Posted by ~gc~/RN [polly] on March 26, 1999 at 18:38:16 {y5tAMziUMM17KJA5stMoMWqYzk3C7MU66}:
In Reply to: *Dr. Jack's conviction posted by edgy11,RN on March 26, 1999 at 18:10:30:
I work in palliative care and I have seen doctors who go too easy on medication because of the fear of law suits. Patients suffer because of laws that supposedly uphold the sanctity of human life. I am in full agreement with you edgy. In my experience, I have never seen a family complain because their terminally ill, suffering family member was given "too much" medication (the term you used was discreet euthenasia). I have, on the other hand had numerous complaints that the doctors were not prescribing enough.
(I not talking about elderly patients over-medicated to keep them quiet, that is another issue.)
I realize Dr. Jack takes the issue to another level, but as you have said, to watch a
person die, drowning in their own secretions, is heart wrenching. Some linger so long. This, to me, is a crime.