Hospice for Hemlock

Hospice for Hemlock ^

[cpforlife.org]

Hospice for Hemlock (Hospice and Right to Die Consultation)

As Hospice professionals, we know just what Hospice care can, and can not do for terminally ill people. No one knows better than Hospice professionals about the suffering that so many endure, despite the greatest of Hospice care and support.

Hospice For Hemlock is a group of Hospice Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Home Health Aids and Volunteers who believe that a terminally ill person has the right to choose a dignified, hastened death, over an existence of potential undue suffering.

Hospice for Hemlock supports both the philosophy of Hospice and the philosophy of the Right to Die movement. We can and do support those terminally ill people who's suffering has become unbearable and request information about end of life choices. Hospice for Hemlock supports Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and Self-Deliverance.

We are available for consultation and support via telephone and/or e-mail.

What is Hemlock Society?

Founded in 1980 by Derek Humphry, the Hemlock Society (http://www.hemlock.org) is the oldest and largest right-to-die organization in the U.S.. Hemlock has almost 35,000 members in 80 chapters across the country, Hemlock USA is a not-for-profit organization chartered as a 501 (c) (4 ) corporation. The Hemlock Foundation funds the educational and charitable parts of the Hemlock operation. It is a 501 (c) (3) corporation.

Hemlock believes that people should be able to have choice and dignity at the end of life. They should have the option of a peaceful, gentle, certain and swift death in the company of their loved ones. The primary means to accomplish this is with legally prescribed medication as part of the continuum of care between a patient and a doctor, although there are non-medical methods that are effective.

The Patients' Rights Organization (PRO-USA) is Hemlock's legislative arm. Its funds go directly into legislative efforts to change the law. Contributions to PRO-USA are not tax deductible.

What kind of law does Hemlock want? To protect patients and physicians, the law should allow a mentally competent patient to hasten their death with a doctor's help, with these safeguards:

-a diagnosis of terminal or irreversible illness - confirmed by two independent physicians - that severely compromises the quality of life. -an evaluation by a mental health professional if there is reason to suspect clinical depression or mental incompetence. -a written, witnessed request. -a waiting period. -voluntary on the part of the doctor. -revocable by the patient at any time. -medication prescribed by the doctor and self-administered by the patient. --no criminal liability for a physician or family member who helps. -no effect on insurance. -monitoring by a state health department.

The name "Hemlock" sounds like they favor suicide and, maybe, distribute poisons. Do they? They oppose suicide for emotional, ideological or financial reasons, oppose violent suicide for any reason, and strongly support suicide prevention programs. They are talking about an end to the agonies of dying rather than the tribulations of living. They do not distribute the means to a peaceful death, but they do make available written materials on self-deliverance. People suffering from irreversible illnesses must have access to peaceful means to hasten their death, if they feel their suffering is unbearable.

Where do the public and physicians stand on this issue? Repeated surveys of the public show more than 70 per cent show support for legalizing physician aid in dying. Recent surveys of doctors in some states indicate that a majority favor legalization. Only a small, but vocal and well-financed, minority of people support a total ban on the practice - which is what we have now, except in Oregon. If doctors help now - and many do - they can lose their licenses, be criminally charged, and face jail terms.

What does Hemlock do? They educate, advocate, lobby and litigate with their web site, our quarterly publication, by writing for a variety of publications, by monitoring and responding to developments in research and policy on care for the aging, and by speaking to groups and media outlets across the country, by hosting and sponsoring concerences, and through some 12,000 phone inquiries annually.

Their publications provide information on advance directives, pain management, hospice care and all options for a death in which the patient retains choice and dignity.

Their Patient Advocacy program supports our members' legal rights to have their advance directives followed and to have their pain adequately treated.

Their Caring Friends program provides personal information and support for mentally competent, hopelessly ill members who want information on the full range of end-of-life options, including the option of hastening their death.

Legislation for physician aid in dying has been introduced in more than 20 states, supported by Hemlock chapters. PRO-USA provides funding for lobbying and ballot initiatives.

Hospice FAQ's

1. When should a decision about entering a hospice program be made and who should make it?

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it’s appropriate to discuss all of a patient’s care options, including hospice. By law the decision belongs to the patient. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping aggressive efforts to “beat” the disease. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and always available to discuss them with the patient and family.

2. Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise it first?

The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other health care professionals, clergy or friends.

