Liverpool Pathway

[Rossmoyne]

Where may I obtain opt out cards from being put on the Liverpool Pathway, made by Dr Rosalind Bearcroft?

[bednobs]

i'm not sure but if you have a "living will" it should cover this situation

[woofgang]

can I ask which part of the pathway is it that you object to?

[cathfromsaron]

can i get one to make sure i am NOT fussed with after my useful life is over?

cath x

[tinkerbell23]

I didnt know there was an opt out! Ill look at that thanks for drawing my attention, personally i think its a great pathway x

[carlton23]

What is it? I`ve never heard of it, please enlighten.

[bednobs]

it's basically a pre-written care plan for people who are in the last 48 hours of their life. It reminds all the people looking after them what the most important things are (pain relief, mouthcare, turning etc etc) and makes sure the nurses look after them properly if they follow it

[woofgang]

I am not sure why the OP wants to opt out?

[bednobs]

i would guess it's due to the reports in the papers that hospitals are putting people on the pathway on order to deny them food and fluid and make them die to clear beds. I have to say that's never been my experience while working in hospitals and palliative care but maybe others have different experiences

[tinkerbell23]

Er no, or mine, it is used in the community too, no problem with bedspace there! X

[woofgang]

But food and fluid are not denied by the pathway. The LCP would neither encourage or support such withholding but it wouldn't prevent it either. If it does happen, its is bad care by the clinicians that is at fault.
What the LCP does do is prioritise comfort over bodily health and allows actions to be taken that would not be in the patient's best health interest if they were expected to survive. So freer access to pain killers, ignoring dietary restrictions, permitting alcohol consumption and so on.

[Prudie]

I had never heard of this until my mother was taken ill and still don't understand it so excuse me if I've got the wrong end of the stick, the turn of events were: my 89 yr old very lively mother had a normal Monday, driven herself to town etc etc, by Tues in a coma which was diagnosed by Tues night as bacterial meningitis. By Thurs morning the hospital said the antibiotics were not working and there was little they could do and advised putting her on the Liverpool Care Pathway. The family wre all in a state and accepted the informed medical opinion. By Sunday she was dead and I have since believed it to be legalised euthanasia. Apologies, I don't mean to upset others but this is my view of it in the specific example of my mother, on reflection.

[Duncer]

I agree entirely Prudie. I'm not saying it is the wrong course of action in ALL cases, but it is in many.