doctors hastened death for dying kids

[kwillia]

Okay... so what if this were actually true... why would anyone consider this to be a bad thing...

Parents say doctors hastened death for dying kids - wtop.com

A handful of parents told researchers that they had asked doctors to hasten their children's deaths _ and that doctors complied, using high doses of the powerful painkiller.

The lead author of the study and several other physicians said they doubt doctors are engaged in active mercy killing. Instead, they speculate the parents interviewed for the study mistakenly believed that doctors had followed their wishes.

A more likely scenario is that doctors increased morphine doses to ease pain, and that the children's subsequent deaths were only coincidental, said lead author Dr. Joanne Wolfe, a palliative pain specialist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital in Boston.

 

[ginwoman]

I don't think its a bad thing, but I guess its a fine line.

 

[celticpride]

I don't have an opinion as to if this is right or wrong, but it occurrs to me what a horrible position the doctors or parents have to be in.

 

[bcp]

I look at it this way.
If I was in so much pain that it was just unbearable, and there was nothing more they could do but "legally" keep me alive until the body just quit. I would prefer being treated in the humane way we treat our pets and be put down at that point.

If it was my child, and there was no chance of living, and all we were doing was waiting for her to die so she would be out of pain, I would certainly prefer the process being sped up to relieve that pain.

In the example with a child It would not be easy to ask for, but in the long run I think I would learn to accept that what I did was the most humane thing that could be done at the time.

We should really think about how we treat our last painful moments in comparison to how we treat the last painful moments of our pets. Something just seems backwards here.

 

[libertytyranny]

I think they're right about the deaths being "accidental." I have seen it quite a few times at the hospital...morphine can really depress the respitory system, in someone who is already sick, this can def kill them. Often docs will see signs of pain in a patient that is on their way out and ok an increase in the morphine dose, though all are aware this could theoretically cause death. it isn't done to kill them, but rather to keep them comfortable even when the dose COULD be dangerous. It seems more than likely that this is the case, the parents saw signs of pain or distress and asked for an increase in pain meds, and it was granted. In fact there is even a section in most pre-made advanced directives that details if you give permission to recieve doses of pain medicine that could be dangerous, if it is to control pain at the end of life. For myself, and i would assume my child I would have to say hell yeah.

 

[BS Gal]

I can only say that I hope my doctors are sympathetic and "put me down" before the pain becomes too much.

 

[bcp]

problem with morphine is that while it suppresses some of the functions, it really does nothing for REAL pain.
for that you need a good pain killer..
Trust me, been there done that. Morphine made no difference in the pain at all.

 

[libertytyranny]

problem with morphine is that while it suppresses some of the functions, it really does nothing for REAL pain.
for that you need a good pain killer..
Trust me, been there done that. Morphine made no difference in the pain at all.

At high doses, patients are pretty blitzed. It's often combined with other drugs, ativan, other pain killers etc.

 

[Dukesdad]

I can only say that I hope my doctors are sympathetic and "put me down" before the pain becomes too much.

Just give them my number...

 

[hvp05]

If it was my child, and there was no chance of living, and all we were doing was waiting for her to die so she would be out of pain, I would certainly prefer the process being sped up to relieve that pain.

It is interesting how virtually any caring family member will hope for their ill loved one to be delivered out of pain, and once the ill one has passed away they are said to be in a better place. Yet, if 'speeding up' the process of the inevitable is suggested, it is often considered immoral.

I guess it is one of the greatest examples of a situation's logic in direct battle against an individual's emotions.

 

[Penn]

I look at it this way.
If I was in so much pain that it was just unbearable, and there was nothing more they could do but "legally" keep me alive until the body just quit. I would prefer being treated in the humane way we treat our pets and be put down at that point.

If it was my child, and there was no chance of living, and all we were doing was waiting for her to die so she would be out of pain, I would certainly prefer the process being sped up to relieve that pain.

In the example with a child It would not be easy to ask for, but in the long run I think I would learn to accept that what I did was the most humane thing that could be done at the time.

We should really think about how we treat our last painful moments in comparison to how we treat the last painful moments of our pets. Something just seems backwards here.

I must agree with you. If there's nothing more that can be done, medically, and a person cannot be saved/cured, then help a person out of their misery.

Why should let we them agonize in that painful state of mental and physical
agony?

Would it not be more humane - to them - and family members - to allow them to leave this world in peace ?

 

[Dakota]

This is really nothing new and not only targeted to children. Back in the 90's when my own mother died, they administered morphine to speed up the process. All the family had to do was watch the clock and ensure that the next shot was given right on time. Actually, my mother told me if (or when) she went on morphine to make sure her doses were given to her right on schedule. She knew what that request would do... and I followed it out.

I cannot say I blame her... it is hard enough to make those sorts of calls with your loved one... so I guess her request lifted any burden I may have felt at the time. I think I'd want it the same way if ever in that circumstance.

 

[bcp]

This is really nothing new and not only targeted to children. Back in the 90's when my own mother died, they administered morphine to speed up the process. All the family had to do was watch the clock and ensure that the next shot was given right on time. Actually, my mother told me if (or when) she went on morphine to make sure her doses were given to her right on schedule. She knew what that request would do... and I followed it out.

I cannot say I blame her... it is hard enough to make those sorts of calls with your loved one... so I guess her request lifted any burden I may have felt at the time. I think I'd want it the same way if ever in that circumstance.

not being there, I have no idea what was going on.
but, if she was in pain, and all that was being done was waiting for her to pass. I honestly think that the right thing to do, was exactly what you did.
It had to be the hardest thing you have ever done. I hope never to be in that situation.

 

[hvp05]

I hope never to be in that situation.

On either end of the deal...

 

[bcp]

On either end of the deal...

we will all end up on the one side. That my friend I can say with certainty.

 

[Penn]

On either end of the deal...

You gotta face reality - it's going to happen to all of us someday.....we get old, or our loved ones do - we will too , and it's a choice we are going to have to face.

Watch our loved ones lay there in agony, or let them pass peacefully.

 

[hvp05]

we will all end up on the one side.

Not necessarily in the way being discussed here. :shrug:

 

[Dakota]

It had to be the hardest thing you have ever done.

Actually, the hardest thing to do is to go on without your loved one. My mother couldn't be a grandma because she was gone and her grandchildren lost out on getting to know her. It does leave a hole that is never really filled.
But this just isn't about my mother, it is about any life cut short from the norm for whatever reason. I think the choices should be left up to the family or the ill person (if they are able to make that choice) and not up to a doctor. I don't want to see doctors making these choices in the future, but I fear with the way health care is going in this country, it could be the normal procedure.

 

[bcp]

Not necessarily in the way being discussed here. :shrug:

then you just aint partying enough.
no sense in going with parts still in perfect condition.

 

[hvp05]

then you just aint partying enough.
no sense in going with parts still in perfect condition.

I guess that should be my New Year's Resolution (only a couple months late): party like a rockstar. I will make a concerted effort to begin smoking 2 packs per day, drinking heavily, and passing out and waking up in as many alleys as possible.