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its a distressing topic. most of my career was as a palliative nurse in Canada. my Christian MP was against assisted suicide, but our area was redistricted (making his reelection more difficult if not impossible), and then decided to retire from political work. A great portion of the budget is spent on healthcare. Now with assisted suicide legalized, we don't know yet how this will affect funding of palliative care. MP"s can say all they want, its how it actually works out in each province that will show if needs for palliative staff and facility are met.
For each individual it comes down to, trusting God or not. it always was this way, but now with assisted suicide legal, even more so, will a person turn away from self murder. its not a given, either, that people even understand what palliative care is. some are afraid of it (wondering if staff would kill them) and others don't know to inquire for it. it was my experience that nurses and doctors did their very best to get patients comfortable, and when this was often achieved, then the patient and family could relax and cope and grow together, continue to love one another, take care of "unfinished business" in many ways.
We had a chaplain for the unit, and people could ask their own pastor or priest to come visit. some patients that I know of gave their heart to Christ at the palliative unit and then told others at the unit about their decision.
we had weddings on the palliative unit. celebrated birthdays. knowing that their life would soon be over, patients considered "then what" and decided to put their trust in Christ.
Val, a great time of decision is upon this world. there are many ways now that a person more openly will make decisions, for Christ or against. i don't see this law changing under Canada's current leader, parliament, judges.

Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?"

Matthew 16: 13 When Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
17 Then Jesus told him, “How blessed you are, Simon son of Jonah, since flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, though my Father in heaven has.

If we say that God made our spirit soul and body, that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life in heaven with Him, then we trust that He loves us, we are His children, and we know we can turn over to Him all our fears, all our anxieties, and we believe Him that He will never leave us or forsake us.
We believe him that even death cannot separate us from His love.
We believe the bible.
Satan came to kill, steal and destroy. Satan is the father of lies.
This is what our Heavenly Father has told us in His word.
The enemy of God must be so glad for the legislation.
His gladness will be wiped off his face when its time for the lake of fire.
God knows the end from the beginning. We have the prophets and Revelation, the words of Jesus and the disciples informing us of times of tribulation ahead.
Perhaps, Val, this is one aspect of that time, because of the pressure that can be put upon ill persons to end their life, rather than be supportively cared for.

anyone reading this, I encourage you to ask for palliative care if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, when the disease process is at a stage that treatment by surgical or medicine means can not contain it or cure any longer.
there are very good symptom relief treatments and medicine.

Regina,

Thank you so much for sharing with us the fact you were a palliative nurse, what an honorable profession. Why doesn't the government make this available to everyone in Canada, instead of putting money into assisted suicide. It's the right thing to do,
for the sake of human life, and eternal decision can and should be left up to God.
A time to be born given from God, and a time to die, from God.

Yes, it is a time now, for people to make the right decisions in their lives, especially when it comes to this subject. Too many are being lulled into thinking, this is not important a no brainier, however it's the exact opposite, it is extremely important, and it should be taken to prayer to our Creator. God breath life into the body, and the breath of life should return to God, where it originally came from.

We will all have to answer to God one day, what we have done, and what we have failed to do in our bodies while on Earth.

Never in my whole life, have I seen such dishonor done, to God's temple, the body, like today. Kill, Kill, Kill, is the four letter word, that you hear from all around the world. Jesus had come to give us abundant life, not death. God is a God of the living, not the dead. Mark 12:27 27"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken."

Acts 14:15

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

And they were saying, “Men, what are you doing? We are also men of passions like you, we who preach to you that you should turn from these worthless things to THE LIVING GOD who made The Heavens and The Earth and The Sea and all that is in them.


This is one of the hardest time on earth to be alive, and see all these things taking place before our very eyes. It should bother every living soul, that humans have allowed themselves to play the part of God, when it comes to such decisions. We were made in God's image, but let's be humble, we are not God, therefore, we should obey
His ways, for they are perfect.

May God have mercy on each and everyone of us. These are some of the darkest days are earth, and soon the light will be completely blocked out, for evil will take over the whole world during the tribulation. Evil will be called good. Good will be called Evil...I think it's already begun, don't you?

