My stepfather died in a FL hospice last Aug. He was denied nutrition and hydration. He had a living will that declined extraordinary means but he and my mother were never told that nutrition and hydration and antibiotics were considered extraordinary care. The hospice lied to my mother about feeding him and when they thought she was giving him something to drink they screamed at her.
The clincher on this is that my mother even though she had power of attorney could not override the treatment hospice was delivering because my stepfather had a living will and had signed himself into hospice. She spent days trying to get him moved elsewhere but had no legal authority, hospice had his living will and signature for admittance. No other place would take him.
All this said, starvation and dehydration is NOT a pleasant way to go. It is not calm and peaceful. My family have seen it and been legally helpless to intervene.
My prayers are with Terri and her family.
"The clincher on this is that my mother even though she had power of attorney could not override the treatment hospice was delivering because my stepfather had a living will and had signed himself into hospice."
We have had scandals about nursing home abuse here in Oklahoma, and steps have been attempted to remedy it. Sounds like Florida has made legal what would be considered abuse elsewhere. Let me speculate....the hospice wanted him to die quickly so it would save them expense?