages. My parents are both on "comfort care" in the nursing home (luckily we had discussions early enough that I know that's what they would want). But the doctor and NH staff are reluctant to discontinue meds that only prolong a life that is no longer what they wanted to live. I want to do everything to make each day pain free and keep them as lucid, mobile and content as possible, but why can't we stop meds that prolong life and just have many possible side effects in an old, frail person? I would like to see more information on options to discontinue medications that are related only to prolonging life in the end stages. My parents are both on “comfort care” in the nursing home (luckily we had discussions early enough that I know that’s what they would want). But the doctor and NH staff are reluctant to discontinue meds that only prolong a life that is no longer what they wanted to live. I want to do everything to make each day pain free and keep them as lucid, mobile and content as possible, but why can’t we stop meds that prolong life and just have many possible side effects in an old, frail person?

]]> http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/12/20/doctors-and-family-members-often-push-for-futile-aggressive-care/#comment-438 David Hittenberger Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:14:11 +0000 http://blog.compassionandchoices.org/?p=1180#comment-438 We Have a similar sitiuation with my mother. The pacemaker prolonged her life due to heart problems. However, after suffering a stroke 2-3 months later, on a blood thinning med. to hopefully negate a possible stroke, it happened anyway! I don't believe the doctors look far enough ahead or spend enough (or any) time with the familly members that will eventually help or hospice that person. Is it "somewhat akin to murder" to stop giving her her blood thinning meds., so she can go peacefully? We Have a similar sitiuation with my mother. The pacemaker prolonged her life due to heart problems. However, after suffering a stroke 2-3 months later, on a blood thinning med. to hopefully negate a possible stroke, it happened anyway! I don’t believe the doctors look far enough ahead or spend enough (or any) time with the familly members that will eventually help or hospice that person.
Is it “somewhat akin to murder” to stop giving her her blood thinning meds., so she can go peacefully?

]]> http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/12/20/doctors-and-family-members-often-push-for-futile-aggressive-care/#comment-437 Terry MacRae Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:48:25 +0000 http://blog.compassionandchoices.org/?p=1180#comment-437 Although painful to read, this article clearly defines the dilemma for elderly patients, their relatives and their doctors. I am currently dealing with a similar situation regarding my mother's care. She experienced congestive heart failure at 86, and had a pacemaker "installed" 9 months later. 45 days after the pacemaker procedure, she suffered a stroke which has left her incoherent and in a non-rehabilitative state, but the pacemaker continues as it should. As her daughter, I've been able to stop all aggressive measures to prolong her life, but her regular medications continue, e.g., warfarin, etc. It is a nightmare she would never have wanted for herself or for me. End of life planning needs to be as detailed and specific as possible, and it should not be considered anything related to "death panels." Although painful to read, this article clearly defines the dilemma for elderly patients, their relatives and their doctors. I am currently dealing with a similar situation regarding my mother’s care. She experienced congestive heart failure at 86, and had a pacemaker “installed” 9 months later. 45 days after the pacemaker procedure, she suffered a stroke which has left her incoherent and in a non-rehabilitative state, but the pacemaker continues as it should. As her daughter, I’ve been able to stop all aggressive measures to prolong her life, but her regular medications continue, e.g., warfarin, etc. It is a nightmare she would never have wanted for herself or for me. End of life planning needs to be as detailed and specific as possible, and it should not be considered anything related to “death panels.”

]]>