The following is a condensed version of an article by Ron Panzer which was in the Hospice Patients Alliance Newsletter, June 25, 2019. The author, Ron Panzer, is president of the Hospice Patients Alliance (hospicepatients.org) and author of the book Stealth Euthanasia.
Mr. Panzer offers sage and essential advice, born from many years of service to the medically vulnerable, about how to combat the “stealth euthanasia” epidemic. Stealth euthanasia is the intentional ending of a patient’s life while pretending to provide appropriate treatment and care. Actions and omissions intended to cause death are hidden from those who may object, such as concerned family members. Furthermore, the epidemic of medical killing is also hidden from the public.
By Ron Panzer
We were fortunate to be able to help save a patient whose sister has the medical power of attorney but whose husband was pushing sedatives and opioids within a hospice setting. The sister called and we provided information about how she could assert her legal authority as medical power of attorney [that is, as the patient’s chosen proxy decision maker] and remind the staff that a patient always has the right to refuse a medication. [We advised her] to videotape the patient (if possible) making her wishes known (in this case they could); write down the patient’s wishes and post them in the room; provide a copy to be inserted into the medical record; and, if any nurse or doctor violated those refusals, to file a complaint with the state Board of Nursing or Medicine and immediately notify the agency staff that such a complaint had been filed so no other nurse or doctor would do the same.
It is important to never raise one’s voice or act angrily toward staff – even if their behavior is reprehensible – as some people have been banned from visiting their own loved ones. Also, having an adult non-family member as a witness when providing the patient’s (or MPA’s) written instructions is helpful.
Other people also have been able to protect their loved ones from the ongoing pressure tactics used to manipulate patients into tainted hospice or palliative care [where they are] killed, but it is getting more and more difficult.
On the other hand, we hear regularly from family members who do not have the MPA and are prevented from providing any input or influencing the treatment of the patient, and so many call to report that their loved one has been killed or is being killed.
Please spread the word about what is going on! The major media, conservative media, as well as both federal and state government officials are all utterly censoring this epidemic of medical killing. They will not admit what is going on and, in fact, deny the reality!
For that reason we have the Stealth Euthanasia book online and available to everyone for free at https://www.hospicepatients.org/this-thing-called-hospice. (It can also be downloaded or bought as a printed hardcover book.) If each of you tell 10 others and they tell 10 others who also tell 10 others, etc., everyone in the country will know the truth before their family member is in danger!
Getting the word out is really very possible—actually certain. All you have to do is make this small effort. This is the first step to stopping the killing!