What Would I Want Done?

[Crabtownboy]

In another thread the name of Terry Schiavo has been included in several replies. This made me wonder about others on the BB.

If you were in the condition of Terry Schiavo would you want them to keep you alive or pull the plug.

I have left specific instructions that no heroic measures be take to prolong my life in such a case. Keep me as comfortable as they can and let me go to be with the Lord ... quickly I hope.

 

[annsni]

Since Terry was not on life support other than nutrition and hydration, she is not a typical example. She was murdered.

We've dealt with this numerous times as a pastor's family. One young man came in after a skateboarding accident and his brain was completely non-functional. It actually had turned in his skull. However, his brain stem was still working so his heart was still beating but he was not breathing on his own. After many tests, it was confirmed that he was completely brain dead and in the days as they were testing him, you could see his body breaking down - the doctor said that it was basically already decomposing.

However, we've also seen another case where we were told that the accident victim was brain dead but they were still breathing on their own - and they eventually recovered enough to communicate and are now in constant care but are a great blessing and do not wish to have anyone kill them.

For me, if I were like Vince, where I was dead and a machine was breathing for me, pull the plug. But if I'm alive and just needing nutrition and hydration, I'm no different from a child who also needs that and as such, I should receive that.

So my basic answer is "it depends".

 

[ktn4eg]

......And also indicate that you want to be an organ donor! :thumbsup:

A couple I know of has a teenaged daughter who was critically injured when a drunk smashed his car into hers life was saved because someone gave her his/her heart. :thumbsup:

 

[The Biblicist]

Since Terry was not on life support other than nutrition and hydration, she is not a typical example. She was murdered.

We've dealt with this numerous times as a pastor's family. One young man came in after a skateboarding accident and his brain was completely non-functional. It actually had turned in his skull. However, his brain stem was still working so his heart was still beating but he was not breathing on his own. After many tests, it was confirmed that he was completely brain dead and in the days as they were testing him, you could see his body breaking down - the doctor said that it was basically already decomposing.

However, we've also seen another case where we were told that the accident victim was brain dead but they were still breathing on their own - and they eventually recovered enough to communicate and are now in constant care but are a great blessing and do not wish to have anyone kill them.

For me, if I were like Vince, where I was dead and a machine was breathing for me, pull the plug. But if I'm alive and just needing nutrition and hydration, I'm no different from a child who also needs that and as such, I should receive that.

So my basic answer is "it depends".

I think you have hit the balance and I agree.

 

[Tom Butler]

I think you have hit the balance and I agree.

I agree with Ann as well.

 

[billwald]

I have told all my kids to fill my IV with vodka if they can't legally pull the plug. Don't say anything, just do it and keep your mouth shut.

 

[mont974x4]

I have made it clear that I don't want to be messed with. No paddles, no feeding tubes, and no life support. Make me comfortable and let me go in peace.

 

[Salty]

All I ask is that my IV be filled with Mountain Dew (make that Diet)

 

[SaggyWoman]

Let me go........

 

[annsni]

......And also indicate that you want to be an organ donor! :thumbsup:

A couple I know of has a teenaged daughter who was critically injured when a drunk smashed his car into hers life was saved because someone gave her his/her heart. :thumbsup:

That goes without question. An amazing thing about that young man who had the skateboarding accident - he was an organ donor and now over a year later, his father received some of his bone for a spinal fusion! I think it is actually helping him mentally.

 

[Melanie]

I have made my wishes known to GP and family, no heroic measures.....stroll on down if I am in cardiac arrest and have a coffee.

I would like to be conscious and able to receive pastoral care more than anything else.

 

[Jerome]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ny377

BBC Panorama Tue 13 Nov 2012

In a world exclusive, Panorama follows a group of severely brain injured patients and reveals the revolutionary efforts made to help them communicate with their families and the outside world.

Never before filmed, this Panorama Special spent more than a year with a group of vegetative patients in Britain and Canada.

They witness the moment when a patient regarded as vegetative for more than a decade is able to answer a series of questions whilst inside a brain scanner.

The findings have profound implications for the patients and their families, as well as ethical consequences for scientists and medical staff.