CMPA June 2017

This from the CMPA Perspectives June 2017

Document carefully in the medical record the processes and discussions around MAID, especially assessments on eligibility and mental capacity (competence), informed consent discussions, consultations with other healthcare professionals, and, if appropriate, discussions with family members.

What I like is, if appropriate, discussions with family members.  That leaves it up to the physician to decide if the family should know about the euthanasia.  Since the death certificate will say the preexisting medical condition caused death, the family would never know if the medical vulnerable person did euthanasia or not. There is suicide prevention, why not euthanasia prevention.

This is what happened to Randy.  On November 15 2013 his physician put a DNR/DNT Order on him without telling us. I found out by accident.  I was not to know.  VCHA did the same thing to him in 2012.  At that time, after I found out, a trio of three went to see Randy, without me, and he said no to a DNR.  So I was confident that VCHA would not do that again.  But they did, they put on a DNR on Randy without telling me on November 15, 2013.

If VCHA is fearful that you will talk a patient out of a decision to die, they will just not tell you.  They will even go so far as getting the PGT involved so the process is sanctioned by her. If a patient is brave enough to want euthanasia, then he should be brave enough to tell his family of his intention.

Euthanasia requests should be announced/published in the newspaper asking if there is any reason why this should not happen.