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To: Orgiveme
I'm lucky in that I have a large, very close family to be my advocate in the event of a serious illness or injury.

Others aren't so lucky, I surely do admit that.

What I can't wrap my brain around is providing nourishment and hydration is being touted as 'extraordinary' efforts to keep someone alive! But that hasn't anything to do with the issue of organ donation. :)

Another subject where society and ethics hasn't caught up to medical advances.

57 posted on 02/23/2005 5:20:17 PM PST by LarkNeelie (Shock 'N Awe - liberals stunned by defeat on 11/2/04)
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To: LarkNeelie

Sorry I didn't make a clearer connection between the organ donation and someone not wanting to be kept alive in a persistent vegetative state; it is that in both cases an actual decision or a supposed decision by the patient is being used as a determinant of their ultimate destiny when wielded by "disinterested" parties who actually have an agenda of their own. In both cases, someone other than the patient has been mandated to make a decision that the patient might arguably disagree with if they were more cognizant or more truly represented by their caring family. (It is arguable whether Michael Schiavo can seriously be considered in that category, and I wish the legal issue regarding Terri could more realistically include that aspect.) I see the two issues as parallel in that both are presuming or interpreting wishes of the patient without due process if contested by interested parties.


60 posted on 02/23/2005 10:54:04 PM PST by Orgiveme (Give me liberty orgiveme death!)
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