3. What if our physician doesn’t know about hospice?

Most physicians know about hospice. If your physician wants more information about hospice, it is available from the National Council of Hospice Professionals Physician Section, medical societies, state hospice organizations, or the National Hospice Helpline, 1-800-658-8898. In addition, physicians and all others can also obtain information on hospice from the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Social Security Administration.

4. Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular medical treatment?

Certainly. If the patient’s condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission, patients can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about their daily life. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.

5. What does the hospice admission process involve?

One of the first things the hospice program will do is contact the patient’s physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. (Most hospices have medical staff available to help patients who have no physician.) The patient will be asked to sign consent and insurance forms. These are similar to the forms patients sign when they enter a hospital. The so-called “hospice election form” says that the patient understands that the care is palliative (that is, aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than curative. It also outlines the services available. The form Medicare patients sign also tells how electing the Medicare hospice benefit affects other Medicare coverage.

6. Is there any special equipment or changes I have to make in my home before hospice care begins?

Your hospice provider will assess your needs, recommend any equipment, and help make arrangements to obtain any necessary equipment. Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as the disease progresses. In general, hospice will assist in any way it can to make home care as convenient, clean and safe as possible.

7. How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient at home?

There’s no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is to prepare an individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of caregiving needed by the patient. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer medical questions, provide support, and teach caregivers.

8. Must someone be with the patient at all times?

In the early weeks of care, it’s usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously. While family and friends do deliver most of the care, hospices provide volunteers to assist with errands and to provide a break and time away for primary caregivers.

9. How difficult is caring for a dying loved one at home?

It’s never easy and sometimes can be quite hard. At the end of a long, progressive illness, nights especially can be very long, lonely and scary. So, hospices have staff available around the clock to consult by phone with the family and make night visits if appropriate. To repeat: Hospice can also provide trained volunteers to provide “respite care,” to give family members a break and/or provide companionship to the patient.

10. What specific assistance does hospice provide home-based patients?

Hospice patients are cared for by a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, hospice certified nursing assistants, clergy, therapists, and volunteers - and each provides assistance based on his or her own area of expertise. In addition, hospices provide medications, supplies, equipment, and hospital services, related to the terminal illness. and additional helpers in the home, if and when needed.

11. Does hospice do anything to make death come sooner?

Hospice neither hastens nor postpones dying. Just as doctors and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of child birth, hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.

12. Is caring for the patient at home the only place hospice care can be delivered?

No. Although 90% of hospice patient time is spent in a personal residence, some patients live in nursing homes or hospice centers.

13. How does hospice “manage pain”?

Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real and in need of attention as physical pain, so it can address each. Hospice nurses and doctors are up to date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. In addition, physical and occupational therapists can assist patients to be as mobile and self sufficient as they wish, and they are often joined by specialists schooled in music therapy, art therapy, massage and diet counseling. Finally, various counselors, including clergy, are available to assist family members as well as patients.

14. What is hospice’s success rate in battling pain?

Very high. Using some combination of medications, counseling and therapies, most patients can attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them.

15. Will medications prevent the patient from being able to talk or know what’s happening?

Usually not. It is the goal of hospice to have the patient as pain free and alert as possible. By constantly consulting with the patient, hospices have been very successful in reaching this goal.

16. Is hospice affiliated with any religious organization?

No. While some churches and religious groups have started hospices (sometimes in connection with their hospitals), these hospices serve a broad community and do not require patients to adhere to any particular set of beliefs.

17. Is hospice care covered by insurance?

Hospice coverage is widely available. It is provided by Medicare nationwide, by Medicaid in 39 states, and by most private insurance providers. To be sure of coverage, families should, of course, check with their employer or health insurance provider.

18. If the patient is eligible for Medicare, will there be any additional expense to be paid?

Medicare covers all services and supplies for the hospice patient related to the terminal illness. In some hospices, the patient may be required to pay a 5% or $5 “co-payment” on medication and a 5% co-payment for respite care. You should find out about any co-payment when selecting a hospice.

19. If the patient is not covered by Medicare or any other health insurance, will hospice still provide care?

The first thing hospice will do is assist families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for any coverage they may not be aware of. Barring this, most hospices will provide for anyone who cannot pay using money raised from the community or from memorial or foundation gifts.

