Mum is in a care home, and has been for two and a half years. She has had dementia for 8 years, and has been on Donepezil for 7 years.
I have HW PoA with the ability to make life decisions. I spoke to Mums last GP in December, and he agreed with me that the Donepezil was having little effect, and should be stopped.
The Home changed GP in January, and the new GP is agreeing with the Home, who do not want the Donepezil stopped, as they say that Mum will deteriorate faster without it. In my opinion it is because, along with the sleeping tablets they give her, it keeps her in a comatose state and she is easier to manage!
Mum has little quality of life. She cannot walk and has to be hoisted continually which she finds painful. She is also doubly incontinent. The wording on the HW PoA form which my Mother signed states:
I give my attorneys authority to give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on my behalf.
It also states:
If you choose this option, your attorneys can speak to doctors on your behalf as if they were you.
I know my Mother. She would not wish to be in this state. Her own Mother went through the same journey 40 years ago, and Mum made me promise that I would never let her go the same way. Whilst I cannot follow this wish to the letter and speed up her demise, I feel I should be able, as PoA, stop the GP and care home prolonging it. I have asked for her to be transferred onto the palliative care team, but again, the GP has refused.
The new GP has not visited Mum, but has sent in the Community Dementia Nurse to carry out a review. This was done without me being present due to covid, and the CMD nurse has (unsurprisingl) agreed with the home that she should continue on Donepezil, and therefore the GP refuses to stop it, which is against my wishes.
The GMC guidelines state that where a PoA exists:
The doctor should offer support to the legal proxy in making the decision, but must not pressurise them to accept a particular recommendation.
I feel I am having my wishes, as the only person would really knows what my Mum would have wanted, ignored.
I have HW PoA with the ability to make life decisions. I spoke to Mums last GP in December, and he agreed with me that the Donepezil was having little effect, and should be stopped.
The Home changed GP in January, and the new GP is agreeing with the Home, who do not want the Donepezil stopped, as they say that Mum will deteriorate faster without it. In my opinion it is because, along with the sleeping tablets they give her, it keeps her in a comatose state and she is easier to manage!
Mum has little quality of life. She cannot walk and has to be hoisted continually which she finds painful. She is also doubly incontinent. The wording on the HW PoA form which my Mother signed states:
I give my attorneys authority to give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on my behalf.
It also states:
If you choose this option, your attorneys can speak to doctors on your behalf as if they were you.
I know my Mother. She would not wish to be in this state. Her own Mother went through the same journey 40 years ago, and Mum made me promise that I would never let her go the same way. Whilst I cannot follow this wish to the letter and speed up her demise, I feel I should be able, as PoA, stop the GP and care home prolonging it. I have asked for her to be transferred onto the palliative care team, but again, the GP has refused.
The new GP has not visited Mum, but has sent in the Community Dementia Nurse to carry out a review. This was done without me being present due to covid, and the CMD nurse has (unsurprisingl) agreed with the home that she should continue on Donepezil, and therefore the GP refuses to stop it, which is against my wishes.
The GMC guidelines state that where a PoA exists:
The doctor should offer support to the legal proxy in making the decision, but must not pressurise them to accept a particular recommendation.
I feel I am having my wishes, as the only person would really knows what my Mum would have wanted, ignored.