SAFEGUARD
FOR LIFE-ENDING DECISIONS
STATEMENTS
FROM HOSPITAL OR HOSPICE STAFF
MEMBERS
If the patient is being cared for in a hospital or
enrolled in a hospice program,
several staff members, including nurses, doctors, &
volunteers,
will become familiar with the patient and his or her situation.
It might be wise in a careful form of terminal care
for the people who know the patient to record their knowledge of
the patient's condition and the patient's thinking about life-ending
decisions.
Such written statements might later become relevant
for showing that the patient received correct terminal care
and to what degree the patient was able to participate
in any decisions that ultimately led to death.
Separate or combined statements from hospice staff
members
could be assembled and added to the death-planning record.
Such statements would probably be in addition to
the normal medical records maintained by the hospital or hospice
program.
HOW STATEMENTS FROM HOSPITAL AND HOSPICE STAFF MEMBERS
WILL DISCOURAGE IRRATIONAL SUICIDE AND OTHER PREMATURE
DEATHS
If the people who have most frequent contact with
the
patient
notice that the patient is in danger of committing an irrational
suicide,
they should take appropriate measures
to prevent the patient from harming himself or herself.
If additional security measures are used to prevent irrational suicide,
these will be reported in the statements from staff members.
But when the condition of the patient worsens to the
point
where death is preferred by everyone involved,
as shown by their written statements assembled for the death-planning
process,
then the patient and/or the proxies who are legally responsible
for making all medical decisions—including
life-ending decisions—
will
exercise that power to make the best decision for the patient.
The hospital or hospice staff members' statements
will show that to the best of their knowledge
that all relevant safeguards were fulfilled
so that the patient was protected from all forms of premature
death.
created
January 24, 2007; revised 3-15-2008; 5-7-2008