Catholic nurse recounts hospice horror, says doctor euthanized priest

Renew America ^ | 4/1/11 | Matt C. Abbott

[wagglebee]

Some will recall that March 31 was the sixth anniversary of the court-ordered murder of Terri Schiavo. (Click here to read about the tragedy.)

Terri's execution was, according to Ron Panzer, president of Hospice Patients Alliance, "accomplished at The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast." He notes that the hospice's CEO, Mary Labyak, "has been a member of the board of directors of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as well as Partnership for Caring, a successor to the Euthanasia Society of America."

Panzer also notes that Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, a euthanasia advocate, was chairman of Suncoast's board when Terri was brought there for the purpose of killing her.

"The public still does not realize that Terri was taken from us to fulfill a hospice-euthanasia partnership, fulfilling their agenda in an 'in your face' demonstration of what they can do, are doing, and will do to others," asserts Panzer.

In recent days, Panzer received the following (edited) e-mail from registered nurse and Illinoisan Wendy Ludwig, who recounts the horror of witnessing the euthanizing of an elderly Catholic priest:

'Hello, I spoke with you [Ron Panzer] some years ago about the many killings taking place within hospice. You may remember me; I'm an RN, BSN. Not long after I spoke with you, my father died of leukemia, and the following year my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died in 2009.

'I'm contacting you again, asking for your help in trying to somehow stop the horrible hospice killings and euthanasia that occur even in hospitals. I know so many people not even terminally ill whom hospice quickly killed. I'm so upset, horrified and angry about this. In my area, the hospice went on an 'advertising campaign,' writing articles in the local newspaper, handing out flyers to doctors' offices and trying to drum up support from local clergy by going around to each church asking to set up a meeting with them so they can 'explain the benefits of hospice.'

'It's truly terrible where I live. It's not uncommon to see a patient eating in a restaurant with his or her family one week and the following week be dead after hospice has come in. When my mother was ill, she made absolutely clear that she did not want hospice anywhere near her, yet the hospital forced drugs on her, did many tactics to hasten her death and ended up doing as they pleased, coming up with some strange medical power-of-attorney that no one had seen before. It was truly awful. For the rest of my life it will affect me, and there is never a day that I do not think about it. I did everything I possibly could, but they still found ways to not treat infections, to deny her enough fluid, to do so many things, and it did not matter what I said or did — or what she said, for that matter.

'I'm currently seeking a new career, because as a pro-life Catholic, I cannot in good conscience work in hospitals anymore. Even the Catholic hospitals support hospice in one way or another. I can tell you honestly that I'm not aware of any hospice that is good. Everyone I know who has gone to a hospice in any state that I know of has been murdered by hospice.

'It's been so overwhelming to me. What's so unbelievable is the way that hospice can convince people they are doing 'good' and 'mercy' for their loved ones. It appears to me that they use a type of forceful brainwashing where they take the family at their most vulnerable time, convince them the only way the patient won't suffer is by using hospice, and lie to them about what is actually happening. Even when people feel like something isn't right, they do nothing, somehow believing what hospice has told them. With such an 'ad campaign' in the newspapers and elsewhere, I don't know how to begin to make people understand what hospice is doing. It's notable also that once a family member dies in hospice care, people do not want to hear the truth; it seems they defend hospice profoundly, probably because they don't want to think that they have just let their loved one be murdered.

'I witnessed a doctor euthanizing a Catholic priest who stated in no uncertain terms that he did not want hospice. The priest did not have cancer or any other terminal illness. He was 94, still saying Mass and very active. When the priest needed knee surgery for an injury to his knee, the doctor decided it was time to call in hospice. The priest adamantly and angrily refused. So the doctor took his medicine away and started to give him 'pain pills' even though the priest said he was not in pain.

'The priest was in a nursing home following his knee injury and was getting physical therapy. He had been also prescribed large doses of Coumadin by the doctor. I went to visit him one day and found him bruising all over, so I demanded that the nursing home call an ambulance. When they refused to call an ambulance and said the doctor was aware, I told them the priest was bruised all over his body and that he needed to go to the hospital. I told them that if an ambulance was not called, I was going to call the police. He was taken to the hospital and was told he had been given too much Coumadin and that he would need to stay in the hospital for a few days.

