Aging is part of the normal human process. Time stops for no one, albeit the amount of time an individual has varies. As time passes and individuals get older they start to notice things about their bodies that they may not have noticed in the past. As time passes, the human body starts to slowly deteriorate and becomes a burden on the individual and the people close to that …show more content…
Pharmacists are considered to be the drug expert and should strive to make sure the patient’s medications are optimized and understood by the patient. This part is crucial in palliative care because it can lessen the burden the patient and their family experience from the uncertainty of the situation. Benefits from palliative care are many although they may not all be clear at first. One of the biggest benefits is helping the patient be at ease with the situation they are going through and helping them cope with their reality. Palliative care is essential in today’s modern healthcare culture in the United …show more content…
This patient has expresses frustration at being a burden to his family and has brought a legal prescription of a very high-dose phenobarbital to the pharmacy. The prescription is clearly intended to be used as a tool for assisted suicide. If I was a pharmacist in the state of Oregon, I would attempt to speak with the patient about what they are going through and demonstrate empathy towards their situation. However, if the patient still wanted the prescription I would dispense it and instruct them on what they needed to do and then I would fill out all proper documentation. I would be sure to let them know that if they change their minds after ingesting the medication they can still be saved by calling 911 immediately and being transported to the hospital. “When you realize you are going to die; you see everything much differently” – Morrie Schwartz. As an individual I believe each human should have the right of doing what they want with their own bodies, however I also believe that no one should end their life early. At the end of the day these are my thoughts and I can’t force them upon other people. Everyone has a different mindset and forcing them to believe something or not to believe something is