Quote Originally Posted by Wahoo
Hospice. Did you know that when a person is signed up with Hospice that it is basically assisted suicide? They do not call it that. They prefer to tell you their job is to "make a person's passing more comfortable". Now, before a person can qualify, they must of course be diagnosed as terminal. Hospice limits any life-prolonging measures. Hospice generally has pain drugs prescribed "as needed". At least Kevorkian was upfront about his motives.
Hospice is NOT assisted suicide. Hospice is what people do who live in places where assisted suicide is illegal.

Hospice may include:

Pain management, yes, including opioids, but also including NSAIDs, massage, acupuncture, meditation, and replacement of unsuitable beds, chairs, and medical appliances with more comfortable ones

Family counseling and advocacy, such as helping the family steer clear of unethical funeral services and keeping disputes over wills away from the patient unless the patient absolutely needs to be consulted

"Watchdog care" to prevent infections, bed sores, malnutrition, and other complications of end-stage disease

Medical advocacy, to prevent hospitals and doctors from putting the patient through unnecessary suffering for financial reasons

The point of hospice is to allow a patient to die at home among family, rather than in a hospital, and as naturally and comfortably as possible. If the patient requests more pain medication, they can have it, but only to the extent allowed by law, and hospice nurses are always willing to try things like heating pads, music, and visualization exercises to enhance the effect of the medicine.

Love, Columbine