Posted on 04/14/2011 12:45:28 PM PDT by wagglebee
Simon Fitzmaurice with his wife and children
DUBLIN, April 12, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a powerful op-ed in today’s Irish Times, an Irish man with degenerative motor neurone disease (MND) has revealed how he was heavily pressured by the medical community to refuse the ventilator that is keeping him alive.
After having been admitted to intensive care for pneumonia, a common complication for paralyzed patients, Simon Fitzmaurice began receiving assisted breathing and a feeding tube. Shortly after being admitted, Fitzmaurice said, a doctor came in and told him it was rare and expensive for patients to have a ventilator at home.
According to Fitzmaurice the doctor told him, with his wife and mother present, “That it is time for me to make the hard choice. He tells me that there have only been two cases of invasive home ventilation, but in both cases the people were extremely wealthy.”
“He looks at me. ‘This is it now for you. It is time for you to make the hard choice, Simon.’ My mother and my wife are now holding each other, sobbing.”
But Fitzmaurice’s instinctive reaction was for life: “While he is looking at me, my life force, my soul, the part of me that feels like every part, is unequivocal. I want to live. It infuses my whole body to such an extent that I feel no fear in the face of this man.”
Two days after this encounter, he wrote, he and his family were informed that the home ventilator he needed was covered by Ireland’s national health insurer, the Health Services Executive (HSE), and that the home care package needed to run the machine could be covered by the HSE and his family.
Fitzmaurice recounts that was later asked by a neurologist why he wanted to live, even though he had a degenerative disease that would eventually kill him. His answer: “Love for my wife. Love for my children. My friends, my family. Love for life in general. My love is undimmed, unbowed, unbroken. I want to live. Is that wrong?”
“Motor neurone disease is a killer. But so is life,” continued Fitzmaurice. “Everybody dies. But just because you die, just because you will die at some point in the future, does that mean you should kill yourself now? For me, they were asking me to take my own life. Or to endorse euthanasia. I refused.”
Experts say that Fitzmaurice’s experience is not uncommon and that incidents like these are becoming a trend in medical practice – a trend that has become nearly universal in developed countries, especially those with nationalized, government funded health care.
“Sadly, his story is all too common,” said Alex Schadenberg, head of Canada’s Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
Schadenberg said that philosophical trends away from traditional medical ethics, combined with massive tax-funded health care systems, have given rise to a new utilitarian-based ethical paradigm in treatment decision making.
Under this paradigm, called bioethics, Schadenberg said, “value judgments and negative attitudes toward people with degenerative conditions have led to imposing death on people who are vulnerable.”
Hospital bioethics committees now routinely decide to withdraw treatment that could save lives, based on the principle of “patient autonomy” that holds it is in the patient’s “best interests” to be “allowed to die,” often by the withholding of food and water.
These decisions are increasingly being taken without the consent, and sometimes actively against the will, of the patient and his family. In some countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, the new ethical system has led to legalized euthanasia and widespread abuse of the legal “safeguards” surrounding it.
Recent studies out of Belgium have shown that 32 percent of all legal euthanasia deaths are committed without request or consent by patients or families and only 47.2 percent of all euthanasia deaths are reported. In the Netherlands, the number is 550 deaths without request or consent each year and at least 20 per cent of all euthanasia deaths unreported.
Schadenberg said, “Everyone needs to be aware, society is already imposing death on vulnerable people and if euthanasia or assisted suicide becomes legal then it will simply be done in a quicker and quiet manner.”
As for Fitzmaurice, he writes: “I do not speak for all people with motor neurone disease. I only speak for myself. Perhaps others would question whether or not to ventilate. But I believe in being given the choice, not encouraged to follow the status quo.”
“I am not a tragedy,” he said. “I neither want nor need pity. I am full of hope. The word hope and MND do not go together in this country. Hope is not about looking for a cure to a disease. Hope is a way of living. We often think we are entitled to a long and fruitful Coca-Cola life. But life is a privilege, not a right. I feel privileged to be alive. That’s hope.”
