"The number of prescriptions for a powerful sedative that can kill the frail doubled at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, raising fears it was used to control elderly residents in stretched care homes -- or even to hasten their deaths. Official figures show out-of-hospital prescribing of the drug midazolam increased by more than 100 percent in April compared to previous months.
"An anti-euthanasia campaigner last night said he suspected that the spike was evidence that many people had been put on end-of-life protocols or 'pathways'. Whistleblowers also claimed to have witnessed misuse of sedatives, with staff told to give them to dementia patients to stop them wandering the corridors...
Retired neurologist Professor Patrick Pullicino said: 'Midazolam depresses respiration and it hastens death. It changes end-of-life care into euthanasia.'
'Certainly there have been more [unavoidable] deaths because of COVID-19. But to me this flow-chart encouraged use of end-of-life sedation with midazolam -- effectively resulting in euthanasia pathways.'"
Midazolam is similar to diazepam -- better known as Valium -- but twice as powerful. It reduces anxiety, relaxes muscles and, if enough is given, provides "total sedation" for dying patients in extreme pain or distress.
On its own and if used with painkilling opiates, it can depress breathing, which is potentially fatal. Eileen Chubb, of the charity Compassion in Care, said a number of care-home workers had told her sedatives were used too freely during the pandemic, adding that some staff were under the "definite impression" that very sick care-home residents should not be sent to hospital. ("Did Care Homes use Powerful Sedatives to Speed COVID Deaths?" -- Daily Mail)
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