My mum (80), who has Alzheimer’s and Vascular dementia, has just been admitted to hospital with heart block, from the nursing home. She is on CCU and they say she needs a permanent pacemaker.
Although she requires residential care, she is actually normally more happy/content than she has been most of her life. Even at the moment she is still chirpy and joking - but without any idea where she is or what is going on.
While a pacemaker could get her back to the content space of the home; vascular dementia means there could be a sudden further deterioration at any point. Longer term prognosis we know.
I feel awful even thinking this - but passing away from heart block while she is content seems much more pleasant than the potential future scenario. Even the pacemaker procedure itself will be stressful and requires being immobile, wired up, and monitored for several days.
Am I heartless thinking like this? WIll the consultant think I am a murderer if I try to discuss this or don't give consent?
Although she requires residential care, she is actually normally more happy/content than she has been most of her life. Even at the moment she is still chirpy and joking - but without any idea where she is or what is going on.
While a pacemaker could get her back to the content space of the home; vascular dementia means there could be a sudden further deterioration at any point. Longer term prognosis we know.
I feel awful even thinking this - but passing away from heart block while she is content seems much more pleasant than the potential future scenario. Even the pacemaker procedure itself will be stressful and requires being immobile, wired up, and monitored for several days.
Am I heartless thinking like this? WIll the consultant think I am a murderer if I try to discuss this or don't give consent?