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Hospitals can end life support; Decision hinges on patient's ability to pay, prognosis
Houston Chronicle ^ | March 8, 2005 | LEIGH HOPPER

Posted on 03/19/2005 7:19:45 PM PST by ambrose

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To: jdm
I guess it depends on the society you want. I think those that can do have an obligation to help the unlucky and even the losers.

I think our social institutions started foundering when charity was called a "right", the irresponsible were put beyond criticism, and that problems were thought ended with the formation of a government bureacracy.

41 posted on 03/19/2005 9:57:55 PM PST by Tribune7
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To: BykrBayb
Estranged wife, ex-wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, brother, neighbor....

Wow, real enlightened liberalism masquerading as conservatism at play ... who would have thought they had so much to offer ?

42 posted on 03/19/2005 9:58:17 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: lastchance

Ted Kennedy, no shirt. I shan't post it if that's OK with you...


43 posted on 03/19/2005 9:58:35 PM PST by null and void (Even if Terri didn't want to live like that, it doesn't follow that she wants to die like THIS!)
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To: annyokie
Brain death means you are not coming back. I don't care how many millions of prayers are offered.

Lazarus was brain dead.

Like my foolish Christer aunt offering up prayers for her autistic grandson. It isn't going to change anything. !7 years ought to learn her.

Pathetic.

44 posted on 03/19/2005 10:00:07 PM PST by Aliska
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To: jdm

I've lived in Germany for 12 years and watched state-run healthcare...where you are required to have a policy, which is entirely related to how much make and how many members of the family it covers. And for 75 percent of the normal procedures that you would expect...it does a decent job and you pay nothing. However....when it comes down to a major significant operation...that borders on new technology...don't count on being successful and living a fruitful life. You end up going to a state-run or church-run hospital. The doctors are great...but the absolute best doctors work privately, and your policy doesn't cover work by these guys. You will be in a room with three other patients, unless you want to cough up around $50 a day extra out of your own pocket. Your meals will be as bland as they can make them. The drugs you get...will always be generic, unless the doctor can prove they don't work...then you get the real stuff. You must stay for as long as the process takes...in the hospital. When a person checks for a procedure in the US...and stays 10 days....it'll be at least 25 days in a German hospital. They don't pre-test or schedule any operation, until after you check into the hospital...then you get on the schedule, and it may be another week before you go into surgery.

State-mandated healthcare sounds real nice...Bill Clinton had a great speech for it. A lot of Americans immedately jump up and support the idea. But it simply isn't the four-star deal that you expect.

And not to bash the German too much...but some Germans have actually gone to the US, and paid for their own surgery there....because they thought they had a higher chance of survival. That says alot.


45 posted on 03/19/2005 10:06:53 PM PST by pepsionice
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To: af_vet_1981
Notice the dot, dot, dot at the end. We wouldn't want to limit the list in any way.


46 posted on 03/19/2005 10:14:31 PM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: BykrBayb
The States' Rights Brigade can hardly wait to get their property rights back ...
47 posted on 03/19/2005 10:16:14 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: Windsong
Don't you think every husband and father should have the right to kill his wife, offspring, dogs, and cats when it interferes with his pursuit of pleasure ?
48 posted on 03/19/2005 10:19:11 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: annyokie
Like my foolish Christer aunt offering up prayers for her autistic grandson. It isn't going to change anything. !7 years ought to learn her.

Why don't you take matters into your own hands and starve the grandson ? I'm sure you'll find some supporters.

49 posted on 03/19/2005 10:21:43 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: ambrose

Even with a living will??


50 posted on 03/19/2005 10:26:12 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: null and void

I live in Florida we have Manatees if I want to see a fat hairy mammal that is soaked most of the time.


51 posted on 03/19/2005 10:28:07 PM PST by lastchance (Life is sacred.)
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To: lastchance

*snrk* Perfect!


52 posted on 03/20/2005 6:29:42 AM PST by null and void (Even if Terri didn't want to live like that, it doesn't follow that she wants to die like THIS!)
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To: af_vet_1981

He is not on life support. My point is that he is not going to get better. Period. He is so strong and headstrong with no self-control that he is most likely going to kill his mother one day in a rage.

He has already thrown her across a room and broken her arm. A moment of clarity is needed with his mother, my cousin, when or if she finally realizes that she can't handle him, it isn't going to change and it is her fault for relying in prayer only and not getting him therapy. She should know better since she has been working at a hospital for many years.


53 posted on 03/20/2005 11:58:13 AM PST by annyokie (Laissez les bons temps rouler !)
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To: annyokie

Heroic is not minimal. Food and water, basic hygiene are minimal. Yes -- everyone is due minimal care. The hospital, however, should have the ability to release such patients to the care of relatives.


54 posted on 03/20/2005 12:03:35 PM PST by bvw
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To: annyokie
If he is a killer -- or acts like he certainly will be, then that is a different story.

Neither your grandmom, Terri Schindler, nor the greek engineer mentioned in this article are killers.

55 posted on 03/20/2005 12:06:42 PM PST by bvw
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To: bvw

Then who pays for that? In home care is not cheap and I doubt that the Schindler's are able to provide 'round the clock care for Terri.

I'm not heartless regardless of what some other posters have said. I know from experience, that my stroked out Grandmother needed more care than either I or my mother could provide. A Home was the only place for her following the "heroic measures" that she specifically did not want and that caused her to linger for four more months when she would have gladly gone home to Jesus.


56 posted on 03/20/2005 12:19:37 PM PST by annyokie (Laissez les bons temps rouler !)
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To: annyokie
He is not on life support.

Why should that matter ?

His quality of life makes him a perfect candidate for a TerriSchiavo maneuver.

Don't you want him to die in peace ?

57 posted on 03/20/2005 12:59:43 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: af_vet_1981

You are missing the point. I say that you can pray yourself to death and he isn't going to get better. His idiot mother is basing his care on prayer rather than the many therapies that are available.


58 posted on 03/20/2005 1:14:25 PM PST by annyokie (Laissez les bons temps rouler !)
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To: annyokie

The point is the State can end his life and all your problems will be solved. Just sign up for Michael Schiavo's Fan Club today.


59 posted on 03/20/2005 1:22:06 PM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: annyokie
Who could be saved in the meantime using those resources?

Is there a shortage? If there is should it not be addressed by creating more facilities rather then with holding care?

60 posted on 03/20/2005 1:26:25 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing!? Oh right, that would be me. Back to work.)
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