Why give morphine at the end of life?

Why do we give morphine at the end of life? Myths and misconceptions about morphine clarified.

[barbaracameron]

My daughter was dying of cancer. She had a morphine drip. The doctor said that my daughter couldn't speak or see, but she had a heightened hearing sense. I sang songs to her. Songs my mom and her grandmom sang to her. For a long time I sang and sang. She was a beautiful young woman.❤ miss her!❤

[dianironfeather]

My husband died of cancer. His last two weeks of life were spent in hospice. I was with him 24/7. I controlled when he was given pain medication based on the level of pain I could tell he was in. If he had been given enough medication that he could sleep, but was still grinding his teeth and grimacing, I knew he needed more. If he was relatively calm I would have them hold off so he could be “present” and included in whatever was going on. The hospice workers, I’m convinced, are Angels come to earth. In the end he went to sleep with no further medication. He slept for a little over five hours. He was extremely hot. Someone called it “terminal fever”. Then without waking his heart stopped and he exhaled for the last time. He was out of pain and was peaceful for the first time in over a year. When people are dying we owe it to them to make their passing as pain free and gentle as possible. Most especially if we love them.

[gwenking]

I watched a friend of mine die in a VA hospital. He had cardiac insufficiency and his organs and tissues were dying slowly from lack of oxygen. He cried for morphine while chewing the dying flesh off his fingertips and the nurses would not give him more because it would kill him. I was a nurse at the time and I was appalled at their lack of sympathy. If a person is dying and is suffering that badly give them a little extra push to ease them out of this world. I think that is the kindest thing health care workers could do.

[SSJIndy]

My Dad was dying of lung cancer. The nurses went over palliative care options and told him they would give him morphine to help him any time he felt he needed it. Dad, always a tee-totaller and avoider of pain meds, looked straight at the nurse and asked "I'm not going to get hooked on this stuff, am I?" I miss his sense of humor.

[caroldriehorst]

That drug is a Blessing to those dying and in pain.

[conniehopkins]

I want as much morphine as they will give me at the end. As a nurse with over 40 years of experience, I've seen many families withhold morphine because "we are just trying to kill" their loved ones. They suffered horribly. I just want to be comfortable, so bring it on.

[tint]

My father was dying of prostrate cancer that had spread through out his lower body. It ended up attacking his vital organs the day he died. The nursing home called me in the morning and told me they were sending him to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. Later in the evening at 5 pm my sister in law called me and said I need to go to the local ER. When I arrived I found my father breathing like he was running a marathon and unconscious. The ER doctor told me that his system was septic and his organs were shutting down. He gave us two choices. One they could try to keep him alive but he was in pain and it would just prolong his condition. Or Two they could give him morphine and lessen the pain and help him pass on. We chose the morphine. The nurses dosed the oral morphine and he lasted 7 hours after the morphine doses started. It is a hard decision if you really love the person that is dying. I had many talks with my father prior to him dying and he told me several times that he didn't want to be kept alive. I am a peace with the whole experience. I hope others that have to make that decision will feel the same when the time comes.

[firewaterbydesign]

As a pain patient, I can honestly say that this is clearly the MOST humane thing that anyone can do to for someone that is dying. It is definitely the way that I would like to go.

[thorlo]

As a retired RN who has used morphine to help my patients to relax and stop hurting as they were dying, all I can say is thank you sir for the information given. I have seen too many patients not given the medication they needed to help them as they were dying, because the family believed too many misconceptions about morphine. This short video was very much needed to help alleviate the misconceptions and myths about death and dying. Once again, thank you Legacy Hospice, this was very much needed.

[AM-xeiq]

My Dad had morphine in his last 4 hours. He had shortness of breath and it calmed it down to almost (almost) normal and steady. I believe his transition was much more relaxed and peaceful.

[KarunaSatoriASMR]

I wasn’t aware that the body releases stress hormones to wake it up causing terminal restlessness. That makes my heart ache. My mother laid there and was.. not there. Deep sleep constantly. But she kept raising her arms and grunting when she couldn’t open her eyes or wake up. It broke my heart. Finally she moved her head and grimaced like she just accepted it. My heart aches thinking about this. Thank you for posting.

[idealassets]

At my insistence I was given a morphine prescription 11 years ago for stage 4 throat cancer that spread to other areas. Surprisingly, after 1 year of cancer treatment I did survive all the cancer (Praise God). I was addicted to morphine after about 6 weeks of use, so I switched to enduring the pain rather than let the morphine create a further risk. It is amazing what you are capable of doing when you realize you might be a survivor. Let those who are terminal have their comfort.

[eogg]

My Aunt had brain cancer and was in terrible pain, the morphine helped her sleep. She also died peacefully.

[lisalane]

My grandma had bone cancer, she was close to 100 yrs old. This medicine helped her pass away as a rose 🌹 opened up in front of us, she went to sleep peacefully with my Dad at her side. If it wasn't for this medicine she would had passed in alot of pain which is cruel and unnecessary. She asked to take the pain away and she was then in comfort as she closed her eyes and peacefully passed. ✝️🙏☮️😇✌️🌹❤️

[elisabethschwarzl]

My father passed away recently, suffering from liver cancer. The palliative nurses eased his transition with Morphin, it was a blessing, his pain, difficulty breathing and anxiety was significantly reduced. Finally he stopped breathing and he had a very peaceful expression on his face. I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the palliative nurses, they are pure angels. Without their support and care, it would have been impossible for my father to die at home, as it was his wish. They accepted that his beloved cat could accompany him on the bed...

[testy]

I am convinced that terminal patients who are in pain should be given the option of having a morphine IV with NO lockout so that the patient can control their own level of pain and if they overdose, they will have a peaceful death!

[elizabethcox]

My Mother in law passed away this evening, drs put her on morphine last Saturday night. I knew the end was coming. My husband was with her today. She started shaking. They came in and gave her an oral dose Of morphine. She had a hard time breathing it was very rapid at first then it became very shallow. She passed away at 6pm California time tonight. She suffered from dementia and bipolar disorder for 6 years. She was 97 years old.RIP Mom. We all loved you and we are missing you tonight. Be happy with Dad, I know he was waiting for you.

[Duh]

My mother was a hippie inside so once, when she was nearing the end, I visited her at the hospice and as I entered, she looked at me with a beatific smile and told me to try one of her pills because she was tripping balls and wanted me to share in the experience. Man, I miss her.

[gomphrena-beautifulflower-]

As a retired RN, I wholeheartedly concur with this physician’s explanation of end-of-life issues and the need for morphine. Administration of morphine can not only decrease the patient’s anxiety, pain, and restlessness; it also enables the family to have more meaningful time with the patient. The goal is to help the patient and family at the end of life. That the patient “passed peacefully” is what families with hospice care often say.

[stevezoutman]

Morphine was given to my dad as an end-of-life medication and I am so grateful for that!