'While in the hospital, the doctor refused him food and fluids. I called the elder abuse hotline and when the doctor found out they were coming, he began IV feedings, but also began drugging the priest with morphine. The priest told me what they were doing. I waited for the doctor with a friend and I told him I was aware of what was going on and that the elder abuse hotline would again be called. The doctor pounded on the patient's chest and said, 'Does he seem awake enough to you?!' He called the family, which lived in another state, and they came. I received a call one day asking for me to come and visit Father because he was asking to see me. I went to see him; he was resting comfortably.

'He was in an ICU and I was watching the monitors. His heart rate and breathing were regular and stable. Not long after I arrived, I was taken to a waiting room and the family was there. A short time later the nurse came and got the family but told me to stay in the waiting room. I had a terrible feeling; I went to the nurses' station and the curtain was pulled in Father's room. I heard a priest saying prayers over him, the family in the room as well. I was told I could not go in. I told them I had forgotten my purse in the room, but I was not allowed to go in and get it.

'I stood outside and heard the nurse telling the family that they were giving him another dose of medicine and taking off his oxygen. I was told to go back to the waiting room. I knew what was happening: The doctor had viciously called me to sit in the waiting room while he euthanized the priest. I left the hospital, and before I got home, I received a call that the priest had passed away.

'About a month later, the local newspaper printed a story about an 'honor' this doctor was given by the hospital. It seemed quite planned in its timing. Right after the priest died, an anonymous letter was sent to the doctor informing him that people were aware of what he was doing to patients. A Catholic nun had also witnessed this same doctor giving a fentanyl patch in a terminal dose to another nun, who died within hours of receiving the patch. A few weeks after that letter was sent, the story appeared in the paper 'honoring' this doctor. The woman who was with me when the doctor pounded on the priest's chest thought that because the doctor was on the hospital's board, the 'honor' was probably given to distract people who may have heard of his tactics from believing what was said about him. The doctor still practices at the hospital.

'I have many other horror stories.'

[clee1]

I’m with you, FRiend!

After 5 years on a med-surg floor in a horrible hospital (with all the cost-runup games that occur there) I am now proud to be a Hospice nurse.

TO ALL YOU CONSPIRACY FREAKS HERE ON FR:

I AM a Hospice nurse. I wouldn’t do ANYTHING to hasten your death - but if you are dying and are in pain, fighting for every breath, or choking on your own saliva, I’ll fight every creature on earth to keep you as comfortable as possible for as long as God keeps you with us.

I am NOT a MURDERER! I am PRIVILEGED to take care of you in your final days/weeks of life.

[bronxville]

Thanks, believe it or not that helps.

[RightField]

I had considerable experience with hospice during my mother's last couple of years. I had no problem with their care, and I never feared they would hasten her demise.

But I WAS completely surprised to find how much they bill Medicare for their services. I always assumed they were a charitable organization and dependent upon contributions. Call me naive.

They billed Medicare $250 and up for a 1/2 hour visit from a lowly aide who did routine bathing, hair care, etc. A higher rate was charged by the visiting hospice nurse, social worker, counselor, etc. They were always sending some person to check on Mom. Their bills to Medicare often exceeded $9000 per month, for part time care, doctor evaluations, etc. Medicare would eventually pay about1/2 of the amount billed by hospice.

My mother was already paying nearly $4000 per month out of her own pocket for complete care at the assisted living facility.

[Fu-fu2]

As with most things, every situation will be different. I would just recommend that people know what will happen if they bring in hospice care. Our experience was drugs (morphine and atavan) and withdrawal of food and water. The process lasted much longer than we expected, which left us with doubts as to whether they were called in too soon.

[copwife]

I am a nurse and I refer clients to hospice in my area on a regular basis. They are not death agents, neither do they take a client’s hope away. When they meet with a family, they also talk about the ones who “graduate “out of the program because their health has improved.
I had a client who was in end stage renal disease with severe osteoporosis. Due to all of her fractures, she was in excruciating pain. Her PCP was very reluctant to medicate her and she was miserable. Hospice came in, provided adequate medication for pain and she was smiling, alert,pain free and comfortable for the remainder of her life which was about a year.They also offered spiritual counseling and respite for the family.
In my area,clients can still seek medical treatment, attend day programs,etc. if they improve, they are discharged, if they continue to decline, hospice stays in place.
I am not sorry to recommend hospice to my clients. Perhaps things are different in other areas.

