Comments on DEATH WITH DIGNITY

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I posted a comment there.

posted by Dyl_Pickle on March 28, 2005 at 6:52 PM | link to this | reply

Dylanvalente, the discussion we had here inspired a post in MayB's Musings & Missives

posted by Azur on March 28, 2005 at 5:51 PM | link to this | reply

God forgive us:

this world is upsidedown...God's blessings come from honoring Him, not by tryign to take over His job. He's the giver of life, for He is the resurection and the life!

Teri must have...

a will to live, otherwise she woud have died shortly after they removed life support. I understand how painfulit is to see others suffer. Those lonely souls need love too, no matter how little time they have before they die. I

I've seen horrible deformed and disabled children in VietNam, who are just surviving without any nurturing. Even though, they have some hospice care...there just aren't enouigh hands and hearts to go around. It's amazing how far a smile, kind word or hug goes. Spending moments with these "trapped" children, is monumental to the well being of their souls. My point being, is these people have one miracle everyday. That miracle is life. Life is breath and that breath is given and taken by our maker.

No mater how much any of us try, none of us can play God, sucessfully that is!

We can Pray God...worship and honor Him. In America, we trust in God, right? Please take a moment, set aside your preconcieved notions and join us in prayer for Teri and may I add all those who suffer tragedy.

Intercessory prayers for Teri Schivo here:

I pray that the suspect, superstitious and fearful will be void, rendering the enemies efforts to whence they came: which is the pit of hell. Heavenly Father, we ask you to put your healing hand on Teri. Lord touch her and make her new. Please comfort her and relieve her from pain. Be her sustenance and strengthen her, not just physically, but emotional, mentally and spiritually. We thank you for the gift of life and praise Your holy name, the name above all names, Jesus Christ. Amen

posted by QuailNest on March 28, 2005 at 12:45 AM | link to this | reply

Dylan, I am not talking about timings or medications or any such thing. I don't know if you've ever had to tend anyone who is dying but the one thing I from that it that it is different for everyone. Some people keep up the fight against death to the end and others await it as a release. That is a choice. It is nothing to do with feeding tubes etc. Everyone has their own line determining what is acceptable to them. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OTHERS DETERMING WHAT IS DIGNIFIED. IT IS simply that I and many others don't want others drawing the line for us.


Some people walk out into the woods turning their back on all assistance. Others request a mega dose of morphine to ease them through. It has always been that way and always will. Actually, even changing the law will not alter that. Doctors and families quietly assist loved ones every day - it is something that people discuss behind closed doors usually at the urging of the person concerned. I have witnessed this and know of others who have too.

I am not prescribing assisted suicide, not at all, and I resent that you imply that I do. It is something reserved for the most extreme and serious of circumstances.

I don't know if you visited some of my posts in recent days but my fear out of all of this at the moment is that people will feel compelled to hang around when THEY would rather go and that those people caring for them will be put under even greater strain.

posted by Azur on March 28, 2005 at 12:27 AM | link to this | reply

Choice might be overrated.  It is one thing to choose how to live one's life --

but people seem to want to gain the greatest possible control over the time and circumstances of their death.

I think many people's idea of dignity is much broader and demanding, a much harder criteria to meet, than the suggested idea of a person simply deciding to go when his time has come and to go without great pain --

everyone is more or less for some version of this principle in practice -- for even the Catholic church, perhaps the most opposed of any group to assisted suicide, does not endorse the prolonging of life at all costs; there is a time when even the anti-right-to-die people would turn off the machines.

That such a time does come is not really in dispute -- what is in dispute is people trying to define dignity in a way that a lot fewer people would be considered dignified --

dignity might mean being able to care for one's self in every conceivable way -- meaning that someone who cannot feed himself, even if he can live a meaningful life, will likely become undignified. 

Not being able to walk or complete a crossoword puzzle might be considered evidence of a lack of dignity -- and the person in this situation might then capitulate to the social pressure to die "with dignity";

I don't care what people say, if assisted suicide becomes commonplace, people will, will, will feel pressured to die even before meaningful life is really over for them --

they will "not want to be a burden." 

No one wants to be, or have, a burden.  Burdens are bad.  But I don't think they can or should all be avoided, especially not at the cost of death.

posted by Dyl_Pickle on March 27, 2005 at 7:00 PM | link to this | reply

For “right-to-die” proponents as you label us "death with dignity" is about choice. It is not about the physical, it is about enabling people to fight or to let go as they wish.

posted by Azur on March 27, 2005 at 11:38 AM | link to this | reply

Very perceptive and astute -- "death with dignity" is loaded or, as my religion professor liked to say, leading.

It is tempting to label one's position with a nice-sounding name. 

Everyone is for dignity, so advocating "death with dignity" amid controversy must mean that there is more to it than that --

otherwise everyone would be for "death with dignity."

Very good post.

posted by Dyl_Pickle on March 27, 2005 at 11:20 AM | link to this | reply

This is a wonderful post. Thank you so much!

 

posted by Justi on March 24, 2005 at 9:12 PM | link to this | reply

Kudos!

posted by Ainsley_Jo_Phillips on March 24, 2005 at 7:16 PM | link to this | reply

Another great post!
Thanks for standing up for the least among us.

posted by JanesOpinion on March 24, 2005 at 6:56 AM | link to this | reply

you totally missed the point- faculties don't define you
nor do they define your dignity

posted by AnCatubh on March 23, 2005 at 2:18 PM | link to this | reply

The difference between the stories you tell and terry is this:  terry has no faculties!  At least the others were able to talk and do things terry can't and never will!

posted by starr4all on March 23, 2005 at 1:47 PM | link to this | reply