Is it legal to force hospice?
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Is it legal to force hospice?
My grandmother is in the hospital with a feeding tube in her nose. The doctor told her that they have
to remove it because it will cause infection. He went on to say that they can’t put a feeding tube in
her stomach because they are afraid if they intubate her, then she will not come off of the ventilator. He then told her in order to take the tube out that she has to agree to be put on hospice care. When she said that she doesn’t want that, he asked her what she will do if they remove the tube. She said she will eat and drink, obviously. He then said if you get pneumonia we can’t help you. Is this legal? He was angry and went out of her room and told the nurse,
Asked on January 20, 2017 under Malpractice Law, Illinois
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
This is not medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice is negligence. Negligence is the failure to exercise due care (that degree of care that a reasonable medical practitioner in the community would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm).
Your grandmother does not have any good choices. The doctor is merely trying to explain to her what her remaining options are.
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