This article resonated with me having been down this road. Some states have physician assisted euthanasia, some do not. Vermont and Oregon are the only two states that accept out-of-staters. Our problem was my wife was not in good enough health to make the journey. As a matter of fact, geography began to figure more and more into ALL her health care decisions. The further the doctors and hospitals were from our house, the less probable it became for me to be able to get her there.

I am grateful she was able to pass away out our home and not in the hospital. I regret not calling hospice nurses in earlier though.....however, the medicare rules regarding hospice are eye opening.

If the patient has to go to the ER for any reason, medicare revokes their hospice status. the patient has to re apply. I figure if a patient does this more than twice, medicare will permanently revoke hospice status for a patient.

the message is clear; once you go on hospice, don't think about taking ANY life saving or life prolonging actions.....medicare wants you off THEIR books ASAP. And that can only happen one way; your death.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/jun/01/home-hospice-cost?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

You need to look into what hospice actually is. Its end of life care. There is no cure for what you have. The medical staffs job is to make the patient as comfortable as possible till they pass. ER is direct opposed to the purpose of hospice care. The patient or the guardian has to make a decison as to what avenue they want ro persue. You have to pick one and only one.

__________________
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2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

correct with an exception; since we all know hospice means the end, why are so many states REFUSING to pass Dying with Dignity legislation? Vets do it for dogs and cats, why not people? And yet, only Vermont and Oregon allow out of staters. Also, the hospice nurses told me they were not allowed to administer IV morphine in my home. They told me IV morphine can only be administered in the hospital. So...only way to get IV morphine in the hospital is SHOW UP AT THE ER, RIGHT? And yet, showing up at the ER means medicare revokes the patient's hospice status. I'm still confused about the IV morphine policy in various states. Apparently, Texas allows IV morphine to be administered in the home while other states do not. Maybe they are afraid the care taker for the patient might start dealing morphine illegally out on the street....who knows?

most of the refusal for Death with Dignity euthanisia is in christian right wing republican led states. They feel it is 'unchristian' to end someone's life if the patient wants it.

Because religious nut jobs dont agree with it and they have a lot of pull in government. Hospice nurse have a lot of drugs at their disposal and most doctors seem to be on board so long as the family and patient (if they are coherent) understand what's going on.

My father was on hospice for about 2 weeks. He went quickly and peacefully. The nurse was top notch.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I believe had I been given a booklet or pamphlet that outlined the medicare rules regarding hospice, pain meds, emergency room visits, etc. it would have made my decision much easier.


For instance, the hospice nurses told me that hospice can be carried out in the hospital. That was news to me....

Some hospitals have them. Wife worked at a memory care unit that had a hospice wing. My father passed away in his appt. Hospice paid to have a hospital bed placed in his appt and he had 24/7 care. I was there when he passed. That is a moment that will be with me till I die. Still not sure how I feel about it. He was not aware I was there. He did not suffer (I dont rhink) but zi hated seeing him like that....not the last memory of him that I wanted...how ever selfish that is.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I've been a witness to several deaths, both people and animals. In my experience, it seems like they are doing well one day and then BAM! their health takes a nose dive.... then, within a short time they are gone......

right after my wife's loss, I began communicating with a real estate agent. I spoke with her about a month after my wife's loss. She shared with me that her middle age brother had just been found dead on the bath room floor from a heart attack. I expressed my condolences then talked to her about deaths from cancer versus deaths from a heart attack.


Cancer can be a long, painful and difficult way to die. Many cancer patients float out of this world cranked up on IV morphine or LOTS and LOTS of pain meds. usually, heart attacks go FAST. in my opinion, going fast beats the H outta going slow......