My father died after being in agony for three days while Bristol Hospice workers refused to give him adequate palliative care and medication. My father had multiple falls with head injuries in the weeks prior to his death. He suffered a stroke on a Tuesday which left him paralyzed on one side. He could not communicate and he could not swallow. Instead of providing my father with injections of pain killers and sedatives they insisted his caregiver give him over the counter tylenol rectally. They also offered morphine to be given orally after being crushed and mixed with liquid. He couldn't swallow so he just drooled it out. They claimed they were unable to get the medication he needed.
Watching my father pass in this way was the most horrifying experience. Despite multiple complaints to hospice staff, not one provided palliative care to make him comfortable. They stood by and watched him writhe in pain and refused to adequately medicate him. He died four days after his stroke and after tremendous suffering. The staff told me the process my father went through was normal and natural. Yes, it probably was. However, he was on hospice care to prevent needless suffering by providing adequate medication.
A physician commented that the treatment my father received was unprofessional and unconscionable.
My father opted to go on hospice a few months before he passed away. He was "sold" on it because the hospice rep who convinced him to sign up told him it would "protect his caregiver from investigation by the sheriff's department" once he passed. They also offered respite care for his caregiver which they failed to provide. They let my father and family down in so many ways. If you have another option, choose it. These folks don't care and cover up there falsehoods with medical doublespeak. read more
