8mm
Posted on 07/12/2008 10:55:21 AM PDT by wagglebee
Chandigarh, India (LifeNews.com) -- Seema Sood made headlines worldwide when she sought permission from the president of India for a mercy killing. As with almost every nation in the world, India prohibits euthanasia and the request of the former well-educated engineer was declined.
Sood tells the Times of India she's glad her petition was rejected.
Just two years ago, Sood longed for death as a rheumatoid arthritis made it so the 37-year-old lost movement in all of her limbs for a period of 15 years.
Today, Sood is up and walking again, after a knee replacement surgery and she's thankful she's still alive.
"I regret the letter to the President," she told the newspaper. "Everything was so dark for me earlier, but I am excited about my mobility now and I am confident I will improve."
Sood is fortunate because the regional Himachal government and the alumni association at Pilani where she received two masters degrees have both agreed to help pay for more surgeries.
Sood will need several more procedures and six months to recover from them but then she will be able to resume teaching students math and science.
She tells the newspaper she's hopeful that others who suffer from similar conditions won't give up hope.
"Don't give up on life. That's what I say" she says.
Alison Davis of No Less Human, a British pro-life group, commented on the news.
"Euthanasia would have robbed Mrs. Sood of the chance to recover her love of life, and to benefit from the surgery which revolutionized her life, and no one would have known that life held something better for her in the future," she said.
"She is not the only vulnerable person who has changed her mind about wanting to die. I've been through the same experience myself," Davis, who has spina bifida added.
Davis said euthanasia "allows for no changes of mind" and worried it is becoming the "philosophy of despair" for the sick, the disabled and the elderly.
Amen!
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From OnTheIssues.org: Obama on Abortion
* Ok for state to restrict late-term partial birth abortion. (Apr 2008)
* We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life. (Apr 2008)
* Undecided on whether life begins at conception. (Apr 2008)
* Teach teens about abstinence and also about contraception. (Apr 2008)
* GovWatch: Obama's "present" votes were a requested strategy. (Feb 2008)
* Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy. (Feb 2008)
* Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007. (Jan 2008)
* Voted against banning partial birth abortion. (Oct 2007)
* Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases. (Aug 2007)
* Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. (Apr 2007)
* Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters. (Oct 2006)
* Constitution is a living document; no strict constructionism. (Oct 2006)
* Moral accusations from pro-lifers are counterproductive. (Oct 2004)
* Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill. (Jun 2004)
* Protect a woman's right to choose. (May 2004)
* Supports Roe v. Wade. (Jul 1998)
* Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
* Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
* Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
* Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
* Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006)
* Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
* Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm#Abortion
From OnTheIssues.org: John McCain on Abortion:
* Pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere. (Feb 2008)
* GovWatch: 1999: Don't force women to have illegal operations. (Feb 2008)
* Abortion issue shows what kind of country we are. (Aug 2007)
* Concerned if women undergo illegal dangerous operations. (May 2007)
* Supports federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (May 2007)
* Prosecute abortion doctors, not women who get them. (Jan 2000)
* “Family Conference” if daughter wanted an abortion. (Jan 2000)
* Abortion OK if raped; and no testing for rape. (Jan 2000)
* Supports fetal tissue research; against over-intensity. (Jan 2000)
* Overturn Roe v. Wade, but keep incest & rape exceptions. (Jan 2000)
* Support adoption & foster care; work together on abortion. (Oct 1999)
* Wants Roe vs. Wade made irrelevant, but would not repeal it. (Aug 1999)
* Opposes partial-birth abortions & public financing. (Aug 1999)
* Nominate justices based on experience, and values. (Jun 1999)
* Restrict abortions; no partial-birth; no public funding. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
* Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
* Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
* Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
* Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
* Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
* Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
* Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
* Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
* Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
* Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
* Rated 75% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
ping
Ping
There is no question that many people get extremely depressed when they suffer from certain handicaps; however, depression IS treatable and it is not terminal.
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Absolutely. Sometimes the depressed can't see this, though. Then it's up to us to be there.
People in the midst of depression NEVER believe it will end, it often takes some time to adjust medications, but it does go away.
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Good point. Also, people are often unaware that they are depressed, which is one reason that it can be so dangerous.
For me, it was like a thick, almost palpable, suffocating black cloud enveloped me, cutting off every glimmer of light or hope. In such a state, a person really needs protective intervention, not the "freedom" to destroy themselves.
Myself, I did not receive such intervention, but I stumbled out of the depression--- how, I do not know.
I went through a period of depression at one time in my life. I thank God I am here. Often, but not often enough, I start the morning by thanking Him for this new day.
My experience is why I believe that we must look out for those around us, who may not know or believe that there are others who understand.
I think that just about all of us go through periods of depression at some point in our lives for one reason or another. However, I fully believe, and have seen, that it is treatable if it doesn’t go away on its own.
I’ll second trisham in stating that it is a privilege to have Mrs. Don-o here with us today!
btt
well, some good news out there.
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