is it true that after their assesment and they get settled in, they can accuratley predict how much time a terminal patient has left? Thank you kindly for replies.
2007-07-20 06:45:08 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
As a previous Medical Director of a Hospice I can state that it is absolutely impossible to predict how much time a person has left. The only exception is when death is imminent - meaning in the next 36 to 48 hours. Hospice people are trained not to suggest how much time remains. What if a Hospice person or physician said 3 months and the loved one was dead in 3 weeks. This would be emotionally harmful to the family. It would be cruel. There are simply too many variables to state when a person is going to die - except when death is imminent - as noted above.
2007-07-20 10:31:28 · answer #1 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It really varies on the patient and what symptoms they are exhibiting at the time. Its more difficult to tell when they still have normal vital signs and are still eating and drinking. People sign up for hospice at all different phases of they're terminal disease. Sometimes, they're already bedbound and are eating/drinking very little, and sometimes they are up walking around and still taking pills. And, it depends what disease they are terminal with. Some diseases take over more quickly than others. There are many different factors to consider when the hospice nurse is assessing the patient, and usually it is their best "guesstimate" on how much time is left
2007-07-20 21:23:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they can accurately predict. They do see a lot of patients so they have experience and can probably guess. I've used hospice care in my home before and they never told us how much time would be left. I really didn't want to know anyway. You can only imagine it's not going to be too long.
2007-07-20 16:05:20 · answer #3 · answered by FriendshipInVegas 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one can predict until the patient is no longer eating
2007-07-20 18:47:24 · answer #4 · answered by barthebear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, they can pretty much tell how much time is left. They are experienced and have seen so many people terminal they pretty much know what is going to happen and at what time.
2007-07-20 13:49:02 · answer #5 · answered by Cherokee Billie 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
no one can predict that but, based on statistics,knowledge and personal experience, they can give a pretty good estimate.
2007-07-20 22:20:54 · answer #6 · answered by racer 51 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