When a family decides to let the doctors take a family member off a ventilator to die what happens?

my father has cancer of the lungs,spine,stomach,kidneys,in his shoulder,he recently stopped being able to breath on his own,so we rushed him to the hospital and he is now in a drug induced coma with a ventilator doing his breathing.they have been trying to get him off of it for two weeks,but he still is not able to breath on his own,anyways the doctor gave the family the option to remove it any ways.they try everyday to remove it,and in order to check to see if he will breathe on his own they take him off all medicatios for pain and sleeping so that they will have him awake enough to see if he will breathe.my question is,if the family decides to remove it to let him die will he still be in that awake state of mind?will he he be fully aware of the fact that he is choking to death?or will they put him back asleep and let him die peacefully?how does that work?i need to know because there is no way i want my dad to die a tragic painful death.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. It is not an easy decision to make. It's one of the hardest decisions you'll ever have to make. Having been there, I know this first hand. Do not let anyone tell you how to go with your decision( here or anywhere else). It is a decision that you have to be at peace with.

To answer your question, they will induce a coma, usually by a slight overdose of morphine. He won't feel a thing. It is a really unpleasant and un nerving thing to witness, so if you're not a really strong person with a lot of family support, maybe you shouldn't witness it. That is another really hard decision you have to make and will have to live with.

I wish you the best and God be with you.

please! make your own decision Report It

He will not die a painful tragic death. If he can't breathe on his own he will just slowly and peacfully stop breathing. He will not struggle but just stop breathing.

They can't induce death through medication, it is illegal. If the family agrees to remove life support they can request morphine or a sleep aid to assist in discomfort of the pain but not enough legally for suicide or end mortality.

You really need to talk to the doctors who are taking care of your father. Don't make any decisions or sign any papers until you are FULLY informed.

Since he is medicated (and the only reason for reducing/stopping the medication is to attempt to awaken him), they will not add to or stop those medications. It's a very difficult decision; one that should be discussed in detail with all of his doctors and family members. Since attempts have been made for over 2 weeks, chances of him (with all of his cancers) regaining the ability to breath on his own are very slim at this point.

I wish you all the best...and I'm so sorry about your dad.

First let me start by stating rude comments like the one posted before mine was uncalled for.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. They can and will make it as humane as possible for your father by medicating him so he feels no pain after they remove the ventilator. Make sure you tell the doctors to keep him medicated so he doesn't feel any pain during the removal.

Its a tough thing to go through - I've been there and feel your pain. The life he's living now isn't life anymore, you're making the right decision.

First of all you have my sympathy. Secondly, I am sure your family could request of the doctor/hospital that he be in as little pain as possible.

I doubt he will awaken and breathe on his own for very long. He would be in a semi conscious state if he did waken at all. After all he has been through with the Cancer spreading everywhere, I would think the natural way of death is best, dont you? I mean the ventilator is not natural and had you not rushed him to the hospital I bet he would already be dead. I am very sorry for your loss but natural is best I believe. ( And should he be in discomfort like you desribe ( painful) the family could always request more sedation )