can a dr. force someone into hospice- please help w answer (home, health)

[rada]

Hi- Sorry for several questions but really need answers. Can a dr. in Pa. force or insist we put family member into hospice even though its not what we want? Please advise who I can call to get answer. We care for family member at home and want to continue to do so. Have home health nurse come 2x week but dr. and nurse keep pushing hospice and we are worried. It is not what we want at this time.

[wadejay26]

Hospice patients can sometimes stay at home. A friend's wife is a visiting hospice nurse. She goes to the patient. Or if you do not like the care a physician is providing, you can always switch providers.

[poconoproud]

My best friend's mom, my mom's best friend and my aunt's best friend all had hospice in the home. I don't think a doctor can force you to do anything you (or his patient) does not want to do...but they may be so insistent because they know there is only so much that they can do for the patient at this point in their illness. It's usually then that they push for hospice.

how can anyone be ready for or want that type of care for their loved one, knowing what it may mean for their loved one? some families fear that hospice will make the patient give up fighting, and be resigned that they are beyond a doctor's care... but of all of my loved ones who had or have cancer (too many to even accept or fathom) hospice care was/is vital to them, and they are very grateful for it.

[skyegirl]

Originally Posted by rada

Hi- Sorry for several questions but really need answers. Can a dr. in Pa. force or insist we put family member into hospice even though its not what we want? Please advise who I can call to get answer. We care for family member at home and want to continue to do so. Have home health nurse come 2x week but dr. and nurse keep pushing hospice and we are worried. It is not what we want at this time.

I think it's great that you want to continue to care for your loved ona at home, however, there comes a time when keeping somebody 'comfortable' is above your pay grade. Hospice will see to it that your loved one has the necessary meds to keep them relatively pain free through this transition.

It's sounds as though you're having a difficult time coming to terms with this news, and understandably so. May I please suggest that you make your loved one as comfortable as possible at this time, and allow Hospice to help care for them? Please keep in mind, this is not necessarily about what you want, but about bringing comfort to your loved one.