Right to Die

[Rico]

I posted this on another thread about a lady who lived 58 years in an iron lung. After thinking about it some more, I decided maybe it would be better to discuss the right to die issue on a separate thread.

Originally Posted by Rico

I don't know if anyone else is thinking along the same lines, but, after reading about this lady, I thought about the right to die battle that is going on in this country right now. The article gave me the impression this lady wanted to live as full a life as possible given her circumstances, but what if her desire had been to have the machine shut off so she could die?

An iron lung is a form of life support. On other forms of life support, the next of kin has the right to have the equipment disconnected. In those cases the person on life support is unconcious, but what if someone who is conscious wants to have the machinery shut off? Should that be considered suicide? Comments anyone?

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by Rico

I posted this on another thread about a lady who lived 58 years in an iron lung. After thinking about it some more, I decided maybe it would be better to discuss the right to die issue on a separate thread.

I strongly support the right of the patient to make any decision about their care. The decision to have life support removed by a patient isn't as rare as some might think.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

I strongly support the right of the patient to make any decision about their care. The decision to have life support removed by a patient isn't as rare as some might think.

I may be wrong, but the only time life support is allowed to be disconnected is when the decision is being made by the next of kin and the patient is unconcious. I know that people have the right to refuse life saving measures, but once in place, I do not think a patient can have himself taken off the machines because it is viewed as being suicide.

[Pressing-On]

This is a controversial issue.

My husband's sister had a massive stroke a few years ago. She wasn't expected to live.

The doctors had us thinking they were communicating with her, in that, when she blinked she was saying, "Yes". When she closed her eyes, she was saying, "NO."

They had her saying that she wanted to pull the plug by blinking - The "yes" indicator.

My FIL said, "NO! It's too soon, we are doing nothing."

Just had lunch with her this past Sunday. She walked into the restaurant without her cane and was her happy self.

It's just controversial, at best.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

This is a controversial issue.

My husband's sister had a massive stroke a few years ago. She wasn't expected to live.

The doctors had us thinking they were communicating with her, in that, when she blinked she was saying, "Yes". When she closed her eyes, she was saying, "NO."

They had her saying that she wanted to pull the plug by blinking - The "yes" indicator.

My FIL said, "NO! It's too soon, we are doing nothing."

Just had lunch with her this past Sunday. She walked into the restaurant without her cane and was her happy self.

It's just controversial, at best.

Wow. Does she remember the eye blinking and what she meant?

[Margies3]

I'm here to tell you that the absolute hardest decision anyone can ever ask you to make in life whether to pull the plug on your loved one or not.

When Walt's aneurism ruptured, about 2 weeks into this, one doctor came to me and said, "You need to start thinking about whether you want us to turn off the life-support or not", then walked away. OMG!! This is a man who has already survived a ruptured aortic aneurism - something that doesn't happen! And he'd made big progress on the road to coming back to us. But still there's a long, long ways to go. And now this man wants me to make a decision about whether we "let him live or not"???

I AGONIZED over that!! We had children - a 16 year old and a 12 year old. God had already brought him sooooooooo far. I just couldn't say "go in there and pull those plugs". I just couldn't. I did agree that if they had to use the paddles again, they should not do that.

But then another doctor says to me, "I am NOT willing to give up on him yet. Please let him have 3 more days and let's see what happens during that time."

Hallelujah and thank you, Jesus, for that doctor! Because in 3 days, he was beginning to breathe on his own, his eyes were opening up and he had come light years!

And we all know how well Walt has done since then.

On the other hand, if he had been 80+ years old when this happened, would my decision have been the same? I don't know. No one knows until they are actually THERE. That's the thing I've learned from this. You don't know what you would do until you are in that situation.

So how can I find fault with any decision that anyone makes when they are in the midst of that crisis? I can't. It's not for me to judge. Only to love them as they are making the most agonizing decision they will ever make.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Rico

Wow. Does she remember the eye blinking and what she meant?

Sorry, I missed this Rico! NOOOOOO! She said she did not remember - at all. She burst into tears when we told her about it!!! She was fully covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It's like the hospital didn't want to fool with her any more.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Margies3

I'm here to tell you that the absolute hardest decision anyone can ever ask you to make in life whether to pull the plug on your loved one or not.

When Walt's aneurism ruptured, about 2 weeks into this, one doctor came to me and said, "You need to start thinking about whether you want us to turn off the life-support or not", then walked away. OMG!! This is a man who has already survived a ruptured aortic aneurism - something that doesn't happen! And he'd made big progress on the road to coming back to us. But still there's a long, long ways to go. And now this man wants me to make a decision about whether we "let him live or not"???

I AGONIZED over that!! We had children - a 16 year old and a 12 year old. God had already brought him sooooooooo far. I just couldn't say "go in there and pull those plugs". I just couldn't. I did agree that if they had to use the paddles again, they should not do that.

But then another doctor says to me, "I am NOT willing to give up on him yet. Please let him have 3 more days and let's see what happens during that time."

Hallelujah and thank you, Jesus, for that doctor! Because in 3 days, he was beginning to breathe on his own, his eyes were opening up and he had come light years!

And we all know how well Walt has done since then.

On the other hand, if he had been 80+ years old when this happened, would my decision have been the same? I don't know. No one knows until they are actually THERE. That's the thing I've learned from this. You don't know what you would do until you are in that situation.

So how can I find fault with any decision that anyone makes when they are in the midst of that crisis? I can't. It's not for me to judge. Only to love them as they are making the most agonizing decision they will ever make.

A tough decision, Margie!!!! I'm thankful you had a God that was watching out for you all!!!! That is our consolation. I just pray His will be done or just ask Him to tell me what He wants me to say when I pray.

[Ron]

I have the right to die, but like a lot of my rights, I gave that one up when I came to God!

It's in his hands now!

[James Griffin]

Rico,

Were you hoping to address legal right or moral right?