There was something I witnessed at a hospital recently that set me thinking. An elderly man with terminal cancer was battling the effects of the disease over the last days of his life. Rather than demanding more care for him though, his daughter who was attending on him, was arguing with doctor to get him to turn her father’s heart defibrillator off. I went and asked the woman about the choice she was making and why. It turned out that her mother, who had also died of a terminal disease, had horrible things happen because of a defibrillator. It had sent high currents into her body and whipped her vulnerable form about the bed and scared the daylights out of everyone. As much as she argued with the doctor to get him to turn it off, I saw her being given the run-around, being referred to one doctor after another to get what she needed. She would have been gladdened by news I have heard since, that hospice patients in end-of-life situations, are routinely relieved of their defibrillators in some states now. It got me thinking. What are defibrillators and why is it so important to turn them off in end-of-life situations? You can find tips and guide Current Health Articles here
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Tags: Hospice Patients
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