RE: [QUAD-L] Playing God

[Kate Hubin]

I just joined the list the other day, but I've really been drawn into the whole Terri Schiavo debate.  I haven't suffered a spinal cord injury myself.  I joined the list because I am working as a publicist on a documentary about Quad Rugby players and became interested in learning more about spinal cord injuries.    on a big tangent:   I was also a publicist on the film The Sea Inside.  Has anyone seen it? I think it was a very well made film, and that case was different of course, because the man in the film (based on a true story) was at full mental capacity, and expressed consistently and lucidly over the span of decades that he didn't wish to go on living in his state (fully paralyzed from the neck down.) I still think it's a great film, and I do think that if someone really wants to die they should be allowed to do so with dignity.    But I really don't think this film, or the film Million Dollar Baby sent the right message.  The big problem is that after seeing these two films, I figured if I were in the same position, I'd probably want to die too.  These characters were so steadfast in their belief that life wasn't worth living in "their state," I just imagined they must be right.  I knew nothing about the realities of living with their injuries, and really didn't learn too much from the films, but just got wrapped up in all the drama.    Then I saw Murderball, and joined this list and started reading message boards about SCI, and I realized there was a lot more to the story.  It sounds like most people who become paralyzed do go through that period of depression and despair.  But the vast majority bounce back within a year or so and are able to cope with their disability and lead fulfilling lives.  Needless to say, now that I'm more educated, I do not assume that I would come to the same conclusion that those two characters did if I were in their shoes.  Especially because they both had emotional support and people who were more than willing to care for them.    I just think that those other 2 films, in typical Hollywood/media fashion, grab a hold of the more dramatic, but extremely rare circumstance and make you identify with it and get all wrapped up in it.  What would have been really "brave,"  responsible filmmaking I think, would be to have shown Hillary Swank's character in Million Dollar Baby go through the depression, beg Clint Eastwood's character to help her die, for him to refuse, and for her to then go through rehabilitation, start to adjust to her new body, maybe even discover some physical activities and sports that she could still do, and be poised to move on from there.    Anyhow, I have really enjoyed all of the discussions on this list.  The past few weeks of being involved in this documentary project have really made me think and re-examine all sorts of things.  From: Lori Michaelson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 4:09 PM To: Quad Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Playing God I love Kate's replies.  So....... I agree with her :-)   Where have you been Kate?  Nice to meet you!   Lori    -------Original Message-------   From: Kate Hubin Date: 03/28/05 16:30:35 To: Jim Lubin; Lori Michaelson; Quad Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Playing God   I don't think anyone was really saying that lines should be drawn based on whether someone requires artificial support to stay alive, right?    I think they should be drawn based on whether someone is in fact really 'alive' to begin with.  If you require all the artificial support in the world, but are conscious, and able to live and carry on an existence, I don't think many people would say that this support should be withdrawn - probably only the same crazy (imho) people who say we shouldn't take any medicine whatsoever.    But a lot of people would say that if you're brain dead with no hope of recovery, you're not really alive, and there's no reason to keep an unconscious body alive artificially, you should let nature or god take it's course at that point.    If none of us ever got any artificial life support, most of us would be dead.  I would have bled to death as a child rather than gotten simple stitches.  or died of an infection or allergy rather than taken widely available medicine.    i don't think the debate is about whether you require artificial support to live, it's about whether, after receiving that artificial support, you can actually be considered to be living.  From: Jim Lubin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 2:57 PM To: Lori Michaelson; Quad Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Playing God I just want to make sure I'm understanding your position and those who agree with you. You consider giving nutrition through a feeding tube to someone who is breathing on their own "Playing God". You think a person on artificial life support (such as myself depending on a ventilator to breathe) should be taken off so the situation whether that person lives or dies is in God's hands. You do not think that creating human embryos and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is "Playing God" At 10:30 AM 3/28/2005, Lori Michaelson wrote:  Seems like everyone wants to play God in Terri's situation.  And play God here on the list by stating what and why and where and when  Terri should live (or not live).   By taking her off artificial life support ... the situation now truly IS in God's hands.  If she's meant to stay ... she'll come around and survive to tell about it.  If she's meant to go ... God will take her when it's time.   It's an argument by using the Gods of science to keep her living or the God of religion to do as he/she/it sees fit or just plain fate.  The latter we've all discussed before with our own injuries.   Terri is being a puppet and the puppet masters are pulling the strings (playing God).   I'm not a God but, if there be one, it's in his hands according to your reply :-)   Lori -------Original Message-------   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   I'm a parent and once a parent always a parent.  I would want to live as long as God allowed and not a jif longer.   Hope that answered your question.  If not, I'll make up one.... next time. W