[9YearLurker]

I saw that with an elderly member of my family. The hospice nurses were trying to warn the family against letting the doctors give her more morphine, which she didn’t want, but the doctors gave it to her anyway—and hastened her departure before she was ready to go. It sure looked bold, routine and evil.

[clee1]

Hospice is for a terminal condition where the MD estimates that there is 6 months left to live. No one knows how long any of us really have. Live each day as if it is your last; because it just might be.

On our service, we encourage clients to do whatever they want as long as they want. Our goal is comfort and dignity to the end. I attend the funeral of EVERY patient of mine that passes away! I know their kids, grandkids, neighbors, etc. I know which family members steal their meds, and which ones steal their SocSec checks. My patients are part of my extended family!

Each disease process has it’s own set of “end scenarios”. I have a patient right now that is in end stage Alzheimer’s and aspirates (breathes in) everything she eats or drinks. This results in pneumonia or possibly drowning. Should we give her food and water? Her living will states that we should not place a feeding tube or give IV hydration, and her family agrees. This patient doesn’t recognize her own name, let alone her family.

Dehydration/starvation is painful. Should I not offer her Roxanol? (liquid oral morphine)

Friend, nobody can know when we are going to die. Hospice is for those that know the end is coming and want only comfort measures. We have NO financial incentive to kill people off.... we get paid per diem for ever patient on our service - regardless of the meds, supplies, time spent, etc. on that patient. It is in our financial interest to keep each patient on service as long as possible, and at the highest possible function. Our business grows primarily by word-of-mouth from appreciative family members.

I am sorry your experience in Hospice was unpleasant, but I get violently pissed when someone (not you, necessarily) accuses me of being a euthanasia specialist. I also am violently opposed to spending big $$$$ on medical tests and procedures (often painful ones) on terminally ill people; all in the name of “hope” or making guilty family members feel better.

[clee1]

You sure that was Hospice, not home health?

Hospice is only supposed to be for the last 6 months, and we get a per diem rate of between $135-$175 per day. That covers all meds, supplies, lab tests, and visits. If we have to do round-the-clock care (typically the last couple of days of life) we get $883 per day, again to cover everything.

[firebrand]

It all depends on the definition of death.

[Yet_Again]

I think many physicians will confirm that many oncologists, in particular, have difficulty being honest with their patients.

Some do. I do not advocate mindlessly charging ahead with futile (and often painful) tests and therapies when no cure or significant lengthening of life or improvement in the quality of life is achievable. Nor do I advocate the rationing of medical care to the elderly to hasten a human's departure to save the state money. Unfortunately many do.

In the end it is a patient's personal decision what constitutes "significant" and how long and hard he or she wishes to try and fight a disease. I merely provide information, and then facilitate that individual decision.

Also keep in mind that the plaintiff's attorney casts a long shadow over every decision that is made in every hospital every minute of every day.

[imfrmdixie]

