Also, what is the difference between letting someone die by pulling the plug and actively killing them by giving the person a lethal injection or shooting them dead after pulling the plug (but before the last breath)? What exactly determines when a human life should be saved and when we can let it die or even actively kill it?
Are the hopes of others sufficient to grant it life even if the thing itself is not? Does the fact that a family wishes to keep someone in a coma on life support make a difference in whether it should be done? If so, would that also apply to people who would love to adopt a fetus that is about to be aborted? Is the difference that pregnancy is inherently more difficult and dangerous for the mother than keeping someone on life support is?
When is it permisable to let a person die--Terri Schiavo?
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_asbestosman
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When is it permisable to let a person die--Terri Schiavo?
That's General Leo. He could be my friend if he weren't my enemy.
eritis sicut dii
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_Moniker
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Re: When is it permisable to let a person die--Terri Schiavo
I don't really see the connection with life support and someone else wishing to adopt a fetus that may be aborted. If you look at family decisions to take loved ones off of life support you look to the closest family to make that decision. Who in the case of taking a fetus "off life support" is next in line? That would be the one carrying the fetus. So, if someone else that wanted to adopt the child could override the decision of the pregnant woman then that would be akin to the state telling family that they couldn't remove their loved one from life support.
I hope that makes sense. :)
Anyway, I might come back later with some thoughts.
Just saw this in the news yesterday:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/conten ... 198491.htm
I hope that makes sense. :)
Anyway, I might come back later with some thoughts.
Just saw this in the news yesterday:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/conten ... 198491.htm
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_Jersey Girl
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_Blixa
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Jersey Girl wrote:abman,
If you really want to discuss Terri S. I'd be glad to do that with you. I followed closely her case and participated in some heavy discussions regarding her during that time. What part of her particular case fits into your OP and what question would you pose regarding her case?
If there's much more of these kind of threads I'll be begging someone to kill me...
From the Ernest L. Wilkinson Diaries: "ELW dreams he's spattered w/ grease. Hundreds steal his greasy pants."
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_Moniker
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Blixa wrote:Jersey Girl wrote:abman,
If you really want to discuss Terri S. I'd be glad to do that with you. I followed closely her case and participated in some heavy discussions regarding her during that time. What part of her particular case fits into your OP and what question would you pose regarding her case?
If there's much more of these kind of threads I'll be begging someone to kill me...
I want to be shot first if this goes off into the Terri S. case.
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_Blixa
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Moniker wrote:Blixa wrote:Jersey Girