I have a couple of questions...

I think if the brain damage is irreversible, there is no reason to keep her like that. That is no way to live. I told my husband if I were in that situation and there is no hope to just let me go. I don't want to put his life on hold. I would want him and and my kids to go on about life. I would not want to live like that and not live a productive life. I know some would disagree with this but this is just how I feel.

kim
 
I was on the fence when the whole argument was relevant, but now I have to wonder if they ever did an MRI or CT scan that possibly could have shown the extent of the damage to her brain. Couldn't that have simplified matters from a medical and legal perspective while she was still alive?

Lunacat
 
As I understand it, those tests were done several times and the results were published. Although the scientific community provided the data, emotions and debates of a conspiracy prevailed.

This leads to my second question. For those of you who don't believe the medical community and science in Terri Schiavo's case, why do you believe the numbers on: a scale, a body fat alalyzer, a tape measure, dumbells, stability balls? They were all created by science to give us factual information.
 
>As I understand it, those tests were done several times and
>the results were published. Although the scientific community
>provided the data, emotions and debates of a conspiracy
>prevailed.
>
>This leads to my second question. For those of you who don't
>believe the medical community and science in Terri Schiavo's
>case, why do you believe the numbers on: a scale, a body fat
>alalyzer, a tape measure, dumbells, stability balls? They were
>all created by science to give us factual information.


Candi, you are something else!;-)

Marla
 
Marla, I know. I'm a pain in the A$$! ;-)

Which leads to my third question. How many of you still haven't written down your wishes in the event something tragic happens so that your loved ones won't have to decide for you?

Until the other day, I didn't know a heart muscle could be injured with too much cardio. Please do your family a huge favor and write your wishes down SOMEWHERE!
 
My DH just bought a Harley and now we have got to get a will. Thanks for bringing this up. We keep saying we're going to and don't. And you know what? You just never know. :-(
Kali
 
This is a hot button, but I'll bite;-)

I do not think that you starve and dehydrate someone simply because they are disabled. Life matters and has value.

If, as I understand it, Terri was on no other life support except a feeding tube then she certainly deserved at least that much. Food and water is a simple thing. I also, to the best of my understanding, read that she might have been able to eat or drink on her own, but her husband wouldn't allow it for fear of her choking and....gasp....dying. Seems a little hypocrytical there if you ask me. Perhaps she didn't even need the feeding tube and she could have lived her life as a disabled woman until a natural death. Her parents would have happily taken care of her, but her husband wouldn't allow it.

The Terri Schaivo situation is an ethical can of worms on many levels, for sure. I also would admit that I only know what the media tells me, so that means I truly know nothing.

Would I want to be kept alive like that? I honestly don't know, but I would lean towards probably not. Would I allow someone else to live like that? All I can say is that I would never be the one to make that descision, to end a life that way.

You would be happy to know Candi, as another of your questions posed, that we do have Advanced Medical Directives. My mom recently had a stroke and was in ICU. We had a fantastic nurse who really advocated for us to have "that" conversation (pre brain surgury!) and gave us all paperwork to take home.

I am greatful that in my immediate family I won't have to make that descision. We have all made our own, and it is in writing. I would encourage everyone to have those conversations. It is not as difficult as you might think, and better now than later....like in and ICU ward.

I will add that I would have no moral issue pulling the plug, as it were, when I know for a fact that this is what my loved one wishes for their situation. I would always abide by anyones wishes, whether the same or different from my own.
 
My father died last year and my mother, brother and I had to make the decision for him. He had been chronically ill with COPD (emphysema) and continued to smoke. His condition was slowly and systematically destroying his reasoning abilities, therefore causing tremendous stress on my mother. On his last trip to the hospital we were told he possibly could exist but only with a respirator and a feeding tube. My mother would have turned in to a full time nurse to a very uncooperative patient who would have probably continued to smoke through the hole in his throat. Yes, people do this believe it or not.

The doctor told my mother that if it were him, he would turn off the respirator because it would be an awful existence for my father and the rest of the family. There was no question in my mind what should be done but being a good Catholic, my mother struggled with the decision. If we would have kept him alive...her last few years would be miserable. None of us wanted this for her. Therefore, we let him go.

As Autumn states, it is tough to make these decisions.
 
I really don't have anything to add on this topic (been there, done that :) but I wantted to say I am sorry for your losses Candi and Autumn. Your stories are heartwrenching. I pray that something like that doesn't end up happening to my parents one day.:(
 
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