Valerie

it does seem like spiritual darkness has greatly increased. when i was young, it was honourable to care for the sick and elderly. violence in the streets was not normal. suicide was a tragedy, not a choice or a right.
its like the days of Noah, violence filling the earth. Jesus quoted isaiah 61, as recorded in Luke 4. He stopped before saying about the day of vengeance of God. That day is coming, because our God is not only a God of love, or mercy and grace, but also He is righteous, just, perfect in all His ways. God won't allow wickedness to continue forever. Val, i wondered what it would take to bring Israel back to God, about what is the fullness of the gentiles; well I've come to believe that the tribulation is what it takes. It is absolutely necessary or God would not have planned it to be so.
There will be a day when suicide is no more, when the Lord returns to earth to rule, He will lead a right way. the prophets say in that time, people will live long lives, the animals will be at peace with one another, children will play safely with them, this is why we love God. He is good. Love comes from Him. He is altogether trustworthy. He is the most wonderful person anyone could meet. He is the most wonderful counsellor. He is everlasting Father to us. Peace comes from God.
with all my heart, Maranatha

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Regina. I totally agree with what you stated. Unfortunately, sometimes people have to learn the hard way and suffer the consequences of their actions, or lack of them. The good news is people may suffer here, but they will be saved through trials and fire, on Earth, instead of eternally in Hell.

Here is an interesting article for anyone looking for the alternative;

God Bless, Valerie


Hospice Vs. Palliative Care

The differences between hospice and palliative care.

Hospice care and palliative care are very similar when it comes to the most important issue for dying people: care. Most people have heard of hospice care and have a general idea of what services hospice provides. What they don’t know or what may become confusing is that hospice provides “palliative care,” and that palliative care is both a method of administering “comfort” care and increasingly, an administered system of palliative care offered most prevalently by hospitals. As an adjunct or supplement to some of the more “traditional” care options, both hospice and palliative care protocols call for patients to receive a combined approach where medications, day-to-day care, equipment, bereavement counseling, and symptom treatment are administered through a single program. Where palliative care programs and hospice care programs differ greatly is in the care location, timing, payment, and eligibility for services.

Place

Hospice

Hospice programs far outnumber palliative care programs. Generally, once enrolled through a referral from the primary care physician, a patient’s hospice care program, which is overseen by a team of hospice professionals, is administered in the home. Hospice often relies upon the family caregiver, as well as a visiting hospice nurse. While hospice can provide round-the-clock care in a nursing home, a specially equipped hospice facility, or, on occasion, in a hospital, this is not the norm.

Palliative Care

Palliative care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, and other professional medical caregivers, often at the facility where a patient will first receive treatment. These individuals will administer or oversee most of the ongoing comfort-care patients receive. While palliative care can be administered in the home, it is most common to receive palliative care in an institution such as a hospital, extended care facility, or nursing home that is associated with a palliative care team.

Timing

Hospice

You must generally be considered to be terminal or within six months of death to be eligible for most hospice programs or to receive hospice benefits from your insurance.

Palliative Care

There are no time restrictions. Palliative care can be received by patients at any time, at any stage of illness whether it be terminal or not.

Payment

Hospice

Before considering hospice, it is important to check on policy limits for payment. While hospice can be considered an all-inclusive treatment in terms of payment (hospice programs cover almost all expenses) insurance coverage for hospice can vary. Some hospice programs offer subsidized care for the economically disadvantaged, or for patients not covered under their own insurance. Many hospice programs are covered under Medicare.

Palliative Care

Since this service will generally be administered through your hospital or regular medical provider, it is likely that it is covered by your regular medical insurance. It is important to note, however, that each item will be billed separately, just as they are with regular hospital and doctor visits. If you receive outpatient palliative care, prescriptions will be billed separately and are only covered as provided by your regular insurance. In-patient care however, often does cover prescription charges. For more details, check with your insurance company, doctor, or hospital administration.

Treatment

Hospice

Most programs concentrate on comfort rather than aggressive disease abatement. By electing to forego extensive life-prolonging treatment, hospice patients can concentrate on getting the most out of the time they have left, without some of the negative side-effects that life prolonging treatments can have. Most hospice patients can achieve a level of comfort that allows them to concentrate on the emotional and practical issues of dying.

Palliative Care

Since there are no time limits on when you can receive palliative care, it acts to fill the gap for patients who want and need comfort at any stage of any disease, whether terminal or chronic. In a palliative care program, there is no expectation that life-prolonging therapies will be avoided.

It is important to note, however, that there will be exceptions to the general precepts outlined. There are some hospice programs that will provide life-prolonging treatments, and there are some palliative care programs that concentrate mostly on end-of-life care. Consult your physician or care-administrator for the best service for you.


For additional caregiving information, visit http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/caregivers-resources/grp-end-of-life-issues/hsgrp-hospice/hospice-vs-palliative-care-article.aspx
www.CaregiversLibrary.org

http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/home.aspx

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