General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why isn't assisted suicide legal for the elderly... [View all]Crunchy Frog
(26,709 posts)It's just that the focus is on keeping them as comfortable as possible rather than aggressive and futile attempts to force their bodies to keep going, even with no possibility for meaningful survival.
I've seen Hospice patients get treated for UTIs and dental issues, and anything else that affects their comfort and quality of life. I've seen them get as much supplemental O2 as it's possible to give them without invasive procedures such as intubation.
And they are the ones calling the shots, as long as they have the ability, and always have the option to leave Hospice and go back to more aggressive treatment.
If you want to live in an alternative reality where that's the same thing as killing someone you're free to. It still doesn't change things for people who actually want to die before their disease runs its full course, which is what this thread is about.