You are here: Home General Nearing End Of ... An Option: Terminal ...
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Nearing End Of Life From Breast Cancer

An Option: Terminal Sedation

Next » « Previous

19/21

Terminal sedation is the use of drugs to relieve distress and pain at the end of life. Terminal sedation generally renders a person unconscious so you sleep peacefully and painlessly until death.

Terminal sedation is not euthanasia which uses drugs for the purpose of inducing death. With terminal sedation, an earlier death may be a by-product of the treatment. However, it is not the purpose.

Terminal sedation can be given in a hospital, in a hospice or at home.

Terminal sedation is legal. It is not considered suicide or assisted suicide.

If you become unconscious, the person you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them yourself (your “health care proxy”) can ask for terminal sedation to relieve pain and discomfort. Your proxy can also decide when it is time to withdraw all life-extending treatments - including feeding and even fluids. (To learn about proxies, see Health Care Power of Attorney.


Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments

 

Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.

Characters remaining:

  • Allowed markup: <a> <i> <b> <em> <u> <s> <strong> <code> <pre> <p>
    All other tags will be stripped.