(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Pope John Paul II said Saturday the removal of feeding tubes from people in vegetative states was immoral, and that no judgment on their quality of life could justify such "euthanasia by omission."

Fantastic. Does that mean the Vatican will be helping families pay the catastrophic medical bills of keeping a person alive, for years or decades, when there is literally no hope of recovery?

The Pope called for more money for a "cure," but there is no "cure" for massive brain damage. Small amounts of damage can repair themselves over time, amazingly enough, but if the prefrontal cortex is destroyed, there's no one home and there never will be.

Why is our culture so afraid of death? Death is part of life. Death is fore-ordained at the moment of birth. To be honest I am not afraid of being dead, I am not afraid of the thought that who I am will one day disappear into oblivion. It's the process of dying itself I'm afraid of. All that pain and panic.

Comments

[beitlamed.livejournal.com]

Maybe we should all fill out forms to state after what period of time we wish to get unplugged. This is oversimplified of course, but honestly... in so many cases, i ask myself, why should the doctors bear the weight of the decision? Why should the family?

bl

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

A person's family and friends are those who know him or her best. Every such case is unique, and the family, friends, and doctors are the ones in the best position to make the best decision.

It is a hard position to be in -- I've never faced it, but Dee told me of what it was like when her father was taken off of life support.

But, as difficult as it would be, in the absence of a loved one's explicit wishes, I would not want anyone else to step in and make that decision for me. I find that extremely problematic, ethically.

[beitlamed.livejournal.com]

Of course, no one else should take that decision. Never thought of that, really. i'd rather have more people express their wishes regarding this, because it must be hell to decide when your own child is to be taken off life support. Or, as a doctor, to take that decision and have to tell the parents.

(Well, but then, children wouldn't be able to take that decision beforehand, anyway, so... *sigh*)

bl