Posted on 03/19/2005 7:19:45 PM PST by ambrose
ping.
I have my flame-proof suit on, so I'll start. How many resources should be spent on palliative therapy? And at what age? Children who have yet to live their lives but have no chance to? Oldsters who are ready to check out at 80+?
Who could be saved in the meantime using those resources?
The Gubment should pay, and if the patient doesn't want the treatment? Too bad.
Nice try.
Except Terri is not on "life support", she is merely getting food and water, AND her parents WANT to take her home and care for her themselves.
I think whether or not she is in PVS shouldn't even be the issue, it should be whether her husband, who has been living with another woman and has two children by her, and clearly has a conflict of interest with Terri's being kept alive, should be allowed to make life and death decisions for Terri.
I went through the whole heroic procedures with my grandma about 12 years ago. I am on the pull the plug on this side of the arguement.
Health insurance should be like car insurance. Everyone SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT. If you don't have it, then the government should bill you for it.
Brain death means you are not coming back. I don't care how many millions of prayers are offered.
Like my foolish Christer aunt offering up prayers for her autistic grandson. It isn't going to change anything. !7 years ought to learn her.
Autism isn't brain dead. And Autistic children with a VERY EXPENISVE therapy can go on to live normal lives. I think the govt should cut spending for Aids and help these families with autistic children.
Then I think the government SHOULD bill it for YOU.
She is NOT brain dead.
People who are brain dead are totally on life support, Terri isn't.
People who are brain dead don't look up and follow balloons with their eyes, like Terri.
And as I said several times already, I think whether or not she is in PVS shouldn't even be the issue, it should be whether her husband, who has been living with another woman and has two children by her, and clearly has a conflict of interest with Terri's being kept alive, should be allowed to make life and death decisions for Terri. Especially, when Terri's parents are willing to assume all responsibility for her and care for her, whatever her condition is.
"Like my foolish Christer aunt offering up prayers for her autistic grandson. It isn't going to change anything. !7 years ought to learn her."
I answer with a phrase often seen in the Bible. "Is anything too hard for God?" Who is the bigger fool, your aunt or you? It is not wise to mock those that pray.
In fact, if this poor family wanted to pay privately for this expensive care, the hospital would be constrained from taking their money.
This is the bastardized 'insurance' we are all entitled to, and this is the kind of 'care' we are thus sentenced to.
I actually think this family has a fair shot at compelling this hospital to continue to provide care for this poor fellow. If they do, and if only a small number of families and patients took a similar tack, under current Medicare payment rules, the hospital industry could be bankrupted in a very short time.
I'm not for Universal healthcare.
That's the problem, does anyone have a solution? Where is all this money going?
Mechanical ventilation and dialysis? What kind of a life is that?
"Like my foolish Christer aunt offering up prayers for her autistic grandson"
Christians pray.
So do many others, who are not Christian.
Myself included.
If you don't think prayer is powerfull, you are ignorant on the entire subject of spirituallity. And of the very nature of humankind.
BTW-your Aunt might very well actually be a fool, I don't have any possible way to judge the truth of your statement.
But you OTOH, are publically proving your crass stupidity, which goes well beyond simple crudeness, by calling her a "foolish Christer" for praying for her family.
She would probably just try to forgive you, and pray for your soul if she happened on your post.Now you might not like that, or approve, but you might want to hope she says a few prayers on your behalf.
Because I just sent up a quick "prayer" that you be taught a lesson on the power of prayer.
She shoots. She Scores!
(Will she rip off her shirt???)
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