Completely accidental death - how would you live with the guilt?

@liquorice (3887)
June 2, 2009 8:59am CST
How would you feel if you had a big row with someone, and later learnt that they'd had a heart attack that same afternoon? What about if you went to visit an elderly relative when you had a cold, then they caught the cold and died? Or if you went to visit a friend in intensive care, alerted the nurse that their catheter was full, but as a result of the nurse changing it your friend went into shock and died? These are all very terrible and morbid situations, and ones that we all pray we will never be in. But they're all real-life situations that have been described to me by people I know or that I've read about. These stories really made me think, and I'm sure that incidents like this must happen quite a lot. There must be an enormous amount of guilt involved if something like this happens to you; if you're directly (or indirectly) responsible for somebody's death. And how would you feel around the person's relatives and friends, who may well blame you. How would you deal with the guilt of being responsible for somebody's death, (albeit accidentally)? Would you be philosophical and say that if they were that ill then they would have died anyway? Or would you take it to heart? (I don't mean to offend anyone who's been in a situation like this. Personally I think that these situations are very unfortunate accidents and should not involve any blame, but I know that things aren't always so clear-cut in such sensitive and raw situations). I'd be interested in what people think...
3 people like this
4 responses
@chapstek (85)
• Philippines
2 Jun 09
For me, I think that you do not have to be guilty for what have happened because you really did not know it will happen. Don't blame yourself for what have happened because it is really not your fault. After all, all that happened cannot be turned back so live your life without that guilt but make it a lesson for you to be easy on people. But really for me, you don't have to be guilty liquorice.
@liquorice (3887)
3 Jun 09
Yes, I agree. All of the examples are extremely unfortunate and it would be hard not to feel any guilt even though you didn't know it would happen. Luckily I haven't been in this situation, (and really hope I never am) but if I were, then I hope I'd be able to do as you describe. Thanks for your answer.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223430)
• Chile
2 Jun 09
I don´t think you can blame yorurself for that. Of course there is a tenency to have some guilt but for a normal person it should pass soon. If you look at it rationatly, it is NOT your faultSo many people have hadto chiose whether to give or not a certain medical care to their loved ones. THey do what they think it´s best. Maybe it isn´t. But no guilt should be attached. As for a row (the first part of your post) rows are part of life. Who can know that a person would later have a heart attack or a stoke?
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Jun 09
It's not easy.. .let's hope you never have to find out.
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@tom99x (25)
• China
3 Jun 09
In fact, I am afraid to have heart disease, and I know will be very hard.
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