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Dying boy, 15, gets wish: losing virginity
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 12/23/01 | BY BENJAMIN ERRETT

Posted on 12/23/2001 6:26:24 AM PST by Mopp4

A terminally ill boy had his dying wish granted in Australia this month, but ethicists are still at odds over whether it was the right thing to do.
The wish was not for a trip to Disneyland or to meet a famous sports star. Instead, the 15-year-old wanted to lose his virginity before he died of cancer. The boy, who remains anonymous but was called Jack by the Australian media, did not want his parents to know about his request. Because of his many years spent in the hospital, he had no girlfriend or female friends.
Jack died last week, but not before having his last wish granted. Without the knowledge of his parents or hospital staff, friends arranged an encounter with a prostitute outside of hospital premises. All precautions were taken, and the organizers made sure the act was fully consensual. The issue has sparked fierce debate over the legal and ethical implications of granting the boy's request. By law, Jack was still a child, and the woman involved could in theory face charges for having sex with a minor. The debate was sparked by the hospital's child psychologist, who wrote a letter to "Life Matters," a radio show in which academics debate ethical and moral dilemmas. The scenario was presented in the abstract, with no details about the boy's identity.

"He had been sick for quite a long period, and his schooling was very disrupted, so he hadn't had many opportunities to acquire and retain friends, and his access to young women was pretty poor," the psychologist said recently in an interview with Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper. "But he was very interested in young women and was experiencing that surge of testosterone that teenage boys have." Hospital staff initially wanted to pool donations to pay for a prostitute, but the ethical and legal implications prevented them from doing so. The psychologist presented members of the clergy with the dilemma and found no clear answer. "It really polarized them," he said. "About half said, 'What's your problem?' And the other half said [it] demeans women and reduces the sexual act to being just a physical one."

Dr. Stephen Leeder, dean of medicine at the University of Sydney and a "Life Matters" panelist, said the issue was a difficult one. "I pointed out that public hospitals operated under the expectation that they would abide by state law," he said. "While various things doubtless are done that are at the edge of that, it's important the public has confidence that the law will be followed." Jack's psychologist, who works with children in palliative care, said the desire was driven in part by a need for basic human contact. "In a child dying over a long period of time, there is often a condition we call 'skin hunger,'" he said. The terminally ill child yearns for non-clinical contact because "mostly when people touch them, it's to do something unpleasant, something that might hurt." Leeder called the diagnosis "improbable." Judy Lumby, the show's other panelist and the executive director of the New South Wales College of Nursing, argued that the details as presented made it abundantly clear the boy's wish ought to be granted. "I said that I would try my darndest as a nurse to do whatever I could to make sure his wish came true," she said. "I just think we are so archaic in the way we treat people in institutions. Certainly, if any of my three daughters were dying, I'd do whatever I could, and I'm sure that you would, too." National Post


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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
Lighten up. Poor kid. When I was 16 it seemed like the most important thing in the world. Why would this kid feel any different. I am more concerned with this kid dying of cancer whithout any friends. Looks like some close to him did what they could to ease his passing.
21 posted on 12/23/2001 6:57:35 AM PST by Newbomb Turk
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
So not having "walked a mile in his shoes", I give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he made a right request.

My thoughts exactly.
Well said!

22 posted on 12/23/2001 6:58:29 AM PST by ashrad
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To: Mopp4
Everyone's answer to the first question regarding what one wants in a one on one personal relationship -- What do I want with you? -- is probably ... "I want to love you."
23 posted on 12/23/2001 6:58:33 AM PST by thinktwice
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To: Mopp4
I read about how some of those ever-progressive Dutch wanted state-paid hookers to service people in long hospital stays! I hope they intened to do more than draw a curtain between the roomates! (insert George Costanza image here)

Seriously, though. Long term patients ought'a at least be allowed to socialize with each other, w/ maybe a little privacy. If the kid just had another female patient friend who paid some attention to him, it would be a non-issue.

24 posted on 12/23/2001 7:00:34 AM PST by pollwatcher
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
Notice also that his "instincts" told him NOT to tell his parents, nor hospital administrators ...... Another case of "morality" and "good conscious" coming from instincts deep in our souls.

Maybe so! He obviously knew that his parents et al would NOT approve.

For all the people that want to blame his parents for what he did behind their backs.... as teens what exactly did they do behind their parents back ?

There are so many things naive parents DON'T know about their kids..unbelievable. From PTA parents, to Pastor parents..they are naive. LOL Quite comical really.

25 posted on 12/23/2001 7:01:15 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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To: DWSUWF
So you are one of those types who blame parents for the sins of their children? Do you have kids? What do you think of those families where one child out of 3 or 5 becomes the black sheep? Do you blame the parents? Just curious..
26 posted on 12/23/2001 7:08:09 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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To: Mopp4
I don't understand some of the comments here. Does the bible say somewhere that sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin? What's this "he's going to Hell" stuff?
27 posted on 12/23/2001 7:08:32 AM PST by John Jorsett
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: Mopp4
The boy is merely reflecting one of the four highest democratic "virtues" e.g. eating, drinking, copulating and snoring. These "Good Things" are what he has seen and heard all of his young life.
29 posted on 12/23/2001 7:18:42 AM PST by HENRYADAMS
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To: John Jorsett
Fornication is a serious violation of the 6th Commandment, particularly if it occurs with a prostitute. One scriptural reference can be found at 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.
30 posted on 12/23/2001 7:21:05 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: John Jorsett
Does the bible say somewhere that sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin? What's this "he's going to Hell" stuff?

There is only one reason a person will go to hell if they die. That is not accepting the gift of salvation while one is still alive.

31 posted on 12/23/2001 7:21:32 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Yeah, but afterward you can repent and accept Jesus and it just goes away. Cool!
32 posted on 12/23/2001 7:23:37 AM PST by cocknlock
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To: Mopp4
Who paid the prostitute I wonder?
33 posted on 12/23/2001 7:25:02 AM PST by thathamiltonwoman
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
And another thing, Jesus said that thinkin it is as bad as doin it, so.............what's the big deal about actually having done it?
34 posted on 12/23/2001 7:27:33 AM PST by cocknlock
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To: Mopp4
doinked? Is that a new name?
36 posted on 12/23/2001 7:28:05 AM PST by JIM O
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To: Mopp4
"Is this reflective of the way young people view life today?"

Yes.

...if you're an optimist.

37 posted on 12/23/2001 7:30:12 AM PST by Landru
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To: Mopp4
Is this reflective of the way young people view life today? I don't care that I will be missing out on the chance to lead a full life, just let me have sex before I go?

Short answer: Yes.

I hope to be able to elaborate later. I am getting ready for church now.

38 posted on 12/23/2001 7:31:33 AM PST by L.N. Smithee
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To: thathamiltonwoman
Who paid the prostitute I wonder?

Maybe it was "pro bono". That's what the other whores call it when they do it for free.

39 posted on 12/23/2001 7:33:33 AM PST by Doctor Raoul
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To: Mopp4
It must have been a very long time since you were 15 year old boy, or you're a girl. This is what I call compassion.
40 posted on 12/23/2001 7:35:27 AM PST by DaGman
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