Comatose girl breathing without ventilator, more tests planned

Associated Press ^ | January 20, 2006 | Associated Press

[rimtop56]

When I said "Everyone should be given food and water," I wasn't expressing a political opinion, i.e., that we should all go on welfare! I meant that even if a person is sick or helpless, we should not deny them food and water.

[robertpaulsen]

"I meant that even if a person is sick or helpless, we should not deny them food and water."

"We" meaning the state or "we" meaning private charities?

If the state is going to be using taxpayer monies to provide food and water (and other palliative 24-hour round-the-clock care like physical therapy, basic hygiene, medicines, medical treatment, a hospital bed, etc.) shouldn't the state determine if the money couldn't be better spent on a patient who is not brain damaged or brain dead? (Assuming the patient wants to be kept alive in that condition.)

[murphyb]

Prayers for this little girl.

[GreenHornet]

Haleigh is in my prayers today.

[Txsleuth]

Prayers up from TEXAS...I have been following this story...and my heart breaks for this poor girl...

Dear God, please give this precious one a second chance to have the life she deserves..

sleuth

[Angus MacGregor]

*-+-D-idn't the article say the adoptive mother is dead in a murder /suicide ?So only the stepfather has any interest in keeping her alive....probably the attack had some sordid motive and the adoptive mother was part of that,too. I don't have much use for the wishes of the biological mother who first gave up the child and then gave up on the child.

The adoptive mother (the child's biological aunt) killed her mother(the girls grandmother) than herself after she was charged with the beatings along with her husband.

The biological mother lost custody when her live in boyfriend sexually molested the little girl.

The aunt/adoptive mother, along with her husband would beat her and then blame the bruises and injuries on Hayleh saying the she was self injuring herself because of the sexual molestation.

Sick.

[PastorBooks]

Lord, heal her.

[fella]

Children have miraculous abilities to recover from severe medical conditions. I pray for her.

[fella]

You talk as if the State were something different than the people. I find it hard to believe that the people of even Massachusetts are so reptilianly cold blooded as to wish for the death of this child. The State represents the peoples will, when it goes against them it no longer represents them.

[robertpaulsen]

Ah. So when the State pulled her breathing tube, that was OK with you since the State represented the peoples will. You were in favor of that.

[Palladin]

A big AMEN! to your prayer for Haleigh.

[Doe Eyes]

I would hardly regard God's failure to intercede as evidence of his agreement with the outcome.

If God wants her to live, she lives.

[rimtop56]

Robert, I'm all for small government and limited spending, but if we as a nation or a people think we can't afford to give some helplessly disabled person food and water (and yes, a modest bed somewhere and a little care if they have no means), then our poverty is not in our pocketbook but in our soul.

[robertpaulsen]

"but if we as a nation or a people think we can't afford to give some helplessly disabled person"

Give to some or to all?

If you are willing to turn the care over to the state, then don't be surprised when the state makes the life and death decisions for those under their care. That's the point of the article.

[rimtop56]

You seemed to be making the argument that we should starve/dehydrate people who couldn't pay up. That's all I was responding to. Was my conclusion wrong? I hope so.

Regards