20. Does hospice provide any help to the family after the patient dies?

Hospice provides continuing contact and support for caregivers for at least a year following the death of a loved one. Most hospices also sponsor bereavement groups and support for anyone in the community who has experienced a death of a family member, a friend, or similar losses.

[cpforlife.org]

Then there is this

http://www.hospicepatients.org/Hosp-Industry-shoots-self-in-foot.html

"Hospice Industry Shoots Itself In the Foot"

While the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast ("HFLS") works diligently with right-to-kill zealot Ronald Cranford, Attorney George Felos (former HFLS board member) and others attempting to "assist" disabled Terri Schiavo to death, the entire hospice industry is looking to increase enrollment in hospice and increase the length of stay of patients receiving hospice services. Some in the hospice industry question why the Board of Directors of HFLS even allows a NON-terminal patient to be enrolled in hospice. There is no report known to us saying that Terri Schiavo is terminal; why is she in hospice?

Hospice industry leaders and planners often explain public resistance to enrolling in hospice as being caused by the public "not understanding" what hospice is all about. While many individuals do not truly understand what hospice is all about, there are many who simply recognize the realities of the industry. Either through their own family's experience or the experience of a friend, they know that is becoming increasingly common for hospices to hasten a patient's death.

The public is not as dumb as the professionals in the industry would like to think. The public knows that if they enter hospice, in some cases, their death may be hastened. Doctors in the community often comment, "if you enter hospice, you'll be dead in two weeks." Why? Because in many cases, patients are routinely given morphine and Ativan (a common sedative) even if their symptoms do not require it. The irresponsible administration of clinically inappropriate medications in order to make for a "nice hospice death" is seen by some as what it is: medical killing.

If patients are in pain and need morphine, then of course, they should receive it. If they have agitation or severe anxiety, they should receive anti-anxiety medications. But in many cases, hospices dispense these medications to just about every patient coming into their agency, whether or not they ask for it, whether or not they need it and whether or not administering these medications shuffles them off to death much sooner than their disease would take them! And patients with a terminal illness do not universally wish to be hastened to their death. On the contrary, many patients beg and pray that they will live even just one more day with their loved ones. Family members pray that the patient live a little bit longer if possible.

While death is inevitable and hospice services do much to relieve the suffering of many, hastening patients to death against their wishes violates the trust of the community, the patients, the pledge of all health care professionals to "do no harm," and betrays the very mission of hospice. Many who fear being hastened to their death in hospice completely refuse to ever enter hospice. The result of efforts to kill Terri Schiavo (and others like her) will have drastic counter-productive affects on the entire hospice industry.

Hospices Seek Longer Length of Stay to Improve End-of-Life Care

The median length of stay is regarded as the most accurate way of showing the length of stay of most hospice patients. According to data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization the median length of stay is a little over three weeks. Last Acts and other end-of-life focused organizations have consistently emphasized the need for an increased length of stay so that patients benefit most from palliative care services. Last Acts Financing Committee released its report, "Medicare and End-of-Life Care" which states, "lengthier hospice stays allow the patient and family to benefit most from the hospice services that Medicare covers ...." Discussion of the problem of short lengths of stay is found in almost every scholarly analysis of problems in end-of-life care.

It is clear that efforts to hasten the death of the terminally ill or to impose death upon helpless patients (like Terri Schiavo) who are disabled will cause many to think twice about entering hospice at all. And if they do enter, they won't enter months before their "time to die;" they will enter when they are almost at death's door. In fact, they won't have to "think twice" about it. They will know not to enter hospice if hospices like Hospice of the Florida Suncoast get their way in being allowed by the courts to kill helpless patients.

When one of the largest hospices in our nation such as Hospice of the Florida Suncoast can kill patients who are NOT terminal, the public will know that it can happen anywhere, in any hospice, at any time. It doesn't matter how many wonderful dedicated hospice professionals there are who would never think to do such a thing! The public knows: it only takes one right-to-kill zealot working in hospice to endanger them. And more and more health care professionals support the "right-to-die" (right-to-kill)!

Organizations with names like "Hospice for Hemlock" truly frighten those who are not seeking to be killed! The mere existence of hospices like Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, eager and willing to kill the disabled (non-terminal) and organizations like Hospice for Hemlock, will do more to shorten length of stays in hospice and decrease utilization of hospice services than many PR spots on TV and radio. Hospice could not find a greater enemy of the mission than those who seek to kill within hospice agencies!

