A time may come when treatments that prolong life are just prolonging suffering. There's no real chance of recovery. At that point, the dying person may be able to decide to stop treatment. If they can't, the person's legally authorized representative (a health care agent) can decide for them. If you are the person's representative, and the treatments are causing unbearable suffering, you may talk with the doctor and ask to remove life support. If you do, the health care team will keep the dying person comfortable until their life ends. The hospice team can give support and symptom relief to your loved one. They can also help you and your family.
Removing life support is a hard choice to make. Remember, your decision is not the cause of your loved one's death. The disease or injury is.
Removing the ventilator
Taking the breathing tube out relieves the discomfort it may have caused. Once off the machine, the patient may stop breathing. However, in some cases, they may continue to breathe on their own. If the patient has a pacemaker, it may be turned off at this time as well.
Stopping food and fluids
When the feeding tube is removed, death often follows in a few days. It's not painful. Most people go into a deep sleep before dying. Stopping food can be a hard decision. But a person very near death won't feel hunger. Feeding them may actually increase their discomfort.
Removing I.V. lines
I.V. (intravenous) lines can provide fluids and medicines. Ask the staff if you have any questions about what will happen when you stop this type of life support.
How you may feel
It's normal to feel a burden if you have to decide whether to remove life support. You may also feel guilty, sad, or afraid. Know that you have no power over death itself. You can only try to make the treatment choices your loved one would have made. Allow the medical team to help you make the decision, but don't rush. If you feel confused or pressured, talk with a trusted family member who knows your loved one well. Or talk with a counselor or a trusted member of your faith community before making the final decision.
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