CathInfo.com

It is very wrong that Hospices are being promoted on this thread.
Hastening death against the wishes of the patient is very common in Hospices.
This is condemned by the Catholic Church.

Here are excerpts from an article:

"Catholic nurse recounts hospice horror, says doctor euthanized priest"

By Matt C. Abbott.

"The public still does not realize that Terri was taken from us to fulfill a hospice-euthanasia partnership, fulfilling their agenda in an 'in your face' demonstration of what they can do, are doing, and will do to others," asserts Panzer.

In recent days, Panzer received the following (edited) e-mail from registered nurse and Illinoisan Wendy Ludwig, who recounts the horror of witnessing the euthanizing of an elderly Catholic priest:
…
 I'm so upset, horrified and angry about this. In my area, the hospice went on an 'advertising campaign,' writing articles in the local newspaper, handing out flyers to doctors' offices and trying to drum up support from local clergy by going around to each church asking to set up a meeting with them so they can 'explain the benefits of hospice.'

'It's truly terrible where I live. It's not uncommon to see a patient eating in a restaurant with his or her family one week and the following week be dead after hospice has come in. When my mother was ill, she made absolutely clear that she did not want hospice anywhere near her, yet the hospital …did many tactics to hasten her death and ended up doing as they pleased, coming up with some strange medical power-of-attorney that no one had seen before. It was truly awful. For the rest of my life it will affect me, and there is never a day that I do not think about it. I did everything I possibly could, but they still found ways to not treat infections, to deny her enough fluid, to do so many things, and it did not matter what I said or did — or what she said, for that matter.
'I'm currently seeking a new career, because as a pro-life Catholic, I cannot in good conscience work in hospitals anymore. Even the Catholic hospitals support hospice in one way or another. I can tell you honestly that I'm not aware of any hospice that is good. Everyone I know who has gone to a hospice in any state that I know of has been …

'It's been so overwhelming to me. What's so unbelievable is the way that hospice can convince people they are doing 'good' and 'mercy' for their loved ones. It appears to me that they …take the family at their most vulnerable time, convince them the only way the patient won't suffer is by using hospice, and lie to them about what is actually happening. Even when people feel like something isn't right, they do nothing, somehow believing what hospice has told them. With such an 'ad campaign' in the newspapers and elsewhere, I don't know how to begin to make people understand what hospice is doing. It's notable also that once a family member dies in hospice care, people do not want to hear the truth; it seems they defend hospice profoundly, …

'I witnessed a doctor euthanizing a Catholic priest who stated in no uncertain terms that he did not want hospice. The priest did not have cancer or any other terminal illness. He was 94, still saying Mass and very active. When the priest needed knee surgery for an injury to his knee, the doctor decided it was time to call in hospice. The priest adamantly and angrily refused. So the doctor took his medicine away and started to give him 'pain pills' even though the priest said he was not in pain.

'The priest was in a nursing home following his knee injury and was getting physical therapy. …he needed to go to the hospital…
'While in the hospital, the doctor refused him food and fluids……
A short time later the nurse came and got the family but told me to stay in the waiting room. I had a terrible feeling; I went to the nurses' station and the curtain was pulled in Father's room. I heard a priest saying prayers over him, the family in the room as well. I was told I could not go in. …

'I stood outside and heard the nurse telling the family that they were giving him another dose of medicine and taking off his oxygen. I was told to go back to the waiting room. I knew what was happening: The doctor had viciously called me to sit in the waiting room while he euthanized the priest. I left the hospital, and before I got home, I received a call that the priest had passed away.

The doctor still practices at the hospital.

'I have many other horror stories.'

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/110401

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100429

Sede,

Thank you for publishing that heart wrenching email from the nurse who went through that dreadful expereince.

I mentioned on this (or it might have been the other) hospice thread that I witnessed a nun-friend euthanased in a "Catholic" hospice, run by her own order, with nuns coming and going. When a few of the laity questioned her "care" they were reassured very warmly that she was just fine. She was in fact dehydrated to death.

Afterwards I brought the matter before the bishop and he became irate with me, saying that he had himself witnessed her being givena cup of tea while he was there. Considering that she has been previously on a drip, it seemed a very strange thing for him to say, and a very strange thing for her "sister" to do.

On the other hand my own father had the most wonderful and holy death in another Catholic hospice, and had the best possible care. This latter hospice has been operating since before I was born and I am 66.

I don't believe that the original hospice system was set up for the purpose of culling the population, but has been influenced by people who might "mean well" but are not schooled the true Catholic way, or else infiltrated by evil utilitarianists.