There was a time, not too long ago, when the poster below SOUNDED "reasonable" and the "reasoning" nearly destroyed Western Civilization:
![](http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm9/wagglebee/euthanasia.jpg?t=1221694000%22";)
One couldn’t envision people being so stupid again but selfish people and government control seems to never go “out of style”.
Yeah, we are the same with our cats. We had a few pass away from kidney failure, in fact, we lost one 5 years ago today, another reason to dread April 15th. He was only 5 years old, that was the real kicker. I know we’ve dealt with kidney failure before, we kept one cat alive with it for 2 and a half years, another 9 months and the 5 year old, only 3 weeks. B-( I feel to deny or take life as in this article is wrong, I know there are some issues I do lean libertarian on and yes, I’ve been taken to task for them, but this belief reinforces, in my eyes, to deny life is also to deny liberty and choice because without life, all other things are moot. Yes, we all die and yes decision must be made, but it should be with the person himself, along with his family and doctor plus add to that, there should be no pushing or cajoling and certainly not by a government or private bureaucrat. We are all promised a life and sometimes that promise is broken by circumstance, but to deny it be our actions is wrong unless there is no other way out as in the case of an abortion to save the mother’s life. Even so, those are really rare, almost all the times, there can be a workaround to save both the mother’s and child’s life.
1.) you are the socialist(s) here, not me. You want to take other people's money and use it to fund socialist enterprises. If you can't get the money through taxes, you seem perfectly willing to borrow or print more money even though that is destroying the country. You try to cloak your arguments with conservative wrapping paper, but it's still a box full of socialism inside. So, that makes y'all the socialists in this argument. I am the conservative here, not you
2.) you ignore the $1.6 trillion budget deficit and how we came to it. Your attempt to make that about aircraft carriers and subs or welfare checks or planned parenthood or euthanasia, or christian ethics is a non-sequitur, nobody here is arguing for more of any of these things.
3.) and, once again, you are the one(s) arguing for government rationed/controlled healthcare here, not me. It's the gravy train and, as I have already stated, the 1.6 trillion dollar budget deficit is going to apply the brakes to that train whether you like it or not. That's what happens when people put social agendas ahead of fiscal responsibility. Don't get mad at me though, I put fiscal responsibility way ahead of any social agendas. I am not, in any way, responsible for our financial dilemma.
What are those, that some people need to be killed to save money?
Your kind has always been that way frequently with disastrous consequences for the nation.
Spoken like a true leftist, "Please let us kill whoever we want and then all will be Utopia."
you are the socialist(s) here, not me. You want to take other people's money and use it to fund socialist enterprises.
You mean the money that people have ALREADY PAID for healthcare?
I don't care what YOU want to call yourself, but you are a statist death monger who wants the state to kill of those it deems unfit and keep their money.
you ignore the $1.6 trillion budget deficit and how we came to it.
The budget problems stem from the fact that you and your ilk conspired to MURDER an entire generation of taxpayers. Roe v. Wade interfered with economic growth in ways we are just now beginning to realize.
and, once again, you are the one(s) arguing for government rationed/controlled healthcare here, not me.
No, YOU are the one saying that a person in a government healthcare program should be left to die if the government decides that healthcare that the person has ALREADY PAID FOR is too costly.
Don't get mad at me though, I put fiscal responsibility way ahead of any social agendas.
We know you do, your type ALWAYS puts money ahead of human life.
Normally I say not to feed the trolls, but this guy/gal is a perfect foil. You have gotten more of our message out by bouncing off him/her than just writing a single essay with which we all agree.
A Mengele wannabee, who’s got the Goebbels thing down to a science. They certainly do not belong on a pro-life, pro-God, pro-family conservative website.
As I mentioned yesterday, many routine medical procedures (delivering babies, surgeries, etc.) are performed on millions of people each year and these procedures often cost far more than an in-home ventilator.
You are foolish and ignorant. Before the government “helped” with Medicare, we didn’t face these kinds of questions. Insurance was sufficient and used only for medical emergencies and hospital stays. Medicare killed the insurance industry by removing a huge chunk of payers in 1965 and rates went up. GOVERNMENT interference has preceded every “disaster” in the economy, not any actions by those who believe people have the right to life. Everytime government interferes they justify it by claiming they are helping when they are actually taking more control (Obamacare). Now they have the clueless, like you, clamoring for the deaths of the helpless in order to “control costs”. Welcome to socialism and Nazi Germany comrade.