When organization such as the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Last Acts say nothing about the mainstreaming of the right-to-kill agenda into hospice; when they say nothing about the attempt to kill Terri Schiavo, the public has a real right to be concerned. Hospice, as an industry, is truly "shooting itself in the foot!"

[the_Watchman]

Hemlock believes that people should be able to have choice and dignity at the end of life.

That sounds like something I could buy into, except that there's a "slippery slope" there. There's just something about death that sucks some people in like a vortex. There's some kind of fascination which clouds the judgement. I just don't trust people who claim to be espousing health care and promoting death in the same sentence.

[For those who believe in "freudian slips", I originally, and quite accidentally typed "king" instead of "kind" above!]

[cpforlife.org]

This is MUCH worse than for just poor Terri. It's a growing industry.

If one were to look at the abortion industry, the growing euthanasia industry, embryo farming for stem cells, genetic engineering for a “master race” etc. one might think Hitler won WWII and set up shop here in America.

Land of the Free and home of the Brave—for how much longer?

Friends, if you think pro-life activism is just about saving unborn babies you are near sighted. It’s also about saving the future of this Nation for one’s own children, and possibly for self-preservation in the future. Please consider getting involved for the long haul. The war between the cultures of life and death is the single issue that has a bearing on the destiny of our nation and the very survival of our society. If we don’t get involved, the next generations might not have the freedom to choose one way or the other.

Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[cpforlife.org]

Thanks,

I think it's “interesting” that you, with that awesome screen name, would comment first.

[cpforlife.org]

Euthanasia and Terri Schiavo

October 16, 2003

While agonizing over the fate of Terri Schiavo, this murder of the infirm and cognitively impaired has become a mainstay of the American medical and legal establishment. At a Missouri medical center, I was given an information sheet entitled “Fluid Deprivation and the Terminally Ill” which stated, “…the decision not to provide hydration, IV fluids, and nutrition (feeding tubes, etc.), may be helpful. …As death approaches dehydration occurs naturally. Administering IV fluids to the terminally ill patient can increase urine output, often creating the need for a catheter or the frequent use of a bedpan. Administering tube feedings can result in nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Additionally the administration of IV fluids by IV or by mouth can result in swelling of the feet and hands that contribute to the formation of pressure sores. Oral discomfort is noted to be the only known drawback to natural dehydration. Because foods and fluids have such powerful symbolic meaning, it is often very difficult for family members to decide in favor of natural dehydration for their terminally ill loved ones.” In response to this policy I wrote the Administration, Board of Directors, and Ethics Committee the following:

Dehydration is a pathologic state or symptom of an anomaly or disease that is to be treated, not produced by withholding fluids and/or nutrition. Withholding hydration, nutrition, or any medical treatment should not be done unless death is imminent, (not terminal) and the removal of such hydration, nutrition or medical treatment should not be the etiological or causative factor in the death of that individual, but as a natural consequence of the disease state. This directive on removal of hydration from the terminally ill is paramount to passive euthanasia (murder)…This medical institution needs to eliminate its policy on the terminally ill since the word terminal has many definitions and it is too illusive or subjective to be used in policies affecting those patients in whom death is imminent. All policies affecting the medical treatment of patients whose death is imminent need to safeguard the patient and/or significant power of attorney, stating that if the patient's condition changes and death is not imminent, all hydration, nutrition and appropriate medical treatment will be reinstated. (“Imminent” defined as the approximate relation to death of a patient in an irreversible, persistent catabolic state or an irreversible respiratory or metabolic acidosis). In conclusion, no medical treatment or the withholding of medical treatment should be the etiological cause of a human being's death; the disease, anomaly, pathology or trauma should be its etiological cause.

By acting in this way the legal and medical establishment usurp the place of God in so much as they arbitrarily choose whom they will allow to live and whom they will send to their death. No doctor or lawyer can claim this right to decide on other peoples' origin or destiny. The purpose of their institutions is to safeguard the health, dignity and welfare of their patients and constituents-not to help them or any other persons to hasten their death!

