So I’ll actually answer since I’ve never shared this even though the post is making a joke.
It’s not really murder I’m sure, but it has stuck with me forever. I took care of my grandmother through the end stages of her cancer as some form of “hospice” care. I was the one that gave her morphine when she needed it and essentially within days of starting it she became more and more zombified and then passed away. It happened within roughly a week. It was only after all that did learn about morphine toxicity in the elderly and realized that even though it helped her with the pain I’m pretty sure I “killed” her. :(
For what it’s worth, if i ever find myself elderly with end stage cancer, I would consider it a kindness to be able to go out painlessly and relatively quickly.
So I’ll actually answer since I’ve never shared this even though the post is making a joke.
It’s not really murder I’m sure, but it has stuck with me forever. I took care of my grandmother through the end stages of her cancer as some form of “hospice” care. I was the one that gave her morphine when she needed it and essentially within days of starting it she became more and more zombified and then passed away. It happened within roughly a week. It was only after all that did learn about morphine toxicity in the elderly and realized that even though it helped her with the pain I’m pretty sure I “killed” her. :(
I work in palliative care, and if she was in pain and you gave her morphine according to prescription, you did the right thing.
For what it’s worth, if i ever find myself elderly with end stage cancer, I would consider it a kindness to be able to go out painlessly and relatively quickly.