Thank you for posting. A very strange tale, which prompts divided feelings. On the one hand, Uncle Larry pretty much brought his death upon himself. And how many people did he kill, with an active sex life over the years he had HIV but “did not have [visible] AIDS”?
On the other hand, it’s a perfect description of “the system” in most of our hospitals. We were just talking about various delays and screwups in hospital emergency rooms that we or our family and friends have been subjected to over the years. And when my mother was in a Catholic nursing home, I don’t know how many doctors and nurses I spoke with if she had to go in for a hospital visit for treatment of pneumonia or the like, who sidled up to me and asked me to sign a DNR certificate.
One doctor after another would say, in doublespeak, “You’ve got to kill your mother to put an end to her suffering (and cut back on our expenses)!”
Every case is different, but I’m afraid that sort of attitude on the part of some of the medical staffers is all too common. Then, just as in this story, I would run into, for instance, a male Phillipino nurse with a huge medal of a saint around his neck—and he would be determined to help my mother out, any way he could.
One more rant then I’m done:
People, sadly, think “abortion” when they hear pro-life, and the truth is that abortion is only a part of that picture. So many, many patients are vulnerable just as Uncle Larry in this story. Some have indeed brought their problems on themselves, others are cancer patients, mentally disabled patients, or the elderly. Please, in your prayers, remember all of these people. And pray especially for their caregivers, that they have clarity on life issues & fidelity to the Lord. Amen
I’m done now ;-) Sorry for babbling.