had a run in with a dr the other day 
basically i asked it to be documented in a patients notes that although they are nil by mouth (theyre not allowed to eat cos they have an unsafe swallow) they can have food and sips for comfort as they are terminally ill.
after much protest
he agreed to do it he said it didnt need to documented cos we shouldnt offer it she should be given it if she asked. i explained to him that if there is a big sign saying NBM and she asks then no one would give it to her cos its a confusing message.
anyway we then got onto a discussion about it and i said that personally i would not give her anything cos i wouldnt want to be responsible for her aspirating (stuff going into lungs- not good) he said that that was unethical. it really peed me off. i fully appreciated that the patient wants food and drink as a comfort thats fine but i dont want to give it to her cos i dont want to kill her. if the family or other staff do thats fine but i see that as my right to refuse.
we are allowed to opt out of abortions if its against our beliefs, im also against euthanasia and would never want to play a part in it.
i took some flak about this from him and another senior member of staff, i think it was wrong of them. what do you think? am i wrong for not giving it to the patient?
basically i asked it to be documented in a patients notes that although they are nil by mouth (theyre not allowed to eat cos they have an unsafe swallow) they can have food and sips for comfort as they are terminally ill.
after much protest
he agreed to do it he said it didnt need to documented cos we shouldnt offer it she should be given it if she asked. i explained to him that if there is a big sign saying NBM and she asks then no one would give it to her cos its a confusing message.anyway we then got onto a discussion about it and i said that personally i would not give her anything cos i wouldnt want to be responsible for her aspirating (stuff going into lungs- not good) he said that that was unethical. it really peed me off. i fully appreciated that the patient wants food and drink as a comfort thats fine but i dont want to give it to her cos i dont want to kill her. if the family or other staff do thats fine but i see that as my right to refuse.
we are allowed to opt out of abortions if its against our beliefs, im also against euthanasia and would never want to play a part in it.
i took some flak about this from him and another senior member of staff, i think it was wrong of them. what do you think? am i wrong for not giving it to the patient?
