We live in dangerous times. Dangerous that is if you fall seriously ill and have to go to a hospital in my corner of Quebec. Dangerous because you just might run into a physician who decides that it’s better for you to die than to be treated.
Why would I make such an allegation? Let me explain.
Tonight I am preparing to celebrate a funeral for someone (let's call him 'H' to protect his privacy) who, while suffering from cancer, was admitted to hospital with an unrelated problem, a bladder infection. H's family had him admitted to the hospital earlier in the week under the assumption that the doctors there would treat the infection and then he would be able to return home. To their shock and horror, they discovered that the attending physician had indeed made the decision NOT to treat the infection. When they demanded that he change his course of (in)action, he refused, stating that it would be better if 'H' died of this infection now rather than let cancer take its course and kill him later. Despite their demands and pleadings, the doctor would not budge from his decision. In fact, he deliberately hastened 'H’s end by ordering large amounts of morphine ‘to control pain’ which resulted in him losing consciousness as his lungs filled up with fluid. In less than 24 hrs., 'H' was dead.
Let me tell you a bit about 'H'. He was 63 years old. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters who are both currently working in universities towards their undergraduate degrees. We are not talking here about someone who was advanced in years and rapidly failing due to the exigencies of old age. We are talking about a man who was undergoing ongoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. We are talking about a man who still held on to hope that perhaps he might defy the odds long enough to see his daughters graduate. Evidently and tragically, in the eyes of the physician tasked with providing the care needed to beat back the infection, that hope was not worth pursuing.
Again let me make this point abundantly clear: It was the express desire of both the patient and his spouse that the doctor treat the infection. This wish was ignored by a doctor who believed he alone and not his patient possessed the authority to determine whether or not he deserved to live or die. For the life of me, I cannot comprehend how someone who professes to follow the Hippocratic Oath could presume to take such a life and death decision from the hands a patient… even more so in a case like this where the patient and his spouse both made it clear that they wanted him to live, and where no 'extraordinary means' were demanded or asked for. All that they wanted was the application of sufficient antibiotics to defeat the infection. And their wish was denied, and the patient paid the cost of that decision with his life.
This is happening more and more frequently in this new age of legalized ‘doctor-assisted death’ where the prohibition against taking an innocent life has been abrogated. Doctors such as the one I am talking about in this case apparently assume that they alone possess the right and capacity to determine the timing and manner of a patient's death. In these days of overcrowded and underfunded hospitals, this is happening far more frequently than you might have imagined and this is something that should concern us all.
As a pastor of three parishes with significant senior populations, I have seen this situation play out in more and more cases. It must not be allowed to go unchallenged lest we soon arrive at a place where health care professionals and institutions fully take unto themselves the sole role of being the arbiters of someone's life or death.
We are indeed living in dangerous time, that is until some hospitalization brings us face to face with a physician who chooses to take unto him or herself the right to determine whether our 'quality of life' warrants treatment or death.
Be afraid, people. Be very, very afraid. We are indeed living in very dangerous times.
I had a similar situation with my mom, who died in January. She was in late stage Parkinson's, so her ability to swallow was failing. She was hungry and thirsty, so when she could swallow, we would get a lot of fluids and food into her. When she was first admitted to the nursing home, I had to fill out an advanced directive with one of the employees. My mom wanted IV fluids, oxygen, etc, when she started to deteriorate. When she got to the point that swallowing became too difficult, I requested IV fluids. The doctor refused. We would go to visit her every night, and try to get as much fluid into her as we could, from the tip of a straw, and sometimes a little food. She would take it desperately, reaching out for it. It was terribly sad. There was nothing I felt I could do. It was heart-wrenching. I finally had to sign her up for Hospice to at least get some additional comfort care, such as pain medication and sedatives. I wanted to keep her sleeping so she wouldn't suffer as much. The worst of this occurred over a period of three weeks. I was her caregiver for nine and a half years, and I felt like I failed her. So, in closing, this is happening in the USA as well. I have shared your article. Thank you for writing about this horrible subject.
ReplyDeleteI am so saddened by this article's story...when I was studying to become a PSW, the discussion was raised about euthinasia...gasp...discussion??? How sis we even come to that conclusion, that assisted suicide was anything to discuss?...As a Christian, my heart colapses at the thought that the "medical professionals" would label such a thing with the word "suicide" as if it were something to be proud of...God calls all of us into suffering, and when we forgo the suffering, we are living only to die for ourselves and not unto God. We are now the ones who decide how to live and how to die...living Our Own Wills and not Gods Will be done.
ReplyDeleteIn this case of Mr. "H"., it seems as though some Dr.'s want their Will to be done. And when life was the option chosen, not only by the spouse, but by the Gentleman who could clearly speak for himself...the deeper we go into ethical treason. Where was the justification for the lack of ethics here? The soul purpose for treating a patient is to give hope...there was none in this case. I dont like to say this but there is a huge legal issue regarding this case and so many like this one...as the "oath" that Dr.'s take upon becoming practicing patrons in such facilities...it is a vow to live by...a standard to uphold...and clearly this has violated the very words spoken to protect the RIGHT TO LIFE, the RIGHT TO LIVE...Dear God...my heart breaks. God will recompense all that has been wronged...regardless of the laws of this world...This has come to the Courts of the Most High...there, True Justice Will WIN...AMEN.
Father Tim
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine shared your eloquent article as I too was struggling with this same issue at the Shawville Hospital for an elderly relative who also had a bladder infection.
By the time I realized that when the doctor said she would keep him comfortable she meant pain medication and had no intention of giving an antibiotic for a bladder infection, I argued for treatment.
She told me, in front of him, he was going to die...and die soon.
I had a rigourous discussion with her and she finally backed down and gave him an antibiotic.
He is now placed in long term care and will have a new doctor. He has been able to resume bladder function and is walking again with assistance.
I told this doctor and her replacement on hospital rotation that it was his decision and mine as POA.
They both said no that it was up to the doctor to decide in their opinion the best course of action or apparently if you are over 80 inaction.
I am encouraged by the progress the patient has made but will remqain chilled at the treatment he received.
If you do not have a strong advocate beside you questioning and checking each medical decision I fear you are quietly rushed to your death in the Pontiac.