[TheDon]

Whatever the excuse, this is an extension of abortion. A post-birth abortion. The human was not worthy of life, was not wanted, therefore it can be terminated. It used to be that children who were born, thought they had survived the holocaust, but no more.

This child's life, and others like it, are a test for the rest of us. And in this case, our society has failed.

[dit_xi]

Please allow me to give you a "medical" perspective as I'm trained in critical care medicine. Early in my career I took care of a severely ill AIDS patient, Lonnie. Lonnie's CD4 count was nonexistent, his viral load off the chart. He had all of sorts concommitant infections, from tuberculosis to PCP pneumonia. On top of that he was an intravenous drug user who also had endocarditis. His mitral and tricuspid valves were clumped with bacterial vegetations sending septic emboli everywhere, including brain abscesses and pulmonary abscesses. Not only that, Lonnie was an alcoholic with advanced cirrhosis of the liver, esophageal varices and a rotund, distended belly because of ascites. He also had COPD from years of smoking. Lonnie had lead a hard life. He had developed all of these serious medical problems, and he was only 39 years old. I had taken care of Lonnie numerous previous times over the years until his last hospitalization. On that fateful night he came in vomitting blood, had a high fever and was in respiratory failure. He was in both septic and hypovolemic shock. He was bleeding from ruptured esophageal varices and had brain abscesses and pulmonary abscesses. We had attempted to convince Lonnie to go on hospice for years, but he refused. Lonnie and his family always wanted everything done.

Lonnie's case was that of MEDICAL FUTILITY. There was no way that Lonnie's life could have been saved that day. No heroic procedure or operation could have saved Lonnie's life that day. No amount of blood transfusion could have saved Lonnie's life that day. No amount of IV antibiotics could have saved Lonnie's life that fateful day. Lonnie was just too sick and the Lord was calling him home. His family expected a miracle, but he was Lonnie and not Lazarus. And I was certainly not...YOU KNOW WHO. Lonnie's sister was a nurse, and she demanded that many things be done. I did put Lonnie of life support in hope that his family would see the pain and suffering he was going through, but they were persistent and demanded numerous specialty consultations from Gastroenterology, Surgery, Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary Critical Care, etc...To which I did consult all of these specialists who agreed with me and shook their heads, all giving up. Despite a multi-disciplinary approach by a total of 7 physicians from different fields telling Lonnie's family that his prognosis was grim and death was certain, Lonnie's family threatened that "if everything was not done," they would "sue you all to the ground!" Everyday that Lonnie stayed in the ICU it cost the hospital $$$$$$ and of course, Lonnie had no health insurance. He had never even paid any of his previous hospital bills. Not that $$$$ should ever be the deciding factor in patient care, but when one is in a decision-making position that involves public health, one should not waste public resources on cases of futility. Lonnie's case was indeed that of medical futility. Subsequently, I assembled the hospital ethics committee, and together with the recommendations of 7 physicians, we declared Lonnie's case medical futility. By state law, the hospital allowed us to discontinue life support. We approached Lonnie's family with our decision and gave them the opportunity to find an accepting physician at another hospital that would take on his care. Naturally they couldn't find any. His family was present when I turned off the ventilator all the IV's. Lonnie died ~15 minutes later. As physicians we all took the Hippocratic Oath and of course "above all do no harm," but patients and families often do have unrealisitic expectations. Sure it's difficult to understand and accept a poor prognosis but I often find that, in such cases, denial always pervades.

[moondoggie]

In a perfect world, all babies would be born healthy and robust without defects. Unfortunately for this little baby, there was no medical cure.

Back in the 40's my cousin gave birth to a "blue baby" that didn't have a chance. Today those babies are routinely saved through emergency intervention.

Maybe someday Sun's defect will have a cure, but until then, keeping him alive on a respirator (even though his death is CERTAIN when his lungs grow too big for his chest) is not smart medically or financially, IMO.

[Old Professer]

See how easy that was? We didn't feel a thing, the hospital gets it's bed back, the family can go home and get a full night's sleep and the world keeps turning.

Maybe soon, many others can find this same relief and the bickering can stop. /sarc

[Salvation]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

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.

[TChris]

How terribly, heartwrenchingly sad.