[ravingnutter]

But Dr. Jane Orient with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, or AAPS, claims the opposite is true: "Dehydration is a cruel, painful death."

Very true...my dad, who suffered from a Parkinson's-like disease called PSP, made the conscious decision to die this way 2 years ago after his body rejected the feeding tube and the doctors said IV feeding would only prolong his death a few weeks at best. They kept him on pain medication to keep him from suffering, but it 10 days of pure agony for him and the whole family. I still have not recovered from the trauma of watching him die in that manner, we could not give him any food or water, we could only swab his mouth with a special solution. I normally stay away from these threads because I cannot bear to relive it, this just breaks my heart.

"It is unconscionable that the state ordered removal of her feeding tube in the first place – it's nothing less than state-sponsored euthanasia," maintains Orient. "She is not dependent on advanced medical interventions. Nothing is mechanically pumping her blood, or forcing oxygen into her lungs. She is simply being fed through a gastrostomy tube."

Thank goodness, someone with some brains actually speaks up...this is exactly what I told my hubby last night about this situation. A feeding tube is NOT life support, it is merely sustenance.

[DLfromthedesert]

Jane Orient, author of the book, "Your Doctor is Not In", has never been afraid to speak out about issues of medicine and morality.

Her organization was one of the main opponent of HillaryCare.

[RobbyS]

They don't call it death agony for nothing. Even under deep sedation, the patient is suffering. Whether they are at some level aware of it--we do not know.

[Terriergal]

I normally stay away from these threads because I cannot bear to relive it, this just breaks my heart.

I am so sorry for you....you must be going through h*// right now.