What Happens When Life Support is Removed | End of Life

Sometimes patient's families will decide to take away the life support. Many times I am asked what to expect as we take away life support at the end of a patient's life. In this video, I explain the process of removing life support in the circumstance that a patient's family opts for end of life care.
#endoflife #lifesupport #goalsofcare #advancedirective #deathanddying #palliatvecare #comfortmeasures
***********************
SUGGESTION BOX: forms.gle/zsopoMcY6Bt3D6yb9
Leave your Q&A questions here! forms.gle/jnQ88N3BobqDjhiM8
************************
DISCLAIMER:
I am A doctor but I am not YOUR doctor. This video is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitution for medical care and consulting with your own physician.
FOLLOW ME!
Twitter [@theintenseMD]: / theintensemd
Instagram [@theintenseMD]: / theintensemd
Email for business inquires: [e-mail]
Tips for residency, internal medicine residency, residency programs, tips for new doctors, tips for new job, starting a new job, starting medicine residency, intern year

[@kimpayton727]

My Daddy was on life support after a heart attack, they didn't realize when he fell he broke his brain stem. When the ambulance took him to the hospital they took him immediately into surgery and put a place maker in, his heart was fine but he didn't respond to wake up. That is when they realized something else was wrong and they discovered he was brain dead. Our family lives in Florida but our Daddy's family is in Kentucky so we waited for them, we made the decision to remove life support but he lived for 4 more days😢. I was with him until he took his last breath😢🙏. He passed on 4-3-1999 at 7:30 pm, I was holding his hand and told him it was time to go home..i told him i loved him and that i would take care of momma😢. He took one last breath and was gone😢😢. I miss him everyday, i was and always will be "Daddy's girl". I will see them again. RIP Daddy and Momma💓💓, I love you both.

[@elizabethcruz5535]

god bless you and your family

[@enavigator3821]

😢😢😢

[@paulaplanslife4018]

The only person I witnessed die (taken off life support) was my 5 month old daughter. We knew it was time and our main concern was that she didn't feel anything. She died in our arms and we bathed her afterwards, took hand and foot prints, held her, sang to her. It felt very natural. I wish that I would have been present when my Mom and Grandma passed. As much as you might fear death, there is something comforting about being with them as it happens.

[@tomatoenthusiast]

My mother died 3 years ago due to a brain aneurysm, I was 16 and now I’m 19, second year into getting my nursing degree. I’m beyond excited to work in the healthcare field because I just want to help people. Thank you for sharing this video, it was very informative!

[@TheIntenseMD]

Thank you for watching. Good luck with your studies!

[@marcochivas06]

This is pretty accurate my sister passed away early this year and it was kind of a peaceful way for her to go but it’ really suck to see her go and not being able to help her like you would wish you could, her heart stop by it’s self before we had to make to disconnect her 😔 RIP LOLA

[@manni573]

Thank you for posting this video. It really answered alot of questions that the hospital staff haven't answered for me about my mother. Thank you again.

[@drsuesslorigan6841]

This is a beautiful video. I hope that it’s helpful to many. I didn’t know if I could get into direct care for patients. As a secretary in the ICU. I asked the nurse if it was ok to sit with a patient while he/she was taken off life support. The family had decided not to be there. I was allowed. In fact it felt ok that there was someone there other than just direct care staff. It happened quietly and peacefully. I thanked staff and the patient. I went back to my duties and later got into direct care with patients ♥️♥️

[@TheIntenseMD]

Thank you for watching! What a beautiful story. I think even if the person isn’t conscious when they are taken off of life support, they can feel the kind presence with them. ✨

[@stephanyfaycohen3842]

Many thanks for this video. GOD bless you and the work that you do

[@dpberry]

Thank you for this info. It makes it so much easier when people have an idea of what to expect. Thank you for giving of your time, knowledge and kindness to do these videos. Thank you, Doctor. You are awesome.

[@JAdamsJr77]

Thank you very much this video was so very helpful and understandable.

[@brianhornak5937]

Bless you for what you do

[@vmainard1]

thank you for posting this video. It help answwer some of my questions.

[@GuessWho9411]

Thank you for this video. I have always been wandering if my maternal grandmother died with a slow painful death after being taken off the life support many years ago (I was in another state then). Now I feel relief after watching your video knowing she wasn’t suffering pain upon her death.

