Choosing when to die
By polgeram
@polgeram (83)
United States
5 responses
@Essie119 (673)
• Canada
10 Aug 08
I do not wish to be kept alive under those conditions. If my mind is gone then I have no desire to merely exist. On the other hand, if there is any chance of healing then I would like to be kept alive for the sake of my children. I want to watch them grow up, but I don't want them to have to watch me slowly die.
1 person likes this
@Essie119 (673)
• Canada
10 Aug 08
I don't mean years down the line - I'm thinking in terms of weeks. Such as a swelling of the brain that could ease. If my brain is fine, but I require a feeding tube for a few months while my body heals itself, I would be fine with that. My husband knows my wishes and he will not allow me to remain in a vegetative state while my kids watch.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I have a living will that states that I do not want to be kept alive under those circumstances or other similar ones so the plug will be pulled. While it is against the law to put a human "to sleep" it isn't against the law to remove life support and to remove feeding tubes so that someone can die in peace.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I remember Terri Schiavo's story well...it definitely was big news down here in Florida and a very sad story. This is why having a living will is so important. It's a legally binding document and takes the pressure off of the family when a decision of this nature has to be made...it's my words and my wishes which must be followed by the medical personnel. I know that there are some who believe that living wills should not be legal, along with a patient's right to die. This is a very presonal issue for a lot of people.
@polgeram (83)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I agree that removing life support "shouldn't" be against the law. But some want it to be. I can't help but remember the Terri Schiavo controversy. After 15 years, it was definitely time to let go, right?
(FYI: Terri Schiavo was the Florida woman who's husband wanted to remove life support after 15(?) years of existing as a vegetable following a heart attack. Her parents, however, went to court to try to prevent this removal. What happened (in 2005) was just a media and political circus. How sad for all involved!)
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I think that people do not "Pull the Plug" for selfish reasons. Most people have difficulty just letting go. They put a pet to sleep with a little more ease due to the idea that the pets life is not as important as a human's. Personally I think that all life is precious and if I am a vegetable then PLEASE PULL THE PLUG!!!
I do not want someone to selfishly keep me around in this existance when I am unable to be myself. If I am living off of a machine or machines then LET ME GO!!
Thank you for the interesting topic and have a great day!!!
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
10 Aug 08
When I go, I wanna go, not kept alive by artificial means... I always say when it's my time, it's my time... It's just a big waste of time & money... If I was in an accident & they were trying to revive me is one thing, to be kept on a machine for 6, 7, 8 month is another... I don't wanna put my family through that nor myself...
1 person likes this
@Valenas (1507)
• United States
10 Aug 08
Humans allow other humans to live because they think that they are of a higher existence than other animals. They think that their pet doesn't know what they want. Yes, if the dog is too sick and in pain, and will not recover, then it would be selfish of a person to hold on to the dog. At the same time, if a person is in a vegetative state, then it is selfish to keep them alive. Dogs and humans are not that different. Different languages, different species. But, we're all animals. If we're thrown out into the cold, we all have a survival drive that will kick in. We all need care when we are sick, and we all have our time to go.
@Valenas (1507)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Some people would argue that it is unselfish of them because they are paying for life support while in the vegetative state. Actually, I have heard of at least one person doing that before. But, they are still paying for it for selfish reasons.
I think my great-aunt was on life support, but not in a vegetative state. The problem was, she was not going to survive if they took her off of it. So, they kept her on it just long enough for everyone to get there and say good-bye before they pulled the plug. I think anything beyond that is a bit selfish, once again, IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECOVER.
Thank you for best response.
