Let Him Die
The elderly patient has advanced Alzheimers and is that stage where he stares off into space non-responsive to his environment. He is also receiving dialysis to try and keep him alive as long as possible. Why are we doing this to him? That's what his wife wants. Why does she want to drag out his death as long as possible? These are my ideas:
1) She hates him and this her chance to get back at him. (Payback time)
2) She'll lose his pension or Social Security benefits when he dies. (Financial self-interest)
3) She doesn't want to have to mourn his passing. (Selfish)
4) She thinks that she is doing him a favor by keeping him alive. (Delusional)
Written by Melissa on 10:49 AM
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Melissa blogging from sunny Santa Clarita, Southern California, United States.
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3 Comments:
I'm going with #2. I saw it a lot in the ICU with so many terminal elderly patients. It's very sad. Of course there are those caring families who struggle with the act of letting go and the grieving process, but there were families that were not so nice. When there was monetary gain, they were like bulldogs to either keep them barely alive, suffering, existing in the empty vacuum of coma on life support, or the families who wanted the hasten the death by any means possible. This can all be avoided by having your wishes legally documented. I encourage everyone to have a durable power of attorney for healthcare, and a will.
Alzheimers is such a thief.
Sarah, bad times bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. I see it as a test of character.
R2Ks, you're right, it is a horrible illness and I don't know who it is harder on, the person who has it or that person's loved ones.
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