Posted on 02/27/2011 10:32:21 AM PST by wagglebee
One of the terrible things about euthanasia and food and fluids cases, is the readiness by which many are willing to make despairing totally disabled people dead, that is, people who are fully conscious but completely paralyzed. Indeed, recently Belgian doctors euthanized such a woman, and then a different set of doctors harvested her organs. We have also had bioethicists, who once said dehydration should be for people who are unconscious, turn around and say that locked in patients have an even greater claim to withholding food and fluids since they are aware of their helplessness.
But this readiness to believe such people can never enjoy their lives is belied by research indicating that most locked in patients are happy. From the story:
Taking into account the possible methodological challenges and limitations of QoL research, especially when dealing with LIS patients, our data show that a non-negligible group of chronic LIS survivors self-report a meaningful life and their demands for euthanasia are surprisingly infrequent. It is important to stress the discussed possible biases in our study. The observed results may hence not be representative of chronic LIS patients in general. It should also be noted that given the dependence of LIS participants on the help of a caregiver for communication of their answers, social desirability might have confounded patients’ responses. Nevertheless, in our view, these results are important as healthy individuals and medical professionals might assume that the comfort of a LIS patient is so limited that it is not worth living
Recall, Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly while locked in. He thought his life was very worth living.
Suicidal people who are in a locked in state should be offered suicide prevention services as we do most suicidal people. That many would instead say, “Sure, go ahead. I would too,” reflects our own fears and prejudices, and an (unintended) abandonment of people who might otherwise be helped to get past the darkness and back into the light.
I have no idea what you are trying to say.
Given your lifestyle "choices," I would say that complete idiocy plays a very prominent role in everything you do.
Lol. That’s the best you got? Keep swinging - you’ll connect with something, someday.
I'm pretty sure that "swinging" played a prominent role in screwing up your life.
Throwback Monday. (I’ll be too busy on Thursday)
I put this post of yours on my profile page, back when the post was still new. I can’t believe I never told you.
I just read it again, and it still moves me.
I’m going in for surgery in the next week or two, for colon cancer. It should be routine, but it still has me thinking more about serious things. Like who will be my husband’s caregiver for a few days (he’s a stroke survivor who needs a lot of care.) And what will happen to him if something happens to me? Will he fall prey to those who don’t value life as we do?
I’m making copies of your post, to share with all the people close to us, who may influence the course of our care. Family and health care staff.
Thank you for your many contributions here over the years. I hope you’ll continue for a good many years to come. God bless you.
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