abecedarian
Well-Known Member
The dreadful words finally came out of the doctor's mouth, There is Nothing Else We Can Do.
Now we (my mom, older brother and me) have to make to final decision: (1) keep him alive in a Hospice (until he dies...slowly), or (2) unplug the machines.
I asked the doctor (more than once I think) if my father was suffering right now. He told me he might be...or...he might not be. He did not know the answer because even doctors can't magically communicate with unresponsive patients. So I asked him the same question but in another manner, So He Might Be Suffering Longer (at Hospice) if We Don't Pull the Plug? He was vague in his reply.
I do not, for a nanosecond, want my dad to suffer more than he needs to. So my choice, a hard one indeed, is to give him mercy and take him off the machines ASAP.
I thought one of the 'perks' of having hospice care was that they were able to give better/stronger pain meds than is allowed if the goal is to prolong the patient's life. Tough call though. Praying for you and your family in this terrible time.