Brief Answer: Not true Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the query Hydromorphone is a centrally acting analgesic which is used in moderate to severe pain which is not relieved by regular analgesics. There is no such dictum that it is used only in patients who have no further hope. The only parameters which help to know if the patient is reaching the end stage or not are the vital parameters, but I am sure the doctors would have already explained to prognosis in detail. I hope I was of help to you, if you have any further queries please get back to me Regards

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Brief Answer: I understand Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the reply and I am really touched but what you have written. Here in India, what usually happens is terminal care is taken care by people from the 'pain clinic' who are basically anesthetists. It is true that most of their medications make the patients drowsy, just last night I lost a patient, I had given a pain clinic reference for a rare painful skin condition, they gave a drug and he did'nt wake up at all (he died not due to the drug but the primary disease). We primary consultants become answerable to the relatives as to why we think its a better idea to make him completely drowsy but sometimes that is the best option because being drowsy is better than being in severe pain. But the patient's son told me I wanted to say bye to my dad one last time and that just shattered me But what I feel is before putting on such drugs opinion should be sought from the patient attenders as well and the risks have to be explained. I am sorry for your loss Regards

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