Unfortunately, Mae [what's her name] and Terry Schiavo
WAITED until it was too late. Evidently, this is
becoming a hyper situation for some people. It's possible
that a Living WIll document should be made part of the wedding nuptuals...and I'm not kidding! If the marriage license is a valid document authorizing the law to grant the living spouse everything under the deceased's ownership, including power of attorney, then why not this "will" granting automatic authority to plug-pulling?
Roxinal, morphine, etc. what matters the name. Doctors
authorize hospice agents to administer these "killing"
drugs all the time. As I've said here before, my
mother was getting morphine injections (at MY OWN HANDS)
under the doctor's say-so back in 1952. She had terminal
cancer, wanted to die at home (ala Jackie Kennedy). The
doctor told me she actually died of heart failure...due to the morphine dosages. In other words, I literally killed my own mother? The practice is still going on. Am I
sorry she died sooner than later that way? No...she was at peace. Only someone who has bathed, changed, tried to feed the screaming animal that cancer's agonizing pain reduces a human to can fathom the horror of the situation. Her
84 pound body mustered extreme physical strength and became a threat to all who came near the bed. That horrible creature was NOT my mother.
And BTW, she was cremated...as per her instructions early on when she was lucid.
So sorry about the way your Mom died. My Mom died of cancer, too, and she was in a Catholic nursing home in Anchorage, AK. I never saw her suffering and I don't think the medical staff did anything to hasten her death.
I am so sorry for you and your Mom. The doctors apparently were not competent and carying. So sorry. God bless you. It must be painful to relive that nightmare.
It is different though than with Terri because although she was handicapped on March 17th, she was in good health. The next day they deliberately began starving and dehydrating her.
She died on March 31st at approx. 9:00 am est. She was deliberately starved to death and there's plenty of blame to go around.
I am sorry to hear about your mother. I think you were fortunate to be able to get help back in 1952. It is easier to get such help now - thankfully. I understand from personal experience what it is like to be able to help a close family member from the ravages of that terrible illness.
I'm so sorry that your doctor was not more clear about what killed your mother.
You were treating your mother's pain. That is a good thing. It is ethical to relieve pain, even under the most strict code of avoiding euthanasia.
The intent and action were good. There might be a side effect, as all actions with effects may have side effects. But, the fine, bright line of good ethics is maintained.
On the other hand, in the case of Terri Schiavo, there was no excuse to withhold all oral feedings. It was an unethical act, with an unethical intent. There could be an ethical reason to remove her feeding tube, but it was not ethical to carry out the medical procedure with the intent to cause her death.
Quality of life is irrelevant to the right to life. However, the right to liberty and the persuit of happiness are affected by the quality of life. They are secondary to life, but relevant.
Another way to think of end of life care is that we are said to reflect the image of God. If it is impossible for us to love Him and reflect Him because of our pain, it is better to relieve our pain than not. I have never understood any call to endure suffering when it's not necessary.
The combination of an ethical act and an ethical intent were the difference between your care for your mother and the killing of Terri Schiavo.
Your case was very sad and I am sorry she had to endure her illness, but it in no way means we are justified in killing others who we feel need to die.
It is a great disservice to sick, handicapped and weak people everywhere to promote ending life and justifying it. It creates fear in the hearts of those already suffering.
People should not have to worry that every medical person and even their own families are going to kill them rather than care for them. That is the ultimate horror on top of their sad situations.