Jul
keep ordering more and more test…BUT ONLY IF THE PATIENT HAS THE INSURANCE TO PAY FOR IT? Oh, did I just answer my own question?
Answer:
When someone has been diagnosed terminal….they have the ability to request hospice care which only deals with keeping the dying patient comfortable. I work on an Oncology floor of a hospital and our terminal patients are usually discharged and go to the hospice facility or to their homes to live out the rest of their days. I dont know why this particular doc would continue to order tests on a dying person. The family needs to state enough.
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Many patients have already signed an Advance Directive and this dictates what they want and don’t want done to and for them. If a patient or his representative requests Full Code status, even terminally ill patients must get the full treatment. Hospitals, physicians and nurses are required to do this. By omitting care for a Full Code patient, we become legally liable for negligence and families have been known to sue and win. And you've never dealt with patient families. They have the ability to be a nightmare! If they insist, harass and demand more tests, sometimes physicians will order them to give the family peace of mind & freedom from guilt that everything possible has been done for the dying loved one.
No Codes - also called DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) have specified no extraordinary measures and just comfort measures. There are other code statuses like Chemical Code. No CPR but medications can be given to resuscitate.
No, you did not answer your own question. Think about this before accusing doctors of gouging.
Answer:
Unless a terminally ill patient has a “do not resusitate” or “no code” order, the physician is obligated to treat him (or risk being sued). At many teaching hospitals (universities, etc.), physicians will order tests regardless of insurance for purposes of learning. The patient becomes a guiney pig of sorts.
The ethical thing to do would be to speak with the patient and his family, explain the grim prognosis, obtain permission for a DNR order, and support the patient with comfort measures while letting nature take its course. This is exactly what many good physicians do. Unfortunately, I don't have to tell you that all doctors are not created equal…
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My son had an advanced directive which prohibited CPR, ICU, and any other means to prolong his life. It does not mean that if he has something that is treatable . . state he fell down and broke his arm . . than he would be treated for that. A patient has the right to refuse all tests . . did you know that . . . it is their choice when and if to halt testing and procedures. We selected to cease once it became clear that the cancer was out of control . . but only after a CT confirmed our worse fears. My sons palliative care and pain oncologist was completely wonderful . . he explained everything to my son in terms that he could comprehend . . he was patient, calm, and brutually honest. All of us . . . family, friends, and yes, the staff were all devastated . . my son selected the ideal option available to him at that time . . and that was hospice care at home surrounded by everything he knew.
I am sorry that you had such a poor experience .. . and have come to realize that not everyone was treated as good as my son . . which is unfortunate because dealing with cancer is crappy enough without dealing with all the other stuff too.
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Doctors only ever do this if the patient has failed to finish an “advance directive”. They do so to avoid being sued.
If you are over 18 and you do not have an advance directive and a will, then you are a completely irresponsible person.
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Yes, you answered your own question. lol Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList