Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Let dying people die, not linger on with 27 tubes plugged in

On of my friends at work is having a problem with the care being given to her 86 year old mother. The Mom is just being kept alive with medical miracles and GOT in that position with some medical mistakes. She can't swollow, can't get out of bed, too weak to move, full of tubes. My friend is in a terrible quandry, When to just let the poor woman die? The medical staff seem to be willing to do any heroic thing imaginable and my friend is crying because she is unable to know what to do. The old woman is a mess, tubed up, in pain incoherent... This is bad.
I want to go clean.... Die with dignity

Have her contact the local Hospice organization. They can give advice and offer and incredible amount of support and information.

My mother worked for Hospice of MD for 10 years.

They are incredible people.

This is why I thought Jack Kevorkian was a great man. He helped people who were in great suffering finally end their pain.

There is a difference between letting people die and helping them kill themselves.

Just wanted to point out that Hospice agencies simply support people who are dying b/c they have chosen to stop treatment, it does not help them end their life prematurely like Kevorkian.

That's why EVERYONE should have a living will.
It will legally spell out exactly what should not be done if you are ever in a situation like this. Doctors will not be authorized to use every means necessary to keep you alive in certain situations. Your wishes will be known and relatives will not have to agonize over such a painfull decision.

My mom and dad told each other that they did not want to be recusitated (sp). I think my dad may have even signed a DNR order, just to make it official, and there was no doubt what his wishes were when the time came. Docs kept him on oxygen long enough for us to get there, after a probable brain hemmorage.

Same with Grandma, but she didn't have a DNR order. Luckily, my mom and her two brothers both agreed that they didn't want her living on machines...

That brings up the question do they need to suffer through horrible pain if they are on the road to visit St. Pete anyway?

Dying in the U.S. can be one hell of an expensive proposition, especially when hospitals and insurance companies are patting you on the back in support with one hand and then taking the other and picking every pocket you've got and then going after your family when you're broke (that's if you let them)...

My wife and I have both made it unconditionally clear what we want done. If either one of us is so incapacitated as to where neither of us can ever live without artifical help (i.e., hooked up to machines and bedridden the rest of out lives), then pull the damn plug right then and there. Period.

I've got a pretty good idea of what the definition of "life" is, given that I'm living one currently and have look it up in the dictionary a few times. Being bedridden, hooked up to machines and emotionally and financially draining your family into despair ISN'T life.

I'll be damned if my family will go broke trying to keep me away from my Creator, especially when it could cost them their future and their children's future...

Everybody has a time, and when it comes and you're lucky enough to have some control over it, you should be able to go with dignity and not have to put the ones you love through the horrific nightmare of having to watch a loved one become another science experiment for medicine and another monthly annuity for insurance companies.

The decision of living and die-ing (sp?) sould be left up to the person that is ill.
I think a person should be allowed to kill themselves if they choose.
But they should have to go through counselling and at least attempt to pursue treatment first.
Of course I also think less criminals should be put to death, why?
So we can use them a scientific test subjects instead of animals.

Not touching that argument with a ten foot pole .

I really don't have a strong opinion either way. I just wanted to point out that Hospice is different from Euthanasia.