Bulletin Board -- For Life & Death Issues

Here we will post news, bulletins, and other input from senior citizens on issues on life and death that might be helpful to other seniors.

• Artificial nutrition and hydration --- I came across your site quite by accident, and decided to explore it. As an RN Unit Manager of a geriatric short-term rehab unit in a skilled nursing facility, I have had extensive experience in dealing with feeding issues, as well as in care of the dying patient. I must take issue with one of the assertions in the "nutrition" article. In my experience, dying from starvation and/or dehydration does not cause suffering, and in fact, causes death to come more quickly and in many cases, painlessly. It is now commonly believed by the hospice community of caregivers as well as many progressive medical professionals that continued attempts to intervene by using artificial nutrition and hydration actually cause more patient suffering than if natural processes are allowed to occur. Perhaps our focus should be helping dying patients accept what is happening to them, rather than scaring them into believing that they will die a painful death unless they consent to all available medical interventions. -- Sincerely, Janine Savage, RN - FkgGoldBoy@aol.com

• I just found on my shelves another book you might pass on to the others. Had forgotten all about it but read it again with pleasure. TITLE: Death Does Not Part Us AUTHOR: Elsie R. Sechrist. There are many things in print by almost all the people who wrote about Edgar Cayce; Several are medical doctors, others PHD's, all of them fascinating. Regards, Jeanne R. jeanner@illuminet.net

• Request For Information -- I'm looking for information on literature, sample releases, etc. regarding a patient who refused any invasive medical procedures, and subsequently died. How do other physicians, hospitals deal with patients who SHOULD have a procedure performed, but refuse? (the patient's children, of course, are now suing the doctors) Any help would be appreciated. E-mail Kathy McCullough -- mccullough@iquest.net

• Viatical Settlement -- Terminal illness of emotionally devastating enough without the complications of sorting out fianances. Some people sell their life insurance policies to get money to pay the bills. It's a new twist on insurance with the unusual name of "viatical settlement" (viatical means "of or relating to traveling, a road, or a way"). Viatical-settlement companies may pay 60% of the face value of a policy to a person with a life expectancy of two years or less, 80% to one whose expectancy is six months or less. Going this route as a way to handle medical bills and other expenses has legal, fiancial and tax repercussions. It's wise to shop around and contact two or three viatical companies. To help, the FTC offers an eight-page booklet called "Viatical Settlements: A Guide for People With Terminal Illnesses." If you would like a free copy, send a postcard to: Viatical Settlements, Federal Trade Commission, Box P-Room 403, Washington, D.C. 20580-0001. Or you may access the brochure on the Internet at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/viatical.htm.

• Hospice Help -- Is there any interest is setting up a resource list of people with whom hospice patients might wish to correspond? I don't know what I might do to help, but a sympathetic approach is all some of these people might want. I did volunteer work in a hospice in Richmond, VA for several years and currently do volunteer work in another field in my current city. What might be accomplished by having a list of people available for correspondence I am not certain, but what do you think of the idea? Regards - e-mail Glenn R. Hawkes -- See page Hospice Help we set up. Webmaster