A Texas family decided to let their terminally ill/brain damaged daughter go. Since she was not on a ventilator or life sustaining medications, the only options available to them were to turn off tube feedings and IV hydration. They feel this is inhumane and want to put laws into place which would allow medical personnel to hasten a patient's death by less passive means.
As a nurse who worked in the ICU, we faced this situation many times. Patients' families wanted us to give a lethal dose of morphine to "kill" a patient who either had stated wishes about being kept alive in a certain state or who were going through endless suffering. Obviously, we were prohibited from doing this, though we could give morphine to patients in obvious distress, all while knowing that the medicines could result in respiratory depression and death. It's a fine line we walk in these situations.
Any thoughts on this family's crusade to establish euthanasia laws?
As a nurse who worked in the ICU, we faced this situation many times. Patients' families wanted us to give a lethal dose of morphine to "kill" a patient who either had stated wishes about being kept alive in a certain state or who were going through endless suffering. Obviously, we were prohibited from doing this, though we could give morphine to patients in obvious distress, all while knowing that the medicines could result in respiratory depression and death. It's a fine line we walk in these situations.
Any thoughts on this family's crusade to establish euthanasia laws?