There will never be enough money to satisfy your need for SOCIAL JUSTICE. Your brand of zealotry will bankrupt the country. How will your social agenda fare at that point I wonder.
I don't care what YOU want to call yourself, but you are a statist death monger who wants the state to kill of those it deems unfit and keep their money.
It's called triage. That's another reality that your kind chooses to ignore.
Spoken like a true leftist, "Please let us kill whoever we want and then all will be Utopia."
you're the leftists here. We have already established that. As I said, there will never be enough money to satiate your appetite for SOCIAL JUSTICE.
The budget problems stem from the fact that you and your ilk conspired to MURDER an entire generation of taxpayers. Roe v. Wade interfered with economic growth in ways we are just now beginning to realize.
Oh, so now I'm a pro-choice baby-killing leftist because I don't think tax payers should be subsidizing poor personal judgment or socialism? LOL at you. You're the leftist here arguing for SOCIAL JUSTICE through increased taxation and government controlled healthcare, not me.
No, YOU are the one saying that a person in a government healthcare program should be left to die if the government decides that healthcare that the person has ALREADY PAID FOR is too costly.
WRONG AGAIN. I want the government out of the healthcare system so that the free market can decide who gets what and how much it costs. The government has run the healthcare system into the ground by corrupting it with billions of tax payer dollars. Do you really think a CT scan would cost 20 grand if NOBODY could afford it? You are the one arguing that A.) the government should be running the healthcare system and B.) the government should be rationing healthcare. You are defending this position by ignoring yet another reality, the reality of limited resources. In your mind, there are no limits to healthcare resources or money and everybody is entitled to every possible life saving measure available no matter the expense or the futility. And I'm the one trying to create a leftist utopia? wrong. This is a typical leftist SOCIAL JUSTICE position poorly cloaked in conservative wrapping paper. Guess what, there are limits and that means RATIONING and, if the government is paying the bills, they're the ones doing the rationing. Make no mistake, that's what you're arguing for.
We know you do, your type ALWAYS puts money ahead of human life.
Like I said in the beginning, there isn't enough money to satiate your appetite for SOCIAL JUSTICE. It will never end with you. You will have bankrupted the country. Congrats.
One more time: FR's God-given Life & Liberty constitutional conservative activism agenda!!
One more time:
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc.
What do you believe that means?
How horrible.
Protection of life is more than "social justice," it is the REASON the United States exists.
Your brand of zealotry will bankrupt the country.
Leftists love to brand anyone who doesn't adhere to their deadly agenda a "zealot."
It's called triage. That's another reality that your kind chooses to ignore.
Triage is where medical RESOURCES are rationed based upon availability and severity of the patient's condition -- it has NOTHING to do with money.
What you are talking about is a DEATH PANEL, that's what YOU want.
you're the leftists here. We have already established that. As I said, there will never be enough money to satiate your appetite for SOCIAL JUSTICE.
The only thing that you have established is that you want death panels and worship money.
Oh, so now I'm a pro-choice baby-killing leftist because I don't think tax payers should be subsidizing poor personal judgment or socialism?
I was speculating, death panel supporters are almost always pro-abortion.
Like I said in the beginning, there isn't enough money to satiate your appetite for SOCIAL JUSTICE. It will never end with you.
You are too dense to realize that the right to life is far more than a social justice issue.
I know what pro-life means, it is you who seems to have a problem with the definition.
you are wrong on every account. I have already made that abundantly clear. So I think we’re done here. have a great day.
Quote from one of my posts something that you disagree with and explain why.
Who dares compare Rudy Giuliani to Ronald Reagan?
To: Prost1A true story that will happen in America in the not too distant future if people Like Rudy Giuliani and the liberals get their way.Setting: the state operated federal human reproductive rights birthing clinic in a central California town.
