The Amazing Salami
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| #1 Posted on 30.3.04 1544.55 Reposted on: 30.3.11 1552.25 | http://www.cnn.com/ 2004/US/South/03/30/brain.damaged.woman.ap/ index.html
Now I realize this story has been around for a while, but something about reading the line about Governor Bush "ordering" that the tube be re-inserted really got to me.
I guess I don't know that, sans written will, another person should be able to dictate what his/her spouse's/child's/parent's will WOULD have been.
Then again, my wife knows what I would want if I were in that situation better than anyone else on the planet. And I definitely wouldn't want her to have to suffer through all of that for me.
On the other hand, I could never, ever be the one to "turn off the machine" if it were my wife, regardless of her condition. I just don't believe I could do it.
The point is, this is a really strange issue to try to wrap your mind and emotions around. But still, as opposed to abortion and gay marriage, it is relatively untalked about. Promote this thread! | | emma
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| #2 Posted on 30.3.04 1632.36 Reposted on: 30.3.11 1632.52 | Living will. (money.cnn.com) If you have more than one person who thinks they're "responsible" for you (eg. spouse & parents), you need one. If you have dependents, you need one. If you have any kind of medical conditions or expect to be having surgery, you need one. Pretty much the bottom line is, in these litigious times, everybody needs one. Doctors & ER staff are very much interested in knowing who your "go to" person is. If you do have a problem, you don't want your "responsible people" wasting their energy arguing about what you would want. Or what they'll feel the least guilty about. It's just one of those things that's a good idea. | Stilton
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| #3 Posted on 30.3.04 1650.25 Reposted on: 30.3.11 1651.07 | Originally posted by The Amazing Salami But still, as opposed to abortion and gay marriage, it is relatively untalked about.
Well, when people talk about abortion or gay marriage, specifically people who are opposed to these things, it's relatively easy for them to formulate their opinions based on religious dogma or political ideology. In either case, it's rarely about themselves--it's more about having an opinion about what other people should do with their lives.
When it comes to the right to die, and when to pull the plug, things get a little more cloudy because the issue hits a little bit closer to home. It's easy for, let's say, a right-wing Christian conservative to rail against abortion and gay marriage because, in all likelihood, he'll never find himself wanting or needing either service for himself. Such a person will never say to himself: Well, what am I going to do when I want a gay marriage or an abortion?
However, anyone could potentially suffer from an illness or injury that could place one in a chronic state of unbearable pain or render one a mental vegetable. There are no minority groups to single out in this issue. No one to play scapegoat. Anyone could potentially be faced with this issue, and really, no one knows what they will think or feel until they are faced with it. I think that's why it gets talked about less. Few people actually have a sense of what it means to them, because, perhaps, should the time ever come, they will want to have options open to them, and speaking out against the right to die might contribute to the limitation of those options.
Personally, I don't think people should be kept alive by artificial means if means nothing but suffering, but, like you, I'm not sure I could ever be the one to sign the DNR. And I think that's the crux right there. No one wants to be responsible for the death of someone they know and love. No one wants to have to live with knowing that. On the other hand, no one wants to be responsible for unimaginable suffering, either. It's the ultimate catch 22. | Eddie Famous
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| #4 Posted on 30.3.04 1817.27 Reposted on: 30.3.11 1821.59 | Moved to Politics. | StaggerLee
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| #5 Posted on 31.3.04 0058.40 Reposted on: 31.3.11 0058.55 | I see people every single day at work who have had to make these desicions. Do they WANT to be brought back? Do they WANT to be Intubated? Do they WANT CPR done? Do they WANT a "full code" done on them? Its a difficult situation, but one that every single person should assess for themselves. I already have, and have designated my father as my durable power of attourney, and he knows my wishes. If he passes before me, I will have to find somebody else.
There is a man on my floor now, who had to get a court order to make his wife NOT be his next of kin, because he WANTS to have everything done in the "worse case" but she doesnt believe in that. Its a touchy subject, but everybody should consider it and have it addressed, before it is too late. | Zeruel
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| #6 Posted on 31.3.04 0223.50 Reposted on: 31.3.11 0224.40 | My mother made it very clear that she wanted a DNR order on her, and my family had to watch her die when they "pulled the plug" on her.
It's been 4 months, and I'm still fucked up by the whole experience of watching her take her last breath.
Watch her become a brain dead veg, or just end her, and our, suffering. I'm glad she wanted a DNR order, I couldn't bare to watch her just be a veg with no hope of recovery for months on end. | The Amazing Salami
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| #7 Posted on 31.3.04 0818.30 Reposted on: 31.3.11 0819.57 | Originally posted by Eddie Famous Moved to Politics.
I debated on whether it was Politics or Random when I posted it. I couldn't find a blatant political affiliation with either viewpoint, so I stuck it in Random.
Apologies.
| Nate The Snake
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| #8 Posted on 31.3.04 1749.49 Reposted on: 31.3.11 1751.09 | I just lost a great-aunt a couple of weeks ago who originally had a DNR... she had a massive heart attack that caused some major damage to an already sick heart, and it was pretty much over. During a brief period right afterward where she was still conscious her husband convinced her to let them keep her on machines, but after a short time he changed his mind and let them unplug her. It was two days before she passed.
I can't imagine a more horrible choice. Hope and miracles are easy to think about from a safe distance, but when you're right there and a miracle is all you can hope for? No thanks. Save the miracle for someone else, I couldn't force anyone I cared about to make that decision. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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