Treatment
Issues
When faced with approaching death, patients are
also faced with decisions regarding treatments that can alter the
dying process. Think about the goal of any treatments
- If you prefer that treatments not be used to prolong your life,
you should be clear about this wish and ask that treatments only
be used to assure your comfort.
- You may choose to try a treatment for a limited amount of time,
until your condition improves or physicians decide that the treatment
will not work. (This is called trial of treatment)
- You may want to try to live as long as possible with medical
technology to prolong your life.
Treatment Options for consideration:
- Antibiotics are used in the treatment of
infections. Antibiotics will not reverse the primary condition
of the terminally-ill patient. During the early stages of a terminal-illness,
a course of antibiotics can cure an infection and give a patient
more time to enjoy life. Later during the terminal-illness, antibiotics
may help reduce discomfort cause by the infection.
- Artificial hydration and nutrition: Intravenous
(IV) fluids or liquid feeding through a tube in your nose or
stomach can be given when you can no longer swallow. As the body
naturally and gradually prepares for the body to no longer need
hydration or nutrition, the body will only require moisture for
your mouth to be comfortable.
- Blood transfusions are utilized to boost
energy while you still have quality of life despite the terminal-illness.
Late in the terminal-illness, blood transfusions will not alleviate
the symptoms.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a
group of procedures that is used to restart someone’s heartbeat
and breathing. These procedures may include being placed on a
ventilator (a machine that breaths for you). CPR may be unsuccessful
in someone who is elderly, terminally or critically ill.
|
|
Dying
Process
Universal to all mankind is the natural process
of dying. Each person experiences dying in their own individual
way. While the
dying process follows a pattern of usual signs and symptoms,
the dying process is unique experience for each individual. Below
is listed the usual signs and symptoms that become gradually
apparent:
-
eat and drink less
- less alert
- less physically active
- less interactive with others
- exhibit periods of confusion
As death approaches, the individual may:
- exhibit period of alertness
- breathing patterns change
- urine output decreases
- becomes semi-conscious
|
Steppin' Out On a Cloud ©2004
CJG
|