For subscribers
Caregivers left holding bottles of morphine, vials of fentanyl after patients die
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Caregivers of elderly patients who choose home-based palliative care can be left with class A medication such as fentanyl and morphine after the patients die.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
SINGAPORE - After her mother’s death in January, freelance fundraiser Pam Hong, 52, found herself left with 15 bottles of liquid morphine.
“We were prescribed with enough (morphine) until the next consultation visit, which is often six months later. Because it is used to manage pain, we wanted to make sure we never run out. Otherwise it would mean stress and rushing to get a refill. So we took what was offered,” she said.
