When morphine is given to someone with a terminal illness, does it speed up the dying process?

No.: No, as long as it's given at the proper dosage. Extremely high doses can cause respiratory depression (i.e. Decreased breathing function), but at palliative doses, it is simply that: palliation. (note from 30 years in practice md: palliative narcotics are for many dying patients the ideal intervention to unrelenting pain, allowing them to relax or sleep and to carry on with normal dying.).

Cancer cells: Fyi recent study showed cancer cells have narcotics receptors, this raises concerns although we do not know narcotics speed up cancer growth clinically. Stay with acupuncture for pain, use narcotics carefully.

It can.: It really depends on the amount of morphine needed, and how sick the person is at the time it's given. We know that morphine can slow breathing, and possibly speed up the dying process in someone who is actively dying. However, if the person needs morphine for symptom relief, it should be given until the symptom is adequately relieved, even if it hastens death.