Reply #11: That's a horrible story

[ismnotwasm]

In dying, there are always things to make the patient more comfortable. having a family watch air hunger is inhumane. I'm not sure why the staff allowed this kind of suffering. It's possible the patient was not as aware as the family percieved him to be. Personally, I would have given morphine and ativan immediately, as well as a little oxygen. The oxygen wouldn't have made much of a difference, but when family members are watching a loved one die, they need reassurence that the patient isn't suffering.

When I worked long term care, and someone was dying--sometimes it took a long time. The question of suffering always come up, as well as "did they die alone" I'd do frequent flyby's just to be there so I could tell family members-"No, I was there, and I was holding his hand"

During the dying process, the lungs fill and breathing sounds labored and is very distressing to hear. The body's metobolic balance is altered. The body doesn't tolerate this type of breathing very long, and patients will slip into a coma then death. Families need to be told what is going on.
Having taken care of many dying patients, I've learned I can ballpark "when" but not accurately predict.