http://www.sunjournal.com/node/98932
This is an article describing a new study that suggests that antibiotics should not be given to advanced dementia patients.

My MIL is on hospice, but somehow I can't see my husband and his brother agreeing to withhold medication for a very treatable infection. They were able to agree that a pacemaker wasn't prudent, especially given her frail condition. She might not survive the surgery and it wouldn't improve her life quality. But this is different ...

quote:

Doctors should discuss antibiotics with family, just as they would discuss placing a feeding tube, Mitchell said. None of the residents in the study who received antibiotics had living wills spelling out their wishes on antibiotic treatment, she said.

If the family's goal is to keep their loved one comfortable, rather than to prolong life, alternatives such as oxygen and Tylenol can help, she said.

An antibiotic may or may not be life saving, but if it stops an infection that's causing pain and suffering beyond what the patient is already going through, wouldn't that be a better option? To give Tylenol on top of any other pain meds seems a little redundant to me.
I'm not thinking about those whose end of life is so close as to be somewhat predictable.

Yeah. Me too. I don't think I could make that decision for my mother. What's that deal about giving them TYLENOL instead for a painful infection, though? Say what?

I don't know. I suppose that if it was me in that bed with advanced dementia and with never any hope of regaining my senses or mobility, I suppose I would rather be allowed to go. But I'd at least want something a little better than Tylenol, for Pete's sake. Then again, as long as I'm not suffering, I wouldn't want my kids to make any decision that might haunt them.

I couldn't do it. My Mom has made it utterly clear she never wants a feeding tube or extraordinary life support but antibiotics... I can see the reasoning but it would be beyond me to withhold them.

This subject came up before (March 2008)

http://eldercare.infopop.cc/ev...6064151/m/6691010925

but the article in that link seems to have been removed. It sparked some interesting comments then. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes in opinions since then.

If the doctor is to busy to see the patient before prescribing the antibiotics over the phone, how will the doctor find time to talk it over with the family?