Death

mike1991 · Jan 26, 2007

Serious question guys. If you worked in the medical field and you had a patient who had a terminal illness and no matter what you did. You could not help with the chronic pain and they told you they were going to commit suicide due to all of the pain and you know they are serious. Would you turn your head and let them go through with it or would you admit them to the hospital and put them on suicide precautions?

flexmaster · Jan 26, 2007

wow, that is a hard question mike. have you tried talking to this person about how thier family will take thier death? in my opinion suicide is a very selfish thing to do. i would try to reason with them to think about thier family and friends...and how upset they would be if this person should follow through with it. may i ask what illness they are suffering from?

OuchThatHurts · Jan 26, 2007

mike1991 said:
Serious question guys. If you worked in the medical field and you had a patient who had a terminal illness and no matter what you did. You could not help with the chronic pain and they told you they were going to commit suicide due to all of the pain and you know they are serious. Would you turn your head and let them go through with it or would you admit them to the hospital and put them on suicide precautions?

Mike, what you do in this case is not make your own decision based on personal feelings but abide by the law and I'll assume you know what I'm talking about. Abide by the law and you learn to deal with it. That's part of the job. It's not for everybody. One thing that may put you at peace is that I've come to realize that people in their dying moments can have lifetime revelations and epiphanies that can help them to pass peacefully and be at peace, free of regret and guilt.

Whether the above is true or not (I believe it is), it will help.

mike1991 · Jan 28, 2007

Well the laws says I have to admit her. However, this will just take a week or two from her life. Plus she will still be in pain. Do I have a professional right to tell a pt that I'm sorry that I can't take your pain awhile, but I can't allow you to take your own life? I have been thinking about it and if that was me I wouldn't want anybody to intervene. Its tough situation. What do you think? Should I admit or just not document that this came up and turn my head and keep my mouth shut.

OuchThatHurts · Jan 29, 2007

Are you a nurse? Is this hospice? Does she have a very specific living will? What about a DNR? Where is you position in this situation? You have to abide by the law and perhaps the facility has their own set of specific guidelines. Not a decision you should make by yourself. Besides, then you have to carry that decision around with you. It's not always as easy to forgive yourself.

OuchThatHurts · Jan 29, 2007

mike1991 said:
Well the laws says I have to admit her. However, this will just take a week or two from her life. Plus she will still be in pain. Do I have a professional right to tell a pt that I'm sorry that I can't take your pain awhile, but I can't allow you to take your own life? I have been thinking...

Maybe it's best you stop thinking. You can't decide when to turn your back on a possible suicide. To your other question, Yes! You have a professional OBLIGATION to tell a pt that you can't take their pain away by death! Cmon... Why would you ask this in a BBing couselling forum? Did you go to medical school?

BTW... I'm not trying to be a jerk, just stern. If it's found out by some means that this patient conveyed her intentions to end her own life and you did nothing? That would be bad for your future...

oldfella · Feb 1, 2007

Hey mike1991, I certainly do not envy your position. OTH has nailed it on the head. It is not your chioce to make. You will regret it in more ways than one. This situation is probably why I did not want to go in to medicine. I tend to get emotionally attached easily. It then clouds your reasoning in what should be a clear cut case. That said the fact you are human means you will care and you will have regrets. It is a rock and a hard place. No where to turn and OTH has taken the legal and correct stance. I hate the pain and suffering that people go thru, when they have terminal illnesses. I am for the euthanasia law that will allow "Death with Dignity". Unfortunately the law makers and the do gooders do not see the merits of allowing some one to die if there is no other option for a full and meaningful life after illness. I hope you work this out as it can drag you down if you let it. I vote with OTH. Refer pt to a hospital or practioner. It sounds harsh, but it is the right thing for all. Also the right thing for your carreer. I'm not a phsyc or med person but I can see your situation and thought I could give you an outside opinion.