Question for my Fellow Freepers...

March 23, 2005 | Hildy

[Jeff Head]

I had a brother who died last year of cancer Hildy. He was as outdoors and fun loving an indivbidual as you would ever meet. He vowed several times he wouldn't want to live "like that". But in his late forties with the options reduced to not either live like that or live healthy, but instead, either live like that or die...he made a choice to fight for his life as long as he could. He had a different perspective at that point as I am sure Terri would have now at 41.

I do not believe Terri contemplated this situation. It was more likely, when uttered, based on someone on full life support, not just on feeding. She loves her family (her parents and siblings) and always has. I believe she would want to live for them if she could.

I would say, and already have in my own living will, that if my death is imminent, and can only be temporarily prolonged by articial respiration or heart lung, then not to do so...but I have specifically indicated to keep the hydration and feeding going as long as possible.

[Miss Behave]

AWESOME bumper sticker bump! Love it!

[jwalsh07]

It's relevant because there's the idea that this isn't what she wanted. I'm saying this is probably what she would have wanted.

Probably doesn't cut it when you kill somebody in cold blood.

[Boot Hill]

Let me re-phrase your one sided question...

a)Honey, feel free to kill me.

b)Honey, please help me recover.

--Boot Hill

[Hildy]

YOu didn't answer the queation. The whole issue is what Terri would have wanted. So I'm saying put yourself in the shoes of a 24 year old woman.

[Peach]

I'm sorry about your mom. Sadly, you did what a lot of people have had to do. It's what a court of appeals noted that Michael could have done. But he didn't. The Court noted that Michael could have just had the feeding tube removed. But instead he asked the Court to make the decision. And they did.

He tried three years of intensive therapy. The nurses and doctors testified under oath he was meticulous in his care of her; she never had a bedsore because of his care and he was demanding of nursing staff.

[Samwise]

It's a stupid question. When I was that age I told my friends to shoot me if I ever got over 50. Well today I'm over 50 and if they start shooting, I'm shooting back.

LOL

[Ann Archy]

I feel sorry for you, Hildy....You must have had to pull someone's plug and you are trying to assuage the guilt that you feel. Don't bother answering me, I don't want to know.

[Hildy]

It's a direct question. it's just hard for you to come to grips with the truth.

[alisasny]

BTW is Michael at the bedside of the woman he claims he loves tonight?

If this is so important to him you think he would be there to support his wife at the end of her life.

[Hildy]

I didn't ask what was "right" I asked what you would say.

[Trust but Verify]

Like my mom. She's 'toatally in her head' as you put it, she just can't make her body do anything. She wishes she had died. I wish, for her sake, she had too. Her life was over 8 years ago. Nothing but tears and anger since.

[Scarlet7]

Depends on what the defenition of the word "VEGETATIVE" means. From my understanding, vegetables don't open their eyes when asked by doctors.

[xone]

Couldn't have happened, I was in the service when I was 24, so I was going to die anyway.

[A CA Guy]

Actually doctors, the parents, many nurses have said she wasn't was responsive and that doctors have treated far worse with good results.

This was all Judicial activism for their piece of an abortion on demand type of legacy for themselves to please their liberal friends with.

[Hildy]

what if there was very little brain activity and the Dr.'s said she PROBABLY didn't know what was going on and there was no chance of recovery.

[BlueNgold]

How about .. honey don't ever sue someone claiming that I will need years of therapy and then instead of providing that therapy to me I want you to use the money to fight in the courts for the right to kill me instead of putting a serious effort into rehabilitation prior to make the life/death decision...

[RightWhale]

Which one would you pick?

Neither.

[Trust but Verify]

If it could be proven she is, or in some similar state that is irreversable, would you change your mund about this case?

[mhking]

Hildy, I understand your frustration, but your "B" answer is basically, "When did you stop beating your dog?"