My mother

[fredr]

My mother was 88 taking 10 heart medications for 15 years.After a cardiologist appointment she was to come back in four months and continue her heart medications.I was due to arrive three weeks later from China to take her home but instead found her comatose from haldol,her heart medications were withdrawn and a GP friend of the caregiver signed in Hospice.I took her to the hospitl critically ill and they discharged her critically ill without treating her.The care giver was POA.The discharge order was to put my mother into a nursing home and continue her heart medication.Several months later her life was ended with morphine.When the doctors in the hospital found that haldol was used to make her comatose,her heart medications were withdrawn and refused to be continued dont they have an obligation to my mother?Does Hospice have any obligations to the withdrawal of medications? Can the GP three weeks after an appointment with the cardiologist sign an affadavid that my mother has six months or less to live?He did not even call the cardiologist.To me what the caregiver did was worse than shooting someone as in addition to dying my mother had to go through 5 months of pain and suffering.

[fredr]

Dear Doctor Bogart,
I don't believe that the POA or Hospice can withdrawa patients heart medication.From what I understand unless you are in the very last stage of dying Hospice will not withdraw your nmedications.My mother had a kliving will that stated when death is imminant lie support can be withdrawn but medication food and water will continue.The withdrawal occured five months before my mothers demise.

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

This is a complicated issue but if the POA says only hospice care then the issue is palliative or comfort care.  You need to talk with the parties involved in the care of your mother.