Looking on Hospice Policies and Procedures Manuals to Check
As a professional who counsels terminally ill patients on end-of-life issues, I often come across people who ask if I am against Hospice policies and procedures. I can't help but reply, "No." It's not a question of either/or. The fact is that any and all decisions made in determining the best possible care for a loved one are made when a patient is at the very end of their life. In many ways, those making those decisions are experiencing the same feelings and emotions that the terminally ill patient is feeling: desperation, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, and loss of control.
When the end-of-life choices are made by families and friends with the best of intentions, it is important to set the tone for caring for a dying person that is both comforting and effective. I believe the first step ...