Please sit down Mrs. Robinson, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. It seems that even though your pregnancy has been normal all these months, your chil.., er, the fetus has developed a problem. We've run a series of genetic tests and unfortunately, they reveal that your fetus has a genetic defect. A mutation has occurred which alters the genetic structure of your fetus and creates a condition called muscular dystrophy. This is an incurable, untreatable disease that makes it impossible for your baby's muscles to develop normally. Your child will be severely handicapped from birth. I'm sorry.
Sobbing, but the pictures and videos you showed us... our son looked normal and so beautiful. His face and eyes and nose and little mouth and ears and his little toes and fingers. He looks so normal and perfect. He looks just like his grandfather and we love him so much. Sobbing.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Robinson, There's nothing we can do. Boys with this disease rarely are able to walk or function normally. They usually die at a very young age. They'll sometimes live to twelve or thirteen and with rare exceptions they'll live a little longer. Rarely do they reach adulthood.
Sobbing, but isn't there anything you can do for my poor baby?
I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do.
Can you refer me to another doctor so we can get a second opinion?
I'm sorry, but federal law does not allow that.
Well, can we pay for a private doctor to help us?
I'm sorry, but federal law does not allow that.
Sobbing, but what will we do?
Well, since your baby can never lead a normal life and will never be a productive member of society, the law requires us to terminate your pregnancy immediately.
Sobbing, but sir... isn't there any other way? Can we appeal to someone higher up?
I'm sorry, your case was reviewed by the birthing board last week, and it was decided that your pregnancy should be terminated immediately... and that's why we called you in today.
Sobbing, but what about my husband? He doesn't even know...
I'm sorry, but federal law does not require spousal notification.
Sobbing, but... but... I'm seven months along. You can't do an abortion.
Don't worry, Mrs. Robinson, we have a safe and painless procedure that we perform hundreds of times per month in cases like yours where the defective fetus must be removed in a late term pregnancy.
Sobbing, what do you mean?
First, we position the fetus so that it will deliver feet first, then we deliver the fetus up to its head. Then the birthing technician inserts an instrument and removes all tissue and matter from inside the defective fetus' skull. The skull is collapsed and extracted and it's all over. Very simple, quick and painless. We'll have you back on your feet in no time.
Sobbing, I want to go home and talk to my husband.
I'm sorry, but federal law does not allow that.
Sobbing.
Ok, Mrs. Robinson it's time to go to the birthing room.
Sobbing, but, sir, I want to call my Pastor and have him pray for us first.
I'm sorry, but federal law does not allow that. We cannot recognize mythical beings on government property, nor may we allow religious cult practices or ceremonies. Prayer is definitely not allowed on public property.
Sobbing, but, but my God... please Jesus...
Interrupting, I'm sorry, Mrs. Robinson, but we must go to the birthing room...
Sobbing, but what about after? Can our Pastor pick up the remains of our beautiful baby boy so we can have a Christian burial?
I'm sorry, but federal law does not allow that. We cannot allow religious ceremonies or cult practices on public property. Besides, we use all tissues and organs from terminated pregnancies. The stem cells are used in research. Your fetus' defective cell system may help us discover cures for MD and many other diseases. If any of his organs are good, they will be frozen and saved for later transplanting into children whose parents can afford such luxuries. Any remaining or unused tissues or body parts will be incinerated in our facility.
Hysterical sobbing, Dear Lord, Jesus please deliver us from such evil... The Lord is my Shepard... I shall not want..
Interrupting, please Mrs. Robinson, we really must go. The birthing technicians waiting...
For your reading enjoyment:
"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our selection between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat in our drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labors and in our amusements, for our callings and our creeds...our people.. must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, give earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; and the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live.. We have not time to think, no means of calling the mis-managers to account, but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow suffers. Our landholders, too...retaining indeed the title and stewardship of estates called theirs, but held really in trust for the treasury, must...be contented with penury, obscurity and exile.. private fortunes are destroyed by public as well as by private extravagance.
This is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of society is reduced to mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering... And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression." Thomas Jefferson
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves." William Pitt in the House of Commons November 18, 1783
This from the deathbot who wrote:
I put fiscal responsibility way ahead of any social agendas.Give it up troll, you're embarrassing yourself.
And RC one is running for the hills!
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