Richard Mahoney, founder
NATIONAL AMERICAN HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

[cpforlife.org]

Abortion and euthanasia are crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to ‘take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it.’
(The Gospel of Life , no. 73)

[tkathy]

Having just gone through this with my mother and two aunts, we witnessed one horror scene after another. Feeding tubes are horrible. One lady with a feeding tube had full splints on both her arms and both her legs, her eyes were open much like Terri's, and periodically would break out into awful wailing and screaming, which everyone just ignored. The nursing home's ability to use medication is severely restricted by legislation, due to ignorant intervention by ignorant people.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Whatever the answer is, it's not to tell these folks to "dry up" (pardon the pun).

[cpforlife.org]

Need a little more proof it's bad? See link below. Posted 1 hour after this thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1009520/posts

[Jim Noble]

I am a physician and my practice has included more end-of-life care than average for twenty-five years.

Hospice is a very mixed bag, as the article suggests.

Overtly killing PVS or PVS-like patients is very unusual. It is not unusual for relatives with a secondary gain motive (as may be the case with Mr. Schiavo) to request death-but it is very unusual for the request to be carried out, much less with the power of the state compelling it.

As far as true "mercy killing"-it is very rare, and I always say:

those who say don't know, and those who know, don't say.

[d5055]

Its big business.
money

[Agnes Heep]

More death merchants trying to use compassion as a foot in the door.

[shhrubbery!]

Having just gone through this with my mother and two aunts, we witnessed one horror scene after another. Feeding tubes are horrible. One lady with a feeding tube had full splints on both her arms and both her legs, her eyes were open much like Terri's, and periodically would break out into awful wailing and screaming, which everyone just ignored.

I worked in a nursing home for the elderly when I was a teenager, and witnessed scenes such as you describe.

I have also spent a great deal of time in a rehabilitation facility for the brain- and spinal cord-damaged.

The two situations are quite different.

In the nursing home where I worked, many elderly people suffered from some kind of senile dementia and thus would wail, sing, and talk to themselves. And true, the nursing staff would often ignore them.

In the rehab facility, I never saw anything like that. Patients were not demented. There was no wailing, etc. Patients' needs were conscientiously attended to.

Terri belongs in a rehab facility, not a nursing home -- and certainly not in a hospice, which should be exclusively for the dying.

[tkathy]

Terri belongs in a rehab facility, not a nursing home -- and certainly not in a hospice, which should be exclusively for the dying.

I agree. Terri should be rehabilitated to swallow on her own. Feeding tubes are fiendish devices.

[buffyt]

When my mother in law was dying of lupus they gave her drugs that eased her pain, even though they would shorten her life. She was on her death bed, we had all come to see her, flew in from different states. There was no hope. She was not going to recover and go home. She was too weak and ill to take the drugs that they usually give for lupus. All they could do was ease her pain as she eased out of this world to the next. This is the same way they treated my grandmother (1977), my father(1992), and most recently my aunt(2002). It was in regular hospitals. The family was asked permission, and this is how these people were treated. They removed the life support systems and just gave them pain med. to ease their pain as they died. It is the only humane way. Otherwise they would have been thrashing in pain for hours or days. We all came and said our good byes to these beloved people. Sometimes when you are 80 or 90 and dying, you are not going to get well and go home again.

[mrtoby]

I was surprised to hear Michael Schiavo say last night that Hospice in FL will allow non-terminal patients to be admitted. I was distressed to hear this because this was one of my major arguments that there was some sort of collusion going on between Michael, Hospice, the lawyer, the Board, etc. Got any information for me to defend myself when confronted by some of these (former) friends? Thanks!

[ecru]

I just administered a tube feed at work this last evening. To a fella with MS. He's pretty far gone, had it for almost 20 years...the light woke him up. After I changed the container and got it going again, I asked him if he was cold and he grunted. I covered him up with another quilt and he went back to sleep. Then I smiled at him and thought to myself how lucky he was that he is surrounded by people who would never think of killing him.

[eleni121]

So now the question is whether Hospice approves of the relationship. Apparently all suspicions point in that direction.

This bunch lists Hospice on their website. So, Hospice = Euthanasia?

[eleni121]

17. Is hospice care covered by insurance?

Hospice coverage is widely available. It is provided by Medicare nationwide, by Medicaid in 39 states, and by most private insurance providers. To be sure of coverage, families should, of course, check with their employer or health insurance provider.

Since the advent of managed care, the secularization of medicine and care, followed naturally by a renewed attention to the bottom line, is anyone surprised that it has all come to this --- the active promotion and expansion of the cult of death?