This is a good debate, taken off life support: humane or murder? In my opinion I consider that someone is taken off life support is consider murder because that person should rather be hook in the machine and to repair his/her brains cells. Miracles do happen but is very rare. If I know a friend or a family member who's on life support. I'll never take them off life support and to be charge with murder. What's everybody else opinions on this topic.
-
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
There are worse things than dying. -
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
I agree. It is a difficult problem though, because we don't always know the outcome. For myself, I would most certainly prefer death than lingering on life support when there is little to no hope of recovering independent and reasonably competent function. I am then also faced with the fact that my husband spent some time ( weeks/months) in a coma when young, was technically dead for a matter of minutes, and recovered to lead a rather rich life. Which he pointedly enjoys with abandon. This has dampened my conviction on the topic to a certain degree, particularly when it comes to deciding for others. I think it is a matter of of accepting the moment when the odds are firmly against recovery, and respecting the wishes of the person at risk. A good reason to make your wishes clear to those who may have to decide.Originally posted by Tylluan Penry View PostComment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
My living will states "no extraordinary" means to prolong life. I stopped short of "do not resuscitate" because I might go down from anesthesia because I am so sensitive to it. I should have take drugs when I was younger and developed a resistance.The Dragon sees infinity and those it touches are forced to feel the reality of it.
I am his student and his partner. He is my guide and an ominous friend.Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
I, also, think that the best thing to do is make sure your wishes are clear - it is worth making a living will, just to be sure.
Not only does it ensure that your wishes are respected, it also takes the HUGE burden for a VERY difficult and traumatic decision off your family.
It is respectful all 'round.Every moment of a life is a horrible tragedy, a slapstick comedy, dark nihilism, golden illumination, or nothing at all; depending on how we write the story we tell ourselves.
Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
I whole heartedly agree. My wife, if she was still alive, could never make that choice. We have talked a lot about our wishes for "end of life" situations. We will each be buried without embalming and in shallow graves so that we can return to the earth some of what we have taken. (green burials are expensive but worth it to us)The Dragon sees infinity and those it touches are forced to feel the reality of it.
I am his student and his partner. He is my guide and an ominous friend.Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
Karen Ann Quinlan says it allI'm Only Responsible For What I Say Not For What Or How You Understand!Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
What a horrendous thing to befall a family. There are no winners in these arguments. Everybody loses...Originally posted by monsno_leedra View PostEvery moment of a life is a horrible tragedy, a slapstick comedy, dark nihilism, golden illumination, or nothing at all; depending on how we write the story we tell ourselves.
Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
Very much agree. People argue the ethics and such but it's the families that have to deal with it and live through it not those who argue about the right or wrong of it.Originally posted by B. de Corbin View PostI'm Only Responsible For What I Say Not For What Or How You Understand!Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
I, personally, would prefer that no extreme measures be taken.
That being said, I think there should be a medical standard for how long people are allowed to linger on life support. There are people that are on life support and have been for a decade or more. That's vastly excessive and a huge waste of medical funds in my opinion. I don't know what a reasonable amount of time is (if I were to rattle off a number in my head, I'd go with a year), but I'm sure the longer you're in a coma, the less likely you are to ever wake up. Taking someone off life support isn't murder because you aren't killing that person, something else has already done the damage. And we simply can't have wards full of people on life support because to take them off it would be "murder".We are what we are. Nothing more, nothing less. There is good and evil among every kind of people. It's the evil among us who rule now. -Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood
I wondered if he could ever understand that it was a blessing, not a sin, to be graced with more than one love.
It could be complicated; of course it could be complicated. And it opened one up to the possibility of more pain and loss.
Still, it was a blessing I would never relinquish. Love, genuine love, was always a cause for joy.
-Jacqueline Carey, Naamah's Curse
Service to your fellows is the root of peace.Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
"Coma" and "brain dead" are two different things.
A person is likely to come out of a coma, but unlikely to come out of "brain dead."
It's important to know the difference, if one should ever be obliged to make hard decisions.Every moment of a life is a horrible tragedy, a slapstick comedy, dark nihilism, golden illumination, or nothing at all; depending on how we write the story we tell ourselves.
Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
From what I've read, people never recover when they've been medically diagnosed as brain dead. Coma, vegetative state, and brain dead are all unique states.We are what we are. Nothing more, nothing less. There is good and evil among every kind of people. It's the evil among us who rule now. -Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood
I wondered if he could ever understand that it was a blessing, not a sin, to be graced with more than one love.
It could be complicated; of course it could be complicated. And it opened one up to the possibility of more pain and loss.
Still, it was a blessing I would never relinquish. Love, genuine love, was always a cause for joy.
-Jacqueline Carey, Naamah's Curse
Service to your fellows is the root of peace.Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
Honestly...if I lost the use of my legs, I would request that somebody kill me. I certainly don't want to be alive if my life isn't considered a life.Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
Not to argue with you, but just to put this out there where it can be examined:Originally posted by volcaniclastic View Post
I come from a generation where many thought it would be better to die before one reached the age of sellout - 30-35.
Having passed that age (by a long shot) and discovered that the idea of "death before thirty" - was a total twiddle, I'd suggest that a person not decide before an event whether the events after an event are worth experiencing, iffin' ya know what I mean...Every moment of a life is a horrible tragedy, a slapstick comedy, dark nihilism, golden illumination, or nothing at all; depending on how we write the story we tell ourselves.
Comment
-
Re: Taken Off Life Support: Humane Or Murder
Fair enough. But, coming from someone much younger than you, who has already had two knee surgeries, and had to learn how to walk again in her adult life...Originally posted by B. de Corbin View Post
I already know, that without the use of my legs, there is no life. I died, and was not reborn until I could walk again. That is no life I lived for the six months it took me to regain the use of my legs.
But I digress.Comment
Comment