I usually find that the time between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a quiet time for me -- off from work, and a brief respite from the parties of the two aforementioned holidays. Maybe that's why this long article in the NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/...
entitled "Hard Choice for a Comfortable Death: Sedation"
seemed to stimulate a lot of thought.
I won't quote from the article, since if you are interested, it is well worth reading the whole thing (and doesn't cost anything). It basically explores the use of sedation at the end of life, and the "paradox" which that use raises: that while sedation may make the patient (and maybe the patient's family, or the hospital staff) more comfortable, it is also likely to hasten death by depressing respiration, and at higher doses by making the patient unable to eat or drink.
Since DailyKos has so many deeply thoughtful contributors -- those who visit The Grieving Room especially come to mind, as well as all our wonderful docs, nurses, and other medical staff -- it might be very enlightening to hear what any interested parties have to say about this...
Some people, according to the article, may believe that End-of-Life Sedation is barely more than a euphemism for physician-assisted suicide, since EOLS in even the smallest dosage probably (???) has some measurable effect on respiration. And of course other people think that physician-assisted suicide is entirely appropriate, and thus would consider EOLS to be just another useful tool in the doctor's bag.
I guess that IMHO it depends on the situation, on the patient, and on the patient's family. My tendency is to say that a balance between mental clarity of the patient and the least possible pain is the outcome to be aimed at. But what about someone (maybe with severe Alzheimer's) who will not have mental clarity no matter what?
But even if you don't feel like commenting, if you have an interest or a stake (and who of us does not, really?) in end of life issues, the article is well worth the read, and some thought...
Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, and progressive 2010!
lurker
UPDATE: I AM IN AWE OF THE QUALITY AND THOUGHTFULNESS OF THE COMMENTS.
There are two that I find so important that I am going to block quote them here. Please read their entire comments if you find this diary's comments to be of interest...
From HylasBrook:
Usually, physically it's clear when a terminal patient's body is shutting down. The problem is often with family members who project their pysical needs (food, water, consciousness) on a terminally ill family member.
And from LakeHillsLiberal:
the last thing you want on your deathbed is someone making decisions that lacks empathy