The ultimate Cocktail

[venator]

The Brompton cocktail was served in most hospitals during the 20th century in one form or another.

It was whatever spirits the patient preferred, with morphine, cocaine and/or other opiates, together with anti nausea and other drugs it varied from place to place.

It was given to terminally ill patients during their last days, to reduce their suffering and enable them to socialise and to reduce the distress of their relatives.

It was given in unlimited quantities, without consideration of the fatal dose, and probably hastened a relatively peaceful death.

I'm healthy at the moment, but wouldn't mind having a bottle in the cupboard just in case.

Should Tesco stock it?

[Sqad]

venator.....you are factually quite correct........it was an excellent pain relief for the people that needed it.

[mrsmaveric]

if it helps to allevieate the pain and suffering of someone,and more importantly..if THEY want to end their own life by taking it then the answer is yes...and maybe tesco should sell it...

[mccfluff]

i could do with one now

[Dee Sa]

dont they do it anymore ? why not ? too expensive for NHS ? what great idea to ease
peoples suffering in their last days. I had a relative who said no to morphine because it made him constipated and said that was worse than the original pain.

[Sqad]

It highlighted how much morphine the body could take and still be consistent with life.

venator.....what made you think of that?

[venator]

Go on Fluffy - what spirit would you like - I'd fancy a 15 year old Ardbeg malt.

[venator]

squad - it was a random thought - I get a lot of them!

[Sqad]

venator..;-)

[mccfluff]

absinthe or if you want a laugh give me tequila

[ChuckFickens]

I've promised myself I'll never drink tequila again (about 500 times!)

[Ankou]

might as well, they sell everything else

[mccfluff]

i have successfully avoided tequila since midgetgate

[venator]

In the unpleasant and imaginary circumstances, we can run to absinthe - even the real nasty stuff. It's aniseedy, I think, and would mask the very bitter drugs quite well.

[Ankou]

i'd go with sambuca, black or white, i aint no racisist.

[rowanwitch]

stopped I think because better things came online.... things like slow release morphine, and alfentanil patches ... the idea being properly managed the patient doesn't get 'breakthrough pain' there are more things being used including drugs with a slightly sedating effect on the basis if you can't take the pain from the patient you take the patient 'out of the pain' Methadone is also being used in end stage cancer with some patients finding it transforms their final weeks as they can be more alert and ableto enjoy time with their families.. A schoolmate killed herself by taking all her dying fathers Brompton Cocktail... Her mother had died about a year before...her sister aged 19 had left her to cope alone no one knew until it was too late

[Jemisa]

Along those lines does anyone remember when it was OK to take beer into hospital? When my old dad was in there for breathing probs my mother always took him a bottle of Guiness in every night. No one batted an eye-lid.
In fact the bloke next to him had a bottle of Gin in his locker.

jem

[Sqad]

jemisa....I do indeed......in TB sanitaria, beer or Guiness was given out daily paid for by the NHS,the rationale being that it stimulated the appetite and of course contains iron.