A mentally competent 76-year-old man is in the terminal stage of multiple myeloma. He is unable to move and requires 24-hour nursing care. Increasing doses of narcotics are needed to control severe pain. As a result, when he is pain-free, respiratory function is impaired and consciousness is clouded. The patient says he cannot live with this degree of pain and asks to be given a lethal injection of pain medication. Which of the following is the most appropriate step regarding the pain medication?
A) Reduce the dosage so as not to impair respiration
B) Administer the dosage necessary to control pain despite respiratory impairment
C) Administer the dosage necessary to control pain and add a centrally acting stimulant
D) Appeal to the family to convince the patient to tolerate a bit more pain
A) Reduce the dosage so as not to impair respiration
B) Administer the dosage necessary to control pain despite respiratory impairment
C) Administer the dosage necessary to control pain and add a centrally acting stimulant
D) Appeal to the family to convince the patient to tolerate a bit more pain
