Bob,

My mother made the same decision only with her doctor. The whole family was there in the hospital room (all ten kids) when her doctor said "OK Penny, are you ready to do what we talked about?" she reached out her hand to him and nodded. He then increased her morphine drip and she drifted off to sleep. Throughout the night her morphine was increased ever so slightly as she was "officially" presenting with severe pain. She stopped breathing about 5:30 AM. This was in a major hospital.

So I can say I was party to the same action you took. All her kids were; we took turns sitting with her until the end. We watched as the nurses came in and increased the morphine knowing full well what the purpose was.

I recently ran onto a doctor who effectively offered me the same courtesy when my time arrived. I have let my wife know I want him as my attending physician when that time arrives for me.

This is done every day all over the country. It�s just not talked about.