[bedolido]

I'm torn on this issue. I saw my father die when he was mercifully given morphine and given fluids only until he died. This was in Seattle, Washington 8 years ago. So it happens here too, just not talked about alot.

[MarMema]

Thank God your father was given fluids. Dehydration of the disabled is becoming more and more commonplace in this country right now.

For those who are dying soon and are given pain relief, I think this is appropriate medicine.

However the realities are that people like your father ( and mine earlier this year, btw) are being treated. Other people are simply being discarded because they are a burden to society and sometimes to family members.

The same view - that we are "allowing" them to die - is being used to kill people who, in many cases, have stated that they want to live, are not dying or terminal, and often are using wheelchairs to get around on their own.

You can read some of the links on my FRpage if you want to learn more. Currently in Florida, a woman disabled but responsive is probably about to be killed by having her feeding tube removed because she has a serious brain injury.
Even though she smiles, looks at and recognizes people, and her parents are willing to care for her, her husband has gone to court to have her killed.

See Terri for more about her. Her last chance for life is a hearing in just a few days. She will suffer as she dies from dehydration, it is a cruel death to impose on someone. So if you pray, please remember her in your prayers.

[cajungirl]

It has always happened here with hopeless terminal patients and decent doctors who let them go. The government getting into it and making it a matter of law and politics has changed things. Looks like making it legal is making it mandatory in some places, that is very scary. But it is a doctor patient God decision in my mind and the state ought to butt out.

[kidd]

There is no reason for a government to force a practice on a religion that finds it objectionable.

If a given government insists, then there is no law that states that Catholics have to operate hopitals.

[The Other Harry]

I'm torn on this issue. I saw my father die when he was mercifully given morphine and given fluids only until he died. This was in Seattle, Washington 8 years ago. So it happens here too, just not talked about alot.

It is not a simple issue. If someone is suffering and is terminal and actually prefers to die than to remain on life support...

I can imagine that in relation to myself. My experience with it has mostly been with pets. But I do not think it is humane to make anyone continue to suffer when they do not want to themselves.

Not an easy thing.

[nmh]

It's called "comfort care". It's not murder. You are given what you need to get by. I know ... . My grandmom is 100 and 1/2 and on "comfort care" although she is a fighter and using her walker again ... but ONLY on liquid food. Still we won't kill her. She WANTS to live. She is in and out with Altzheimers BUT the will to live is there. I understand yuor mixed emotions ... we had them to when she had pneumonia (sp) but weathered it out. It knocked her out and why she no longer walks on her own. Up until the pneumonia she walked, ate solid food etc.. We have to be very careful about this issue ... it will be EASILY abused especially when there is money to gain. Let God handle these matters ... we need to put ourselves aside till He decides ... when it's time.

[johnb838]

YEah they get real huffy when they have to treat old people. Right to die, living wills, euthanasia, it's all a bunch of crap. They love you if you're young and cute and if you're old and sick they just want you to die so they can move the bed. I hate the direction healthcare is going.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I saw my father die when he was mercifully given morphine and given fluids only until he died.

This is typical for how cancer patients are helped with pain until they die of their own accord. Euthanasia is a different story.

[wideawake]

It is one thing to give a terminal patient an appropriate level of painkillers and liquid nourishment until the inevitable occurs.

It is another thing entirely to dehydrate or starve a non-terminal patient to death or to hasten the death of a terminal patient by giving them poison or an intentional overdose.

The former is death with dignity.

The latter is murder.

[MEGoody]

Allowing someone to die (e.g. not hooked to machines or resusitated, etc.) is different from euthanasia. The former is allowing life to run its course in a respectful manner. The latter is the active taking of life.