There are passionate arguments to either side of this issue. I'm surious to know how everyone weighs in on it if it hit close to home.
What would you want, if you were incapacitated, in a persistant vegitative state, or by all doctor's diagnosis, unable to ever function due to severe brain damage? Would you want to be kept alive by herioic means, feeding tube, intubation or other artificial means? How long would you want to remain that way, if at all?
Holy War....You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend. - Richard Jeni
Personally I would want efforts exhausted to find out if I had any chance of recovery. After that, if there's no hope, pull my plug. I would rather die with dignity than merely exist.
Holy War....You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend. - Richard Jeni
chelktty said this in post #2 : Personally I would want efforts exhausted to find out if I had any chance of recovery. After that, if there's no hope, pull my plug. I would rather die with dignity than merely exist.
I would have to agree! I wouldn't want to be unplugged immediately but once it is obvious that I will never come out of the condition I would want to be allowed to go. That sounds like what has happened in this case except it has dragged on years after that determination was made. So sad!
chelktty said this in post #2 : Personally I would want efforts exhausted to find out if I had any chance of recovery. After that, if there's no hope, pull my plug. I would rather die with dignity than merely exist.
I would have to go with this choice as well.
My husband already knows, and I also told my mom that this is what I would want as well.
My grandma told my mom that she would not want to have any artifical means keeping her alive (it wasnt in writing)...I didnt want her to die, but who am I to stop my mom and her sister from granting their mother her wish?
I made it quite clear to my mom to not fight my husband on that decision...and for a backup, Im meeting with my attorney next week to put it in writing. I know she wouldnt fight it, because she has the same living will written up, but why take a chance.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
I filled out an advanced directive this week. I just need to get my witnesses to sign it.
My wishes in a senario like this are that I would want my husband to consult with several competent specialists. When a consensus is reached that I am no longer there, then I would want ALL methods of life support to be withdrawn including food and hydration. I would want my loved ones to realize that I was going home to God and a better place.
So....in this scenario, does God actually appear to you and insert the feeding tube himself?
I mean God isnt the one who placed it there...so maybe he intended on you visiting him earlier?
If you think God makes the decision....dont you think it was against God to originally put the tube there in the first place?
This is why I have a problem with this argument.
Well when people are sick and injured, man intervenes to save lives by various means.
If I was in a car accident, I wouldn't expect to be left on the side of the road to die with my injuries.
I would want to be taken care of, I would want my limbs re-attached, I would want any and all medical care and assistance to prolong my life, especially if I couldn't speak for myself. I would hope that I got a chance to recover and and I would HOPE that advances in medicine and science would work for me.
Maybe I was meant to die in the car accident- but I don't have to. My life COULD be saved if I was taken care of. That is what most people want....isn't it?
To answer your first question:,
No-- Doctor's put a feeding tube there for reason...I don't see any reason to remove it now. They give reasons as to why they believe Terri should not be fed artificially, but I still believe it is wrong not doing everything to try to sustain her There is no evidence that she is not suffering, they couldn't possibly know that 100%.
There was a woman on Larry King who was in a similar state as Terri and she recovered. She claimed she was conscious and aware but couldn't speak, move or express herself the way she wanted. She said she was trapped in her own body!
I know everyone has their views on this...my point is that it WOULN'T hurt Terri if she was being cared for, fed and loved. I think she's disabled due to not being able to swallow and we do everything we can for the disabled. Feeding and caring for her is something she has a right to.
Well when people are sick and injured, man intervenes to save lives by various means.
If I was in a car accident, I wouldn't expect to be left on the side of the road to die with my injuries.
I would want to be taken care of, I would want my limbs re-attached, I would want to any and all medical care and assistance to prolong my life, especially if I couldn't speak for myself. I would hope that I got a chance to recover and and I would HOPE that advances in medicine and science would work for me.
Maybe I was meant to die in the car accident- but I don't have to. My life COULD be saved if I was taken care of. That is what most people want....isn't it?
To answer your first question:,
No-- Doctor's put a feeding tube there for reason...I don't see any reason to remove it now. They give reasons as to why they believe Terri should not be fed artificially, but I still believe it is wrong not doing everything to try to sustain her There is no evidence that she is not suffering when the tube was removed,, they couldn't possibly know that 100%.
There was a woman on Larry King who was in a similar state as Terri and she recovered. She claimed she was conscious and aware but couldn't speak, move or express herself the way she wanted. She said she was trapped in her own body!
I know everyone has their views on this...my point is that it would hurt Terri if she was being cared for, fed and loved. I think she's disabled due to not being able to swallow and we do everything we can for the disabled. Feeding and caring for her is something she has a right to.
P.S. I should clarify my position on the statement..."...when God decides".
When it is your time to die, it is finalized by a greater force than man. **not to get too preachy on everyone but think who empowers us to save lives.
P.S. I should clarify my position on the statement..."...when God decides".
When it is your time to die, it is finalized by a greater force than man. **not to get too preachy on everyone but think who empowers us to save lives.
So life to you means even sitting in state of PVS, with a brain that can never be healed because its deteriorated. I mean medical technology cant re-grow brains.
How is that life?
Life means a body that is being fed but has no personality to it?
Thats not life. Thats a body in existence, but the soul has already died.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
03-26-2005 02:20 PM
Couldn't have said it better myself. Great points you have stated.