[@jiyakhan-zb4oq]

nyc explanation

[@alicelake4730]

Thank you.

[@AbiWinchester44]

May 5th, 2022 I was put on life support due to miscommunication. 4mg of Ativan was giving. Stopped breathing in the ER woke up in ICU with a tube down my throat. It took them 3 times to remove it. I'm great from the life support stuff. Trying to get through the mental part of it.

[@michaelax3025]

Wait. What????

[@AbiWinchester44]

​@@michaelax3025 happened again a few months ago as well due to miscommunication. I then woke up while still on life support when I wasn't supposed to. Let's just say it was terrifying. I'm just a bad luck magnet lol.

[@lshepherd6137]

My sister is on day 5 they removed everything except the IV drip of morphine. She is still here. She responds by opening her eyes when her name is called. I asked the nurse; “if her blood pressure is good, her kidneys are good, heart rate and breathing are steady, what will she die if?” The nurse replied, “Starvation”. If I starved a dog to death I’d be in prison. I really hate not being able to say what I see in the ending of my sister’s life. What I will say is that if even one family member is not on the same accord - listen to them, hear them out and allow others to join in a mature conversation. My sister is fighting for her ice after surviving cardiac arrest, pneumonia following aspiration, serious infections, the list goes on. And I feel her reward is starvation. Very hard to watch. Be open minded in Family conversations, there is no room for self pride in this process. God bless all who are looking for support

[@sophieciufo7767]

My mom ended up in a vegetative state and on life support a few months ago, I noticed tears falling from her eyes only after the decision to take her off life support was made. Even though the chance was slim I still feel like if she was given more time she would’ve pulled through. She was a fighter like no other, and she continued fighting for over half an hour after being taken off life support. She didn’t take her final breath until I told her it was ok, that she didn’t have to suffer anymore, and that I loved her. One final tear fell down her face as she took her final breath. People have recovered from her exact scenario but she would’ve needed more time. I know it’s selfish but I begged for her to be monitored for one more day. I wanted to wait until she had no brain activity or until her heart stopped on its own, so I would at least have the comfort of knowing that there wasn’t a chance of recovery. I knew her better than anyone and she always told me that, and I know damn well she wasn’t ready to go that day, she wanted to keep fighting, and my god did she try. I just turned 17 this month, my dad passed away when I was 10.

[@PuffleFuzz]

My old teacher is on life support. It’s been a crazy whirlwind of a month. He had meningitis and it was caught early. He still needed sedation. I’m happy to say they’re starting the weaning process on 12-23.

[@TheIntenseMD]

I hope he recovered and is doing well.

[@timcepin3386]

What were his symptoms or was his chief symptom??

[@PrettyPlainMochaChix]

My sister died 3/7/23 …. She had Covid which landed her in the ICU for almost 3 months. She was on a vent but was weened down to a trach, she was initially on 5 pressers but weened down to 1, continual dialysis due the kidney failure. She was eventually moved to a “long term care facility were she instantly started declining. After realizing her body couldn’t recover; I had them stop the IV drip (presser) so that her heart would stop, I requested to keep the vent going, after she started twitching a bit during the process I requested morphine & anxiety meds. I failed to mention that she was none responsive & I believe paralyzed so the twitching had me 2nd guessing my decision. My last living sister. I didn’t want her to pass alone so her husband & I stayed so she wouldn’t die alone.

[@TheRealBambihooves]

That is comforting to know that they won't suffer 🎉❤🎉

[@anjoesandiego5649]

Im here because of Scott Hall 🙏

[@JoTank935]

Same

[@jat6547]

Who's Scott Hall ??

[@thehayses5076]

Thank you for this video. We are facing having to remove my husband's father from life support and I'm trying to help us be prepared and informed about it.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Similar story here. My father in law, 92, is quickly reaching that point and I am attempting to become more informed about it.

[@missedanneangel9906]

My mom died at the beginning of the month. Two doctors told me that she met the criteria for her directive and nurses too. I stayed and watched my mom pass as we slowly took her off life support and put her on hospice meds. It took 8 hours, and because she had been vented or had a BiPAP, she couldn't speak most of the time. Because of her most recent surgery, I couldn't hug her; I just sat there crying by the bed, feeling terrible for making the decision my mom wanted. She died of sepsis and cancer with surgery that only had a 30 percent recovery rate.

