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Diagnosed With End Stage Cirrhosis Of Liver. Under Hospice Care. Given Morphine. Correct Medications?
I have a family member who has been diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis of the liver. I have since learned that he has been diagnosed as having cirrhosis as early as 2003. He is currently under hospice care. We have discovered that his doctor has been giving him large precriptions of morphene for some time now along with other medication. Recently, after being placed with Hospice care his doctor ordered a 2 week supply of medicine that was shipped in from another town. After which federal agents came to inquire about this large amount of medicine. My question is. " If a doctor has diagnosed a patient with cirrhosis of the liver and it is due to alcohol/excessive drinking. Why would that same doctor prescribe powerful medications to alleviate pain for several years, knowing that the patient has not stopped drinking alcohol?" Even Medicaid, etc. refused to pay for some of the treatment and drugs giving to this family member, because they Medicaid/care said that the treatment and/or drugs did not match or was not right for the diagnosis listed.
Mon, 21 Oct 2013
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this diagnosis and the current hospice care your family member is receiving.
If a patient is receiving hospice care, then the goal of treatment is geared at relieving him of all his symptoms. Whatever it takes to enable hi lead a pain free life is what the doctors would use. if this requires morphine, as much as it takes to make hi comfortable would be prescribed and this is totally medically and ethically correct. I am comfortable to say that the doctor has worked in line with standard medical practice unless there is some more information that has not been disclosed.
Hospice means we cannot mange the disease and death from it is eminent. All we do is permit you enjoy the remaining days you have. there is nothing that stipulates a client should stop consuming the alcohol that caused this to qualify for this. if he were being considered fro a liver transplant for instance, this is a precondition but for hospice, NO.
I hope this helps and sheds some light on your doubts. I wish you well and feel free to use our services as often as the need arises.
I wish him the best!
Dr. Ditah, MD
I am so sorry to hear about this diagnosis and the current hospice care your family member is receiving.
If a patient is receiving hospice care, then the goal of treatment is geared at relieving him of all his symptoms. Whatever it takes to enable hi lead a pain free life is what the doctors would use. if this requires morphine, as much as it takes to make hi comfortable would be prescribed and this is totally medically and ethically correct. I am comfortable to say that the doctor has worked in line with standard medical practice unless there is some more information that has not been disclosed.
Hospice means we cannot mange the disease and death from it is eminent. All we do is permit you enjoy the remaining days you have. there is nothing that stipulates a client should stop consuming the alcohol that caused this to qualify for this. if he were being considered fro a liver transplant for instance, this is a precondition but for hospice, NO.
I hope this helps and sheds some light on your doubts. I wish you well and feel free to use our services as often as the need arises.
I wish him the best!
Dr. Ditah, MD
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