My dad passed away from chest sepsis following his second round of palliative chemo.
Monday - Dad was running a temperature the day he was scheduled to have his chemo but the Dr checked him over, ran some bloods and he was given the go ahead for the treatment.
Tuesday - hospice nurse came to the house to visit to see how dad was getting on, we discussed a change in his pain medication together with our concerns regarding a cough and some mucus Dad coughing up. His nurse called his GP and it was deemed that no house call was required regarding the mucus and the cough.
Wedneday - was dads last lucid day. He was very tired and clearly was in pain. He was having issues going to the bathroom on occasion not quite making it in enough time.
Thursday - Dad was awake for a few hours and by mid afternoon for the first time since his diagnosis in January took himself to bed. Later that day we noticed a decline, he was so sleepy and his chest was giving him breathing problems. We called the chemo ward who arranged for an ambulance to come who took him to our local A & E. A few hours later we were advised Dad had sepsis in his chest with one lung completely full and the other almost the same. The Dr advised there was nothing they could do as the infection was so far advanced that the IV antibiotics were having no effect.
Friday - Dad was in a lot of discomfort and finally passed away Saturday morning.
I have concerns regarding my dads care in those last few days as is was terrible to witness that his passing was not pain free or dignified. I appreciate that my feelings may well be stages of the grieving process however I feel that the were several instances where the Drs and nurses failed my dad. I do not know who to speak to or where to turn to for answers in this regard.
I am under no illusions that my Dad was very ill given the progression of his cancer and that we were on borrowed time I had just hoped that his passing would have been less traumatic and more peaceful than it was.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
