Posted on 01/25/2009 11:56:33 PM PST by DoughtyOne
(CNN) -- Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa, whose hands and feet were amputated in a bid to save her from a deadly and little-known illness, died early Saturday, two friends of the model told CNN.
(exotic UTI infection)
So young and gone so quick.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This is really tragic.
I found it interesting that men seem to die of sepsis more often than women. I had thought this was a UTI gone berserk. That may have been it in this instance, but men must get it through injury and infection.
Prayers up for her family! This must be devestating to them! She was so beautiful and she suffered such a hard death! Lord comfort them!
Amen to that
just give me the double shot of morphine and shut the door
It sure was a sad situation. I hear ya.
” just give me the double shot of morphine and shut the door “
I’m with you .
that makes us 3
If people are terminally ill and in pain we have the means to let them die with dignity and not suffer . I really think it is the “ Christian “ thing to do . We do it for animals , which are also God’s creatures , why not for humans ?
My Japanese wife and I were having a conversation about this only yesterday . Her mother had a 2nd and more severe stroke a few days ago . Virtually a vegetable now . Why prolong the inevitable ?
I honestly don’t believe God would be angry .
Book of Job. nuff said.
Slippery slope time. Scary times we live in when Christians are for euthanasia. While I do not want any extraordinary measures take, I certainly do not want to be starved to death. You are right about Job.
I think there’s a difference between hastening one’s death (i.e. like we do with an animal who’s put down) and letting the natural course of illness lead to death. Both of my in-laws had living wills, and my husband was there health care surrogate. My FIL had a stroke, took a fall, and then needed surgery for his broken hip. He contracted a MRSA infection that went into pneumonia and it was all down hill from there. We followed his wishes, had the hospital provide hydration and medication, but he had explicit instructions against a feeding tube or ventilator (which the hospital was pushing hard to insert.) We went at meal times to try to get him to take nutrition (i.e. puddings, liquid meals), he eventually succumbed to the infection. But my point is, in our case we found that the hospital wanted to prolong his life with extraordinary means, which his living will stated he didn’t want. (he was 93, btw)
Taking a life is not Christ-like.
Is it taking a life, or is it just not interfering with the natural processes?
Yeah, I want a gallon!
What’s truly tragic is that she came from a poor family an that she was the primary breadwinner for them. Rather than becoming a prostitute, she tried to use the gift of her beauty to support her family in an honorable way.
Why does God let stuff like this happen? What a rragedy.
I was on morphine when I had a blood clot in my abdomen. Worst pain you could possibly imagine - and morphine was the only thing that worked. I thank God for it.
Did God not commanded us to feed the hungry and care for the sick?
A person has no less of a compassionate death when basic nutrition is given and proper pain control is provided. What you’re suggesting is murder.
My family went through exactly what you and your wife are living with when my Grandmother was stricken down by a severe stroke followed by numerous mini-strokes.
Near the end she too had another severe stroke that left her in a semi-vegetative state. We opted to provide her hydration, basic nutrition and pain relief. At the end we were at peace with our decisions. This would not have been the case if we had hastened her death or worse, knowingly and willingly caused it.
Pray on these passages to help you and your wife at this time, may they bring you comfort.
“The Lord kills, and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave, and brings up.”
I Samuel 2:6
“Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits so that he cannot pass.”
Job 14:5
If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2:15-16
Catechism of the Catholic Church official position on euthanasia.
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
Yes, it is sad that a young woman with so much promise for the family, has been lost. It’s tragic because of the loss of a child, and the loss of hope. What a dark day for the family.
God lets evil (Satan’s work) manifest itself so that we will know it for what it is. It’s tragic on this earth, but we have the promise of a new earth and a new life in time.
That doesn’t alleviate all the pain now though. My heart goes out to the family.
A person has no less of a compassionate death when basic nutrition is given and proper pain control is provided. What you’re suggesting is murder.
If you were trapped in a burning car after an accident and there was no chance for you to be extricated, and a person at the scene had a gun, would you want that person to terminate you or let you burn to death? Just saying.
Certain circumstances require extreme actions. Allowing a person to die in extreme cases may be more gracious than extending a persons life.
I may get flamed for my opinion but it is my honest opinion.
RIP, Mariana.
Allowing a person to die as comfortably as possible, without starving/dehydrating or providing a drug/poison to end their life is the essence of compassion.
There is no equivalent between your person burning to death and a person at the last stages of their life passing onto the next.
If you insist on making the comparison of suffering from burning to death or passing on from natural causes you suggest, to end suffering it is more merciful to shoot the person and get it over with, instead of putting the person through 1-2 minutes (your scenario) of pain before death.
By refusing food/water to starve a person to death you are forcing a person to spend days and possibly weeks before their death going through the discomfort and pain associated with starvation (well documented).
Either way the person will die, I would venture a guess most people would take 1-2 minutes of pain over days/weeks of suffering discomfort and pain.
Yeah, that privilege is reserved for God, who likes to perform it pre-birth, usually (more than half of fertilized eggs are just passed from the mother's body), but if someone slips by and is born, then He often gives him a while before stepping in and offing him. (Not always...for example, He sometimes does things like kills the firstborn.) That time is up to a 100 years or more.
Then, if you're really unlucky, He taunts you with really horrific agony and doesn't let you escape for quite some time, expecting you to consider yourself blessed to be able to experience excruciating pain.
But, of course, at times He'll order people to kill (e.g., men, women, infant, and sucklings of Amalek). Then, it's okay.
Yeah, but taking a life just isn't Christ-like.
</sarc>
Come on. Mercy is very Christ-like. Allowing suffering to continue is not Christ-like. Respecting individuals and their choices is very Christ-like. If you don't like it, then shake off the dust from your sandals and move on.
Don't worry; if you get flamed, I'll shoot you if you want.
;-)
Very well said. It is terribly tragic.
Thank you. I appreciate it. Yes it is tragic. I realize she was a model, but you know what, that’s okay. She wasn’t doing anyone any harm. She was making a living. Her boyfriend seemed loyal and described her as a good person. Others seem to agree. It’s sad to see anyone that young go, and especially when the family needed the support she would have been able to give. My heart goes out to them.
I may get flamed for my opinion but it is my honest opinion.
Don’t worry; if you get flamed, I’ll shoot you if you want.
As an act of mercy I am sure. LOL
By no means was I comparing the two situations. I was stating the fact that there different levels of crises.
The respondent made a broad statement about it being murder. I was only stating that there are “extreme” circumstances that the most gracious thing to do would be to shorten the suffering of a person who has no chance of survival.
I apologize if I was not clear. If you disagree, I respect your right to do so.
I'll say it is a tragedy even if she were a prostitute.
And you would be right. Good point.
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