Morphine and End-Of Life Care

Morphine and End-of life care

Introduction

The following paper is going to analyze the effects of using morphine in patients during end of life care. The paper will examine the benefits of using morphine during end of life care and the disadvantages of using morphine by patients who are terminally ill. Next, an analysis of ethical and legal implications of using morphine will be examined. This drug has been found to be a treatment option for patients who have traumatic injury or illnesses that cause a great deal of pain.

The Use of Morphine

Many people are afraid about the use of morphine and believe it hastens death. Researches and Evidenced-Based practice has shown that morphine, the gold standard in hospice and palliative care, is very effective on patients with respiratory distress during dying process and for pain management in terminal ill patients. This drug is an effective painkiller that has the ability to alleviate pain (Stannard, 2008).

The pain killing effects of morphine may be used by patients who have terminal illness such as cancer, since in this situation the problem of addiction is less important than survival. Morphine is a very effective drug that can be used to treat and alleviate terminal illnesses such as cancer, both moderate and server. This drug has been approved by the world health organization as suitable for strong opioid in situations where non- opioid such as paracetamol have failed or are not effective (Standard, 2008). This drug has also been proved to release the sensation of breathlessness. However, along with its strengths morphine use to relieve pain comes with some side effects. There are many myths that surround the use of this drug. This myths result in situations where patients become reluctant to take their prescribed doses of morphine. There is no evidence that supports the myth that the use of morphine and other opioid in a careful way in palliative care increase the risk of respiratory depression.

Advantages

The major positive effect of morphine pills is pain relief in hospice and palliative care. Morphine is a type of narcotic pain reliever, and its primary purpose is to dull the pain receptors in the brain. It is generally used to treat moderate to severe pain to patients in hospice and palliative care. It is one of the most suitable for palliative care, which is pain relief for people who are dying, when addiction is not an issue. Morphine is predominantly used for analgesia, it is also effective for the symptomatic relief of cough, and diarrhea and very effective in relieving dyspnea (Deanna, 2008). Contrary to common belief, this effect does not result through inhibition of respiratory drive. Relief from the work of breathing is a function of steady-state. In addition, morphine is one of many drugs that are used to treat to treat shortness