This is based on my overall assessment of inpatient onocology and/Palliative care decision makers only…not subordinate staff who do what is told. Also, This is no reflection on the great Winship onocology team’s out patient services.
Climate and culture: it seems they have great enthusiasm with pushing opioids in disguise of compassion.
They also have great energy and tenacity when a decision is made to potentially send someone home. Not because they were success in getting a patient better but more so as less of a burden and professional challenge.
They don’t show that they value hydra ration and nutrition. When I personally asked if they could BALANCE the need for opioid without sacrificing hydration and nutrition it was like I was asking for something unreasonable.
I saw no evidence or was presented with any possible good faith effort in seeking a solution to maintaining hydration and nutrition while taking an opioid . They defended the dope with great vigor.
My wife currently has cancer and I wanted to know if it was a way to manage the opioid induced sleep so she would not miss meals and hydration while inpatient. Being doped up just basically eliminated any ability to get healthy through natural means.
Please note that Meals and water were provided but my wife was SLEEP all the time. What is disheartening they will wake you to take the opioid, but not wake you to drink and eat for your well being (nourishment).
They think it’s compassion to only address the pain…but they must also realize pain makes folks make bad decisions. So if pain medicine is putting you in a position to sleep when your body needs hydration and nutrition…that does not translate to compassion. It’s insane for the opioid to be highly valued, but nutrition intake is tested as taboo. I was constantly reminded by staff “we can not make patients drink or eat” But as a minimum you can encourage them…especially when they are sleep and on strong medicine.
I read a national health article that stated medicine should make pain tolerable so the patient can both eat, sleep and function which improves quality of life.
This is what I was championing in a heated discussion, but it didn’t translate well as they were extremely guarded and thin skinned.
Something ain’t right about getting dehydrated under a physicians care. I’m committed to researching what the exact duty of care is for hydration etc.
I know there are some smart doctors that know what to do. My wife just was not blessed at the time to have one.
Instead we got defensive responses to our concerns. I served 30 years in the military and my decision to send my wife to Emory will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Note: My wife had 3 set backs due to dehydration, low blood etc
If your gut tells you your physician is not in for a fight but yet seeks comfort and retreats under adversity…get out if you can!
If your physician does not show confidence in their skill…get another one or tell them to help you find a more courages one.