Here’s the case for not pulling the plug, doctor

London Times ^ | 11/29/09 | Dominic Lawson

[wagglebee]

It is remarkable how frequently we underestimate the most powerful force in the known universe: a mother’s love. The story of Rom Houben is further proof, if proof were needed. Houben spent 23 years in what doctors regarded as an irreversibly vegetative state after a car crash at the age of 20. His mother, Fina Nicolaes, a nurse, was at all times convinced that her only son was sentient — alive, in the fullest sense of the word. Yet all the experts involved in Houben’s care declared her son was simply a breathing cadaver. Nicolaes even took Houben to the United States, but there, too, she was told he was completely unresponsive.

In the end it was a specialist in their native Belgium, Steven Laureys of the coma science group at Liège University, who through a technique known as a tomography brain scan determined that Houben’s cerebrum was functioning normally.

Thus encouraged, Laureys found Houben had some marginal movement in his right leg and by training that to push a button for “yes” and “no” re-established his patient’s communication with the rest of the world. That was three years ago: now, after extraordinary efforts, Houben is able to use his right index finger to communicate via an electronic keyboard. When he was visited by Der Spiegel, which broke the story last week, the first journalist to see him asked the obvious question: “How did you survive for those 23 years, Mr Houben?” On the monitor the reply flashed up: “I meditated. I dreamt that I was somewhere else. And please call me Rom.”

[wagglebee]

Let’s be clear: Gill-Thwaites is saying that sentient humans are being deliberately starved to death by court order because of persistent misdiagnosis and a crudely utilitarian approach. That’s the real horror story.

Yes it is!

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[Winged Hussar]

General Petraeus’ approach also works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV2r42l6sQo

[yoe]

Mail this article to family and friends, keeping one for yourself....here is the address to file.

Coma Science Group Coma Science Group Cyclotron Research Center & Neurology Dept University of Liège Allée du 6 août n° 8. Sart Tilman B30 - 4031 Liège - Belgium ... Email: steven.laureys@ulg.ac.be. How to get to the Cyclotron Research Center (follow parking N°45 & 46) ... The Neurology of Consciousness, Laureys S and Tononi G (Eds), ... www.coma.ulg.ac.be/ - Cached - Similar

Another little known medical group and their milestones in better medicine.

[AliVeritas]

Wags, i’m so glad you wrote on this; I’ve been telling everybody about it.

[wagglebee]

Thanks AV.

[jesseam]

We need General Petraeus in the White House rather than the limpwristed left wing radical that we have now. God Help Us!!

[org.whodat]

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/coma_man_dr_steven_laureys_just_doesnt_g.php

[kralcmot]

Terri Schiavo The Terri Schiavo case (pronounced /ˈʃaɪvoʊ/) was a successful seven-year long legal effort by Michael Schiavo to have his wife, Terri Schiavo — diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) for several years — disconnected from life support. As early as 1993, Michael, as Terri's guardian, had entered a do not resuscitate order for her but was convinced by the nursing home staff to have it rescinded; in 1998 he petitioned the Sixth Circuit Court of Florida (Pinellas County) to remove her feeding tube under Florida Statutes Section 765.401(3).[2] He was opposed by Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, who argued that Terri was conscious. Michael later transferred his authority over the matter to the court, which determined that Terri would not wish to continue life-prolonging measures.[3] On April 24, 2001 Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for the first time and then later reinserted several days later as legal decisions were made; increasing media attention led to involvement by politicians and advocacy groups, particularly those involved in the pro-life movement and disability rights, including members of the Florida Legislature, the United States Congress, and the President of the United States.[4] In March 2005 President Bush returned to Washington D.C. from a vacation to sign legislation designed to keep Schiavo alive, making the case a major national news story throughout that month. In all, the Schiavo case involved 14 appeals and numerous motions, petitions, and hearings in the Florida courts; five suits in federal district court; Florida legislation struck down by the Supreme Court of Florida; a subpoena by a congressional committee to qualify Schiavo for witness protection; federal legislation (the Palm Sunday Compromise); and four denials of certiorari from the Supreme Court of the United States.[5] The local court's decision to disconnect Schiavo from life support was carried out on March 18, 2005, and Schiavo died at a Pinellas Park hospice on March 31. from Wikipedia....take that for what its worth...close to 0

[wagglebee]

Terri WAS NOT on “life support”, she was murdered by forced dehydration and starvation. Water and food DO NOT constitute “life support”, they are basic necessities of life.

[HiTech RedNeck]

One would THINK there would be a medical protocol recognized over widespread regions of the world to diagnose this kind of almost-locked-in syndrome.

[wagglebee]

One would THINK there would be a medical protocol recognized over widespread regions of the world to diagnose this kind of almost-locked-in syndrome.

I don't think they want to diagnose this, they want to diagnose PVS and kill the patient.

[PurVirgo]

I *hate* to be skeptical about what seems to be a story of hope and a strike against euthanasia, but "Facilitated Communication" (FC) is looked down upon in the fields of both medicine and psychology.

Visit this link to read about a case in Michigan where 2 parents, accused of sexually abusing their autistic daughter, suffered the humiliation of "testimony" using FC. Thankfully, the charges were ultimately dropped. But not after the girl and her brother were placed in separate foster homes, the mother placed on house arrest, and the father was jailed.

Of course it's natural and definitely good to keep hope alive, and I'm very happy that Rom's mother has been by his side for the 23 years he's been in this unfortunate condition, whatever it is.

But for a "therapist" to fabricate a response from these kinds of patients is at best, giving the family false hope like in Rom's case, and at its very worst, completely selfish and destructive.

I honestly don't know where I even stand on this issue. To remove life support and wait out the inevitable is so very wrong, and to administer a fatal dose of something is undeniably, murder. And while there is no price, no dollar amount that can be placed on life itself, the psychological and financial burden of keeping someone "alive" has to be immense. Technological advances in the medical field have come a long way, and we have to ability to sustain life where without, death would surely occur. At what point does this become "playing God" as well?

[wagglebee]

And while there is no price, no dollar amount that can be placed on life itself, the psychological and financial burden of keeping someone "alive" has to be immense. Technological advances in the medical field have come a long way, and we have to ability to sustain life where without, death would surely occur. At what point does this become "playing God" as well?

Providing hydration and nutrition IS NOT "playing God", it is doing EXACTLY what God told us to do (read Matthew 25: 31-46). Additionally, the annual cost of a feeding tube is quite low in terms of medical expenses.

[goodnesswins]

Another reason NOT to sign a DONOR card!!!

[ntnychik]

Unfortunately, since Terri’s case, water and food ARE considered artificial life support. During my father’s end stage illness, we learned his doctor had entered a Do Not Resuscitate order, despite my father’s consciously expressed wishes. We got a lawyer—twice—to make sure Dad’s wishes were followed. The standard forms had food and hydration listed under extreme measures. The doctors and nurses were quite devious about trying to persuade Dad to choose death.

[Salvation]

**Here’s the case for not pulling the plug, doctor**

My case for not pulling the pluf — Why commit murder and go to hell?