A 70-year-old man with COPD experiences increasing breathlessness and anxiety at the end of life. He is already on maximal inhaled therapy and oxygen....

Question

A 70-year-old man with COPD experiences increasing breathlessness and anxiety at the end of life. He is already on maximal inhaled therapy and oxygen. The palliative care team recommends low-dose oral Morphine for dyspnoea. His family are worried this will hasten death. What is the most appropriate explanation?

Accepted Answer

Low-dose opioids can relieve breathlessness when carefully titrated and are not used with the intention of shortening life

Answer

Opioids must never be used in COPD because they always cause fatal respiratory depression

Answer

Morphine is only appropriate for pain, not breathlessness

Answer

You will give a very large dose to ensure he dies comfortably

Answer

You will avoid all sedating medications to prevent any risk to life

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Palliative management of breathlessness