[@TheIntenseMD]

I'm sorry for your loss. I often tell my patient's family members that they are being their loved ones' spokesperson. She already had made the decision - you just told the healthcare team what it was since she couldn't speak for herself. I know it's still a difficult situation.

[@missedanneangel9906]

@@TheIntenseMD Thank you.

[@thaismatsumoto]

I had to make that decision for my husband two years ago. He had complicatio❤

[@elizabethbarnes3992]

May Jesus comfort your heart

[@jolenefussell5323]

I'm so sorry you lost your mom. I, too, lost my mother to Septic Shock on 1/9/20. Bless her heart. She was so beautiful. ❤

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

All this needless suffering....it epuld be much much more human if you were allowed to uthanise them or at least fully sedate them...so there death is instant once off life support...ps not all hospitals make the body look nice after...my sister was left in a horribal position mouth and eyes open after organ harvesting.

[@lorenagarcia1512]

My mother is on life support this helped me understand

[@TheIntenseMD]

Thank you for watching. I'm happy this helped. Hoping your mother is okay.

[@anandcosta]

Thank you so much for explaining. It happened to my Dad last April, he was using oxy concentrator for lungs failure for an year and got sudden cardiac arrest. Doctors told me the procedure during the situation, but, Till I saw ur video, everyday I think about how long would it be before his death and about his pain. Thanks again

[@TheIntenseMD]

I'm happy you found this video helpful. I'm sorry to hear about your father.

[@silvialivick3034]

Have you by chance taken anyone off life support only to find they aren’t going to die.has this ever happened?

[@cmdittyz]

Thank you for this video. My brother-in-law is currently on life support, and the hard decision is needing to be made from the family. It’s such a tough time, and difficult decision, but keeping the patient’s best interest in mind, is what’s important. I think my husband’s family is in denial, but being in the medical field, I’m seeing it from a different standpoint. How can I help the family make this decision?

[@TheIntenseMD]

I typically remind the family that they are the patient's spokesperson. They are simply telling us what the patient would want in this circumstance if they were able to speak to us directly. I find this takes away the "guilt" of "making the decision". It's very difficult for families in these situations and sometimes they just need a little more time.

[@Griff1361]

Key words being ‘most’ patients do this and that, the truth is some patients do struggle at the end, they turn blue and arch and thrash like they are in distress as the brain tells the body to get oxygen basically, wether they are conscious or not I couldn’t say, I guess all we can hope for in the end is that we are free from as much pain as possible, they should definitely legalise assisted dying they could end it all in seconds but don’t because of the law, what is illegal is not always immoral

[@Adriana-vp1rm]

God gives life. Whoever terminates it commits murder.

[@Griff1361]

@@Adriana-vp1rm the sun gives life, taking away something that is keeping someone alive is killing them same as murder imo

[@TheIntenseMD]

There are typically many questions around the process of removing life support at the end of life. I hope this video sheds some light on what to expect. Thank you for watching!

[@drsuesslorigan6841]

♥️♥️

[@natalieboillot]

i was with my mom when she died. taking her off life support almost felt like assisted murder.

[@leticiacalderon9584]

I have a question my father is in the hospital. He is on ventilator . The doctor want to remove the ventilator andall devices . She said he can die ,. She said if we are not agree they will sent him a faciBut I have question why she is talking about sending him to a facility depending him there with the ventilator, is it the because the doctor doesn’t want to deal with the problem? Or , is the patient really dying?BBC

[@8359563]

My sister was put in in hospital hospice do we could all be with her. She passed in 2 hours

[@malinda6871]

Question my friend is on life support but her mind of still there. They are turning it off today. So will she understands what's going on even tho she is on a lot of meds?

[@pricelesscovent5867]

She's probably in a vegetative state, meaning that she's got some brain functions, but her brain is functioning at the most basic level

[@pigstars89]

My mom didn't last two minutes off of life support. I miss her so much.

[@jessicatruong5265]

is this in Australia?

[@TheIntenseMD]

United States!

[@AaronScutt]

Anxiolytic and Analgesic therapy during the removal of life support / onset of comfort care is counter-intuitive, no? If it were my family member, I would wonder why I'm being told that this person needs to go, because they have an non-recoverable brain injury...AKA they are brain dead. Why would they receive palliative care in this case? Perhaps for the onlookers? Reduction of visible distress? Brain dead people do not perceive anxiety or pain, right?

