Euthanasia

[bogan]

I'm just going to leave this here.

A doctor who has a conscientious objection to abortion is not required to assist in the performance of an abortion and, under a December 2010 High Court ruling, may also refuse to refer you for assessment.
However, the doctor must inform you that you can obtain the service from another health care provider.

Seems to me, and I'd hope, the same approach would be taken with an issue as knicker-twisting as Euthanasia.

Can we now get away from this fucking 'shoving euthanasia down doctor's throats' presumption?

That sounds entirely reasonable.

[jonbuoy]

It happens more than most people think already. Usually under the guise of pain relief.

[Katman]

It happens more than most people think already. Usually under the guise of pain relief.

That may be so, but the problem is that the doctor or nurse that administers that extra dose of 'pain relief' (as an act of compassion) exposes themselves to the potential of prosecution and a prison sentence.

[James Deuce]

That may be so, but the problem is that the doctor or nurse that administers that extra dose of 'pain relief' (as an act of compassion) exposes themselves to the potential of prosecution and a prison sentence.

Not if they are doing their job right. Those that get done for that have done it illegally.

[Katman]

Not if they are doing their job right. Those that get done for that have done it illegally.

Sorry Jim (and I know your wife is a nurse) but I suspect you're wrong.

I think as it currently stands, if a doctor or nurse knowingly administers an overdose of pain relief, according to the law they are acting illegally - whether they are acting out of compassion or even if they have the permission of family members.

(I'm happy to be proven wrong if you can point to legislation showing that).

[James Deuce]

That's exactly what I'm saying. If they administer it out of compassion, they are doing their job wrong and deserve the punishment. The treatment regime for end-stage palliative care is designed to accelerate organ failure cascade while keeping the patient pain free. Just follow the process and you're covered.

[Katman]

The treatment regime for end-stage palliative care is designed to accelerate organ failure cascade....

That's interesting. I've not been aware of that.

Do you have a link you can share that explains that concept in detail?

[Maha]

Not if they are doing their job right. Those that get done for that have done it illegally.

I suspect you are right Jim. Any Doctor or Nurse will NOT knowingly administers an overdose of pain relief. Operating under the Hippocratic Oath 'I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug'. keeping the failing loved one pain free in the final hours, is doing so within the parameters of that oath.

Anyone who contests the actions of a Doctor or Nurse during those final hours, has a selfish self worth.

[Katman]

Any Doctor or Nurse will NOT knowingly administers an overdose of pain relief.

You know that for a fact, do you?

[Maha]

You know that for a fact, do you?

Yip, In keeping with the oath that they are acting under, they (the Doctor/s) know what the outcome will be (as do the gathered family member) when the Morphine is increased.

[Maha]

Do you have a link you can share that explains that concept in detail?

Translation: I wont believe you until you can provide absolute proof.

[Katman]

Yip, In keeping with the oath that they are acting under, they (the Doctor/s) know what the outcome will be (as do the gathered family member) when the Morphine is increased.

So when does the increase of Morphine dosage become more than is required to relieve pain?

Or do the doctors just guess?

[Katman]

And let's not forget that while we're talking about increasing morphine dosages we're still talking about lingering death.

The real matter here is whether a terminally ill person should have the right in their finals days to say "right then, I love you all, but I'm going now. Bye".

I believe they should have that right - as do a great many others.

That is what is thread is actually about.

[TheDemonLord]

So when does the increase of Morphine dosage become more than is required to relieve pain?

Or do the doctors just guess?

I would hazard a guess that the Doctor has a range of dosages given a particular set of circumstances - with an upper and a lower limit of what is considered acceptable. My further guess would be that in the scenarios that others have described - the Doctor would prescribe a dosage consistently at the upper limit - but not exceeding (so they are protected from a malpractice hearing, but still helping the patient along)

This is however, pure conjecture.

[Katman]

I would hazard a guess that the Doctor has a range of dosages given a particular set of circumstances - with an upper and a lower limit of what is considered acceptable. My further guess would be that in the scenarios that others have described - the Doctor would prescribe a dosage consistently at the upper limit - but not exceeding (so they are protected from a malpractice hearing, but still helping the patient along)

This is however, pure conjecture.

Yes, but that's not strictly pain relief.

That's guesswork.