Difficult choices as death nears. As the changes described in this article develop in the final days or hours of a progressive terminal illness, difficult choices may arise. There may be questions about whether to provide food and fluids, receive blood transfusions, or treat infections.
The use of mercury in thermometers dates back hundreds of years. It was widely used because it reliably expands and contracts with changes in temperatures. It is highly poisonous, however, and can enter the body through the respiratory or digestive tracts, or directly through the skin.
Why are mercury thermometers a concern? When a mercury thermometer breaks, the mercury begins to vaporize, even at room temperature. Mercury is a potent toxin to the nervous system and exposure can affect the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver.