(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

[lady-dindraine.livejournal.com]

Thank You!! Whew!!
*lady wipes her brow*

What can we do though, to support a more equitable sharing? This is something I have pondered. Writing congressman. We wrote about my parents. 6000 dollars quarterly for there medical insurance. That does not include deductables.

It really sucks the way that works. Even now, with medical benefits, it is still way too expensive.

As far as decisions. I would wonder really if all families could make the right decision? Stay and take care of this sick person. Or let them die, and move on. Sometimes we humans take the easier route. Rather then the right route.

I was lucky, I could leave my job and move. Then to have the time to care for her. Or be willing to deal with it all. Gosh it would have been easy to close my eyes and turn away. Alzheimers is frightening.

Without the extra time, alot of issues would have never been resolved. It is sad to say, but as a family, we didn't like her much. My father was very abusive when I was small. He learned this from her treatment of him. She never thought much of him or us. He was her only child though.

The chain is there. Because she was ill, she actually gave us all a chance. For resolution, and forgiveness. Could I write? She somewhat created this nightmare-the abuse, then gave us the opportunity to repair it. Even understand her better. She had a hard life.

We may have chosen. Euthanasia, and missed this opportunity. Because of the earlier bad feelings.

Lastly, the ideal of being forced. To care for someone. Our relative. This seems sad. That we should feel forced to do anything for anyone. My Great aunt Isabelle died last year. Due to her sizable estate, they are fighting over it. One woman actually applied for 130,000$ by giving a list of her gas expensives from taking her shopping or getting her hair cut. These are things we should do for someone because we love them, not because we expect a share after they die.

Taking care of each other should come naturally? Why should there be the issue. For society in general.

One thing I learned from my grandmother and my great aunt. They really took care of themselves. They accumulated enough for security. Even in there older years. This is wise, for growing up in there time. The men passed on early. They lived long lives, and took care~~

Thank You!!!

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

As far as decisions. I would wonder really if all families could make the right decision? Stay and take care of this sick person. Or let them die, and move on. Sometimes we humans take the easier route. Rather then the right route.

I don't really have a good answer for this. It is a dilemma, certainly. But I think that on the whole it is perhaps better to trust in human nature, and allow people to have the opportunity to do the right thing.

Some of the people on my friends list have good reason to doubt that their families would act in their best interest if they are in this situation. I honestly don't know what to say to that, except that I fear that it is perhaps a worse evil for an authority to make a statement that removes any possible options from consideration.

[lady-dindraine.livejournal.com]

Thank You for this enlightening conversation. In the end i guess I would agree.

I always enjoy Your touch with reality~~

Peace and light~~