I don't think she is ventilated....ie. she is breathing on her own.
The reason why I say that is that if she was ventilated it wouldn't
take two weeks for her to die. I did see a tape of this woman and
the lights *were*on... I don't doubt that *nobody* was home, however.
I am not an expert on the definition of the word comatose. I think
that an overdose of morphine would be better for all concerned than
waiting for her to starve to death. My reasoning is that even though
she has been kept alive by artificial means... not feeding her any
more is taking action to let her die... I don't see the difference between
that and giving an overdose of morphine. JMO
As far as who gets to choose... I am in total agreement with Charles
and Jen. I just think that if you are going to let her die... get it over with.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 02:22 PM, Jen -- wrote:
Is she on breathing machines or she is breathing on her own ?
If she is honestly comotose as well as brain dead, removing the feeding tube
is not going to be painful for her.
Im not being judgemental because I dont know the circumstances, but I cant
imagine wanting to keep a person comotose for 13 years. That doesnt help
anyone in the situation. Although, I do agree with Charles, other members of
the family should not be able to come in and fight the decision that the
next of kin has made. He/she must have her reasoning.
I have seen two people a few years ago die basicly after they became brain
dead. In one of those situations I was the decision maker and in one I
wasnt. But that decision isnt easy and noone should be *made* to change
their mind because someone else doesnt agree.
JMO.
Jen -- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'The Sandbox Discussion List'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:05 AM Subject: RE: [Sndbox] Right to Die
Actually, the hospice folks here swear that removing the tube is actuallyand
more peaceful for the patient than other methods. Their body shuts downgoes to sleep.[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charles Mims http://www.the-sandbox.org
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]starvationOn Behalf Of Laurie Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 11:38 AM To: The Sandbox Discussion List Subject: RE: [Sndbox] Right to Die
I have a problem with just stopping the feeding tube.
That is starving her to death...nope...can't go with that..but if she is
braindead, or in a permanent vegitative state, I can see increasing pain
meds and ending her life that way....no suffering. In my opinion,is painful and suffering occurs.and
Laurie --- David <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:I'm like you on this one. We had a tough decision with Julie'shttp://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
mom...but fortunately the doctor was able to ask her mother if she
wanted more pain medicine or did she want to be more alert. She chose
the pain medicine and it basically put her to sleep then shut her
down.
She was in so much pain
and suffering from the cancer. Now this case is a bit different, but
if they feel that taking the woman off of the feeding tubes will cause
her pain and make her suffer, I'm not for her suffering. I say since
she is basically dead anyway, then give her enough medication to let
it be an easy transition. I don't like playing God, but I don't think
that is the case.
David L.
Ben Franklin: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt, they have more need of masters."
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Charles Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:58 AM To: 'The Sandbox Discussion List' Subject: RE: [Sndbox] Right to Die
I haven't decided on this one. The woman has been vegetative for 13
years.
For all practical purposes she is not alive, and reports I've heard is
that her brain waves are severely deteriorated. The drain on her
immediate family (Husband (children?)) must be enormous not even
counting the financial drain keeping her artificially alive.
I'm looking at it like this, my wife (who according to the laws of the
state of FL is my next of kin) knows my wishes. If she made the
difficult decision to cease heroic measures on me I wouldn't want my
mother to be able to step in and make a different decision. If the
extended family wins in this case, that is the precedent that will be
set.
I know for *ME* I don't want to live like that. Take the tube away. If it is the only thing keeping me alive, I mean, and I'm not conscious. Now if I were still conscious and just couldn't eat, then it is a different story.
Charles Mims http://www.the-sandbox.org
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tim Harder Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 10:38 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Sndbox] Right to Die
Has anyone been paying attention to the woman in Florida who has been
a vegetable since 1990. They are going to remove her feeding tube...
They say she will *probably* die in about two weeks....
Does anybody else find
this disturbing? I suppose they will have her loaded up on pain meds?
Is it better for her to go this way... or would it be better for
someone to give her a lethal dose of something?
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poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle,
and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment,to http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.netmaking the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. --Gilda Radner
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