Posted on 04/22/2005 9:16:05 PM PDT by paltz
I very much agree with you.
This from blogforterri.com
April 28, 2005
Will Judge Decree Death for Teron? An Urgent Appeal
The New York Daily News reports today:
The family of a brain-dead [sic] Bronx boy said last night it has made the agonizing decision to officially end his life today.
Teron Francis, 13, is expected to be removed from a ventilator at Montefiore Medical Center's Children's Hospital after a noon court hearing to lift an injunction that has kept him on the machine, a judge in the case said.
"The family conveyed to me that they would like me to lift the injunction," Bronx Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon said after meeting with the family at Montefiore for 5-1/2 hours last night.
CURE has faxed the following appeal to Judge Douglas McKeon, that is, we have faxed it to the Bronx Supreme Court (718-590-4520). Repeated calls made to Judge McKeon's office (718-590-3748) requesting his direct fax in order to send him this critical information resulted in his staffer repeatedly hanging up after saying, "No one to help you here." It was acknowledged that Judge McKeon was in the building. Thus the Culture of Death again prevents the truth from reaching those in a position to stop the killing!
Read and act on CURE's appeal, which follows, by calling Judge Douglas McKeon's office at 718-590-3748.
URGENT: RE Teron Francis—Please Deliver to Judge McKeon
Prior To Today’s Hearing!!!
April 28, 2005
The Honorable Douglas McKeon
Bronx Supreme Court
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Your Honor:
First, a belated but heartfelt note of appreciation for your ruling that has thus far prevented Montefiore Hospital from removing Teron Francis ventilatory assistance, thus causing his death. The respect you accorded him by visiting him in the hospital and the compassion you have shown his family are deeply appreciated as well.
The enclosed information was faxed to the offices of attorney Robert Genis on April 23 because they have direct bearing on Teron’s medical status and could have led to the presentation of pertinent evidence in the hearing you conducted on Monday. I implore you to review them before ruling on any request to vacate your order.
The simple truth is that Teron Francis is alive and that after his ventilator has been removed he will be dead because death has been imposed on him. This tragedy is compounded by the irony that the loving family who understood that Teron is alive and had vowed to stand by him until his heart stopped will have consented to his being killed.
You had indicated that you felt towards Teron as a son. I have a son of my own, Thomas, who is 15, just a couple of years older than Teron. If he were to be murdered, it would break my heart, but if it were by my hand that his death was decreed, I would be inconsolable.
May God bless you for your consideration of our urgent appeal and grant you the wisdom and courage to defend his sacred gift of life.
Yours for Life,
Earl E. Appleby, Jr.
Director, CURE
Ping to #262
Ping to #262
Teron's heart stopped beating at 5:05 p.m.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/304405p-260510c.html
PLEASE pray for him and the family.
Yeesh... we needed this like a hole in the head.
These types of postings are classic of american misconceptions of modern medicine and ethics. Brain death studies are an intelligent and objective way of assessing a persons viability. They are typically done in a time appropriate manner and discussed thoroughly with the family. Only a self-entitled and selfish person would interpret a brain death study as an attack on a life. As for organ donation, harvesting is a very appropriate way to refer to these procedures, if we call it anything else I don't believe it will change what it is. I also dont think it necessary for you to mention donating your sisters corneas. Organ donation is a wonderful privelage that i have very personal experince with, and i think it is abusive for you to use it to try and win an argument. When my time comes I will give ALL of my organs and I don't expect any special treatment or recognition for it. I seriously doubt that the family of this brain dead boy even considered organ donation. I dont think it was on thier lawyers agenda.
Really? And what "ethics" might that be? Those of hospitals/hospices choosing to "Play God" based on a "Committee's" recomendation/decision? EVEN if a person has a living will which states they DO NOT want to be kept from being PROVIDED WITH NUTRITION?
Furthermore, I am going to assume that you are some sort of "authority" and have an education/background in medicine?
Brain death studies are an intelligent and objective way of assessing a person’s viability.
Ah yes, "intelligent and objective." Probably to the same degree which was applied in the Terri Schiavo case, no doubt?
They are typically done in a time appropriate manner and discussed thoroughly with the family.
You don’t say? I guess you did NOT take the time to read the accompanying article I referenced which showed that ONLY 10 of the 50 states will HONOR a person's directive--IF THEY (HOSPITALS) CHOOSE NOT TO regardless of that person's, or the family's desires?
Only a self-entitled and selfish person would interpret a brain death study as an attack on a life.
"SELF-ENTITLED?" Now that one threw me. In fact--as I only have a Masters Degree (albeit in a pedantic discipline such as "business") and I am guessing that someone as erudite and facile with the English language such as yourself is probably more advanced than I--it fell upon me to necessitate a search and guess what? The Cambridge, American Heritage and Oxford English Dictionaries ALL came up NADA! (That's nothing, by the way) NO SUCH WORD!!!
Guess that "term" must be the result of yet another "intelligent" foundation advanced by someone who professes to be well informed?
As for organ donation, harvesting is a very appropriate way to refer to these procedures, if we call it anything else I don't believe it will change what it is.
I disagree. “Harvesting” is a crude and debasing expression for a very special contribution/gift which someone has considered and further evinces a callous indifference to life we have all become so accustomed to—“Hey he/she is ‘brain dead.’ Lets start ‘harvesting’ them ‘body parts’.” How about “remove,” which is the proper medical terminology!
I also don’t think it necessary for you to mention donating your sisters corneas.
Yes it was, as I wanted to make a point that I was NOT opposed to the practice of organ donation.
Organ donation is a wonderful privelage that i have very personal experince with, and i think it is abusive for you to use it to try and win an argument.
Well I am happy for you that you obviously have benefited from someone else’s generosity. However, I take umbrage with your categorizing my referring to this procedure as “abusive” and was NOT trying to use it to win an argument.
When my time comes I will give ALL of my organs and I don't expect any special treatment or recognition for it.
Bully for you! I doubt when you have departed, you will even notice, unless you believe in a higher being (dare I say GOD) and could possibly have some way of being “aware” of the good your generosity has accomplished, from “somewhere else?”
I seriously doubt that the family of this brain dead boy even considered organ donation. I dont think it was on thier lawyers agenda.
No they didn’t because (I guess you missed ALL the points or did NOT read anything) they were NOT given the opportunity to do so. The attendants simply told the mother that her son was “brain dead” and they were only keeping him on life support in order to keep the vital organs functioning until they could be removed—oops, sorry, “Harvested.”
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