I want to die

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/quadri...l-refuses-remove-ventilator/story?id=12274720

should he be allowed to die if he choose to do so or are the doctors to make that decision

 

I don't think it's for the doctors to decide. If the man wants to die, let him die.

What about his quality of life? He doesn't have any! Of course he's depressed! Sheesh.

I hope that if I were ever in the position, and I asked someone to help me die...I hope they would have the compassion to do so. I hope people will have the compassion to do the same for him. It's torture to keep that poor man alive.

 

yeah. I understand but where do u draw the line

 

I feel bad for the dude. It should be his choice but at the same time, a doctor is meant to save lives so the doctors are right in their decision. I'd wanna die if I was a quadriplegic too. It's sad. Dude never even had a life. I don't think I'd be able to make it to 27 years. I would've wanted to die long before that.

 

I think you draw it in the asking. Once someone asks to die, all bets are off. We allow DNR's under the assumption that people can make the decision to die if they are in a situation like his because of something happening...why can't he, fully cognizant, also make the same decision. They're *forcing* him to do something he doesn't want to do, and the simple fact that he can't do it himself is heartbreaking.

Doctor's are meant to save lives, yet...I think that sometimes the act of saving someone means more than keeping someone breathing. Those doctors could save that man from many more years of sadness, loneliness, and that empty feeling in the pit of his stomach that keeps reminding him that this is all there is.

 

As a christian and as part of a decision making team I struggle with this sometimes,,, but com'on honor the man's wish. He is on Mech. Vent 24/7 and according to him the last 24 yrs of his life has been hell. Let the guy die honorable death. We need to bring that Armenian Doctor out of his prison cell or retirement.

 

DNRs state that a patient isn't to be resuscitated, it's not to kill someone outright whose heart is able to beat on it's own, and who can breathe on their own. I understand he's on a ventilator and if it were removed he'd cease to breathe, but that also isn't covered by a DNR, not at this point. If his parents had made that choice when the accident occurred then it would have been a matter of not resuscitating him, whereas now it's more a matter of killing him.

I'm personally opposed to euthanasia in any form and for any reason, meaning taking action to kill someone who would otherwise be able to live without the assistance of life-prolonging technology such as a ventilator. However in his case, since he cannot breathe on his own, then I think he should have the option to choose to have his ventilator disconnected, if he's mentally competent to do so. I understand that anyone in his position might be severely depressed, but since he's refusing psychiatric treatment, I would oppose his wish to die were I his doctor. If that is what he seriously wishes for, then he should comply with the psychiatric treatment so he can be declared competent and his doctor's can carry out his wishes knowing he's not impaired in any way.

Nice to see you posting again DB.

 

Given his circumstances and the position he's in now, he's practically dead as it is. He's only alive through his senses, but dead stiff everywhere else. Such misery and the best release would be for him to die.

Makes me rethink the whole idea of life having intrinsic value. It's only there when you're actually not a vegetable.

 

It's there if you believe it to be there. I've known several people who had terminal illnesses, who suffered greatly prior to their deaths, but life never lost purpose to them. Not all people who are paralyzed, or on ventilators want to die, it depends upon the individual's outlook. The man in question is also not a 'vegetable'.

 

I think you have a right to that decision if you are in a situation like that. Have a terminal very disease such as MS or CF in the end stages... A very suffering death vs simply fall asleep.

In the end, I should be able to decide to end it if Im in such a particular situation. I think it may be hard to prove that someone is not under the influence of depression or coercion or what not.
But if its clear - why not? DNR is ok, so why not. Yes, one is a non-active and the other is active but still.
This guy, in the situation he is is having a lot of trouble with infections, liquid in his lungs etc... sooner or later something will get him - its a tough road for someone like him.
Rig it up so that he can push a button with the stick he was pushing to type so to initiate a lethal injection or something. Could it not be that its cruel to keep someone alive in particular situations where DNR is not quite cutting it, because it does not come into effect before a lot of suffering has occurred, on top of day to day real suffering for him?

 

Fucking idiots. A compassionate society would not force people to endure intolerable suffering if they felt it outweighed the pleasure they may (or may not) experience in life.