Apparently, it isn't the doctor's or hospital's responsibility to diagnose health issues

[pnwmom]

72. Who is "they"? Can't you get a second opinion? And have you spoken

to the hospital social worker about this? Is the "they" some doctor in the hospital? What about her doctor before she went in there?

When did you ask? Before or after the delirium set in?

Just because one doctor says no doesn't mean every doctor would say no. Or that saying no yesterday means they would say no today -- given changing circumstances.

Here is a form that you can use to contact the Hospice Foundation directly. If I were you, I would fill out this form, stating your aunt’s age and the specifics of her medical condition – what all her diagnoses are and what her symptoms are, including the delirium. Let them know she is a very sick woman. Tell them the doctor at the hospital (or whoever it is) is refusing to certify her for hospice care, and ask what you should do, because she doesn’t want more medical care, and she is suffering, and – in your opinion – she should qualify (for probably having less than 6 months to live)

You are your aunt's advocate and you are not powerless to stand by while they make her suffer for profit, as you believe. You can fight for what she needs -- which you are in the best position to know. Good luck!


http://hospicefoundation.org/Ask-HFA


http://hospicefoundation.org/End-of-Life-Support-and-Resources/Coping-with-Terminal-Illness/Hospice-Services

Not just for cancer (or adults) anymore


It is not surprising that people often associate hospice with cancer. In the mid-1970s when hospice came to the U.S., most hospice patients had cancer. Today, more than half of hospice patients have other illnesses for which they are medically eligible for hospice services, such as late-stage heart, lung or kidney disease, and advanced Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Hospice also once was exclusively for adults but today many hospice programs accept infants, children and adolescents.
Medical eligibility


In order to receive hospice services, a hospice physician and a second physician (often the individual’s attending physician or specialist) must certify that the patient meets specific medical eligibility criteria; generally, the patient’s life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness, disease or condition runs its typical course. However, if the individual lives longer than six months and their condition continues to decline, they may be recertified by a physician or nurse practitioner for additional time in hospice care. Similarly, if a hospice patient's condition improves, they may be discharged from hospice care. The patient is eligible for hospice again if his or her condition begins to decline.