[@vuevuevuevue3140]

Please respond to this, my grandfather is on this. Is it possible to recover from this?

[@TheIntenseMD]

It depends on the reason the patient is on life support.

[@westcoastchristian734]

God has the final say

[@B-ch6uk]

At what point are the patients administered their last rites?

[@serenasmith5946]

The intense MD how do patients get sepsis can you please explain

[@TheIntenseMD]

I have a video about sepsis over on my channel. Have you seen it?

[@serenasmith5946]

@@TheIntenseMD no I haven’t seen it im interested on watching and sharing with others what is your topic on sepsis

[@TheIntenseMD]

Here is the sepsis video: ICU Doctor Explains... SEPSIS kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6XLgXxsabSLiZI

[@knightguard3892]

I was requested to be my late gf poa. She wanted dnr as she was dying from metastatic breast cancer. I was there when she took her last breath, which isn't easy for me since I was once an EMT- B.

[@TheIntenseMD]

End of life is difficult, but it’s a good thing you know what her wishes were. Being a healthcare worker doesn’t make these things any easier when it’s our own family.

[@CircumstancesNeverMatter]

This sounds horrific

[@pricelesscovent5867]

My aunt had a really rare, aggressive form of leukemia during the covid19 pandemic she was undergoing chemotherapy she one day collapsed at home and lapsed into a coma I think that because the leukemia had already ate and damaged nearly all of her organs so much they didn't work anymore I thought that whenever you lapse into a coma you'd soon come out of it I later asked my mom if my aunt came out of her coma and she said to me sorry but auntie was unable to come out of her coma and has died I was in complete shock she also contacted covid19 and the leukemia probably prevented her body from her recovering from covid because it damaged her organs

[@johnsal3388]

So these ventilators are useless. My cousin was just put on one today

[@christabelletanya]

Hi. How is your cousin now?

[@johnsal3388]

He passed on the 7th of July

[@christabelletanya]

My condolences to you and your family 🙏🙏😔

[@johnsal3388]

@@christabelletanya thank you

[@sharonfedosa2788]

If the patient was feed by some form of tube what happens if they don’t die soon will they eventually die of starvation

[@jennyatherton5922]

They will probably give them more medication to speed the process of dieng

[@DriftyAlison0]

Usually they die before then but eventually yes.But more than likely dehydration will get them first if they do not die right away.

[@gypsywitch7825]

Ashley Smith ❤️ my best friend

[@Turkeyinthehay]

Dying in a hosptal is so not my deal. If I get a choice, I'd rather die anywhere BUT.

[@gaggymott9159]

My belovéd Mother, who suffered from a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage on 5 April 2023 had her 'breathing tube' removed by consensual agreement. It was a very peaceful death, after about 10mins, relaxed and even recognisable by me and my sister as life ebbed away. The medical professionals had to 'certify' simply when observations were complete....Thank you Mum, for a simple, uncomplicated death with no Post Mortem...❤❤❤❤

[@deputy3690]

The big smile just doesn't look right.

[@ZukosGarden]

They kill you anyway in these hospitals they killed my grandmother and my grandfather

[@Pebbles523]

I'm afraid they will suffocate to death. I know usually at that point most ppl are already gone.

[@JaneDoe-ip5yl]

Audio is terrible

[@canonymous8035]

The thumbnail dont match!

[@josephperez7892]

What is the term that you need to end the patient life by removing the life support ??

[@Goddess764]

So that they don’t suffer more probably.

[@selenasanchez7336]

​@@Goddess764Murder

[@jetkelly1]

They gave my mom bag of fetnyal

[@samanthiahamilton6599]

Today, my sister and I will tell my mother's care team to take her off of her trach/ventilator.

[@otisdriftwood1697]

Yea what happens when you remove someone from life support ? 🤔🤪🤪🤪

[@SPULLIA]

I mean I’m not a troll did the camera man say smile so much it’s as if your trying to be as happy as possible talking about death. It’s like putting on a facade. Just be yourself beautiful

[@larzgaming9359]

It just sounds like murder to me if I was in a coma or something like that and I wake up trying to find someone pulling the plug that will be enough for me to say you murderer

[@genepatterson4375]

I can not imagine anyone that would decide to go home while their family member was removed from life support. How cold and callus. Suck it up and deal with it!

[@daPain812001]

This is straight up Murder!!!

[@selenasanchez7336]

Removing life support is MURDER!!!!!