If the patient is being cared for by a hospital or 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 system 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 the end of
life.
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.
And the death-planning
coordinator might be the best person
to collect such statements from the people providing terminal care.
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,
any 'suicide watch' will be noted by 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 about the plans for death,
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
all relevant safeguards were fulfilled,
protecting the patient from all forms of premature death.
Perhaps the people who cared for the patient at the
end
will be able to assure everyone who has a right to know
that the patient
approved the pathway that led to this chosen death.
created
January 24, 2007; revised 3-15-2008; 5-7-2008;
2-6-2010;
5-20-2010; 5-27-2011; 12-15-2011;
1-29-2012; 2-22-2012; 3-23-2012; 8-2-2012; 8-22-2012; 11-15-2012;
5-22-2013; 2-19-2015; 1-8-2016; 1-5-2018; 6-5-2020; The people who provide daily care to
the patient know the patient's condition, which might be leading toward a chosen
death of some sort.
This is Safeguard M in How
to Die: Safeguards for Life-Ending Decisions: "Statements
from Hospital or Hospice Staff Members".