THE JOB OF A HOSPICE NURSE When the beeper went off you were dreaming about running away from your kid's ball game and your job and your home. On your way you review all the steps of pronouncement - you look for the hospice death packet and think about what you will do and say. They meet you at the door, quietly leading you to the room. Everyone is silent, the lights are dim, and they are waiting, expectantly. On the hospital bed lies a skeleton - a shell of a person - pasty in color, motionless. There is no heartbeat, no peripheral pulse, no respiration; the eyes are open and fixed. You wonder who this person was, what she was like when she was young, what kind of suffering she endured. You tell the family that the patient has died. The young girl begins to cry; her brother holds her, their mother - the patient's daughter - sits stoically next to the bed; hands folded in her lap. You stop the CADD pump and gently remove the sub-q catheter. You turn off the oxygen concentrator and remove the nasal cannula. You excuse yourself to make the phone calls. The family sits next to their now gone grandmother - touching her hands, crying, reassuring each other that they have done the best for her. The daughter, the spine (pillar?) of strength is not crying but gently talking to her children. You notify the doctor - he is sad, says he's known her for 30 years probably will go to the funeral. You notify the minister who says he'll be right there. The funeral director will arrive in 30 minutes. The daughter witnesses for you as you pour morphine and Percocet tablets into the toilet and flush. Paperwork. The daughter tells you her mother suffered from cancer for 20 years off and on –but that the last 3 months were fast and painful until the hospice nurses got the pain under control with the CADD pump. You calculate what the cancer must have occluded, eroded, robbed, to cause such pain. There is cachexia. There are pedal contractures. The abdomen is grossly enlarged. You tell the daughter the good things you see - how beautifully the skin has been kept, not a hint of breakdown; how nice the hair looks, such an obvious sign of the love and devotion her mother has received. The two young children leave the room and you and the daughter bathe the mother one last time, change the linens, and make her comfortable. You talk to each other and to the body. The daughter begins to cry - you hold her, like the child she is at this moment - the child who no longer has a mother. The doorbell rings, the funeral director has arrived. You encourage the daughter and her family to come into the dining room and have a cup of tea. You go back to the bedroom to assist with the transfer of the body into the funeral bag. Such finality when the zipper goes over the face – you want to keep the family delicately away from the sight of this. It is painful enough for you. The minister arrives. The family gathers in the living room. They thank you for being there and for giving up your sleep in their hour of need. You pack the loose medical supplies, strip the bed, break it down, gather the trash, turn out the bedroom light, and close the door. The equipment company will come in the morning for the larger supplies. You say good-bye and leave. Outside, alone in your car, you cry. A few months later at a mutual friend's wedding, you see the daughter. When she sees you she smiles with sadness in her eyes. You smile back. She knows. You know. She knows you know. That is all. That is enough.

[imfrmdixie]

May God continually bless you for being His servant and taking care of His people. They are blessed, you are blessed and our God is blessed.

[RightField]

Yes, it was hospice ... Hospice of the Suncoast in Florida.

Mom actually was "graduated" out of hospice after about 2 years because she stabilized and was no longer "imminent" as they say, and had moved to a full nursing home by that time.

I have all the Medicare billings in her files. Medicare sent me copies every quarter.

[imfrmdixie]

I ran across this picture somewhere on the net and it felt so personal...so real...so much like a Hospice nurse. I also found the note following the picture. I am not sure of the author but it truly represents the duty that a nurse has to carry out and the personal sadness felt when a life leaves...even when that life belonged to someone you did not know.

[kalee]

Not my experience. Barf!

[Chickensoup]

I have seen and have been hearing from people who have experienced similar issues with friends and family.

Do not leave home if you are ill and over 65. Make sure you have 24 hour family coverage if you go into a hospital.

[Chickensoup]

The elderly stroke patient is the lab rat of all medical students and residents.

[copwife]

I truly believe that there comes a time when we need to let nature take its course. If God wants to work a miracle, He will do it with or without a feeding tube, breathing tube, etc. I’m not saying to withdraw or withhold treatment, but most people can tell when it’s time to stop. Endless painful treatments can be torture and worse than anyone can imagine at the end of one’s life.
I will ALWAYS be thankful that my parents were able to make their wishes known to us. i will also be forever grateful to see them again some day ,thank God !

[Peter Libra]

I have been somewhat troubled by some of the posts on this subject. Possibly because, though in excellent health, I am getting up there. What should be evident is that there must be a considerable difference in such a wide number of administered facilities.

Just as the disturbing stories come out of Toronto, Canada, in small towns it is often much different. What comes out at me in the newspaper articles from such as the Toronto Star, is the bone weary, overworked staff in many instances. I would presume resources are not first priority in many cases. Of course this is not to use a general view of Toronto, because I just don't know the whole picture.

In a small former mill town about 380 miles west of Toronto, people depend on the "Manor" for jobs. A local newspaper fifty miles away, carries "card of thanks" for the easing of the final passing. This extolling the kindness of the dedicated staff there. Two different situations.

I, will, in passing use one word for two people here, for both your ideas, beliefs and dedication,

Bravo!

[imfrmdixie]

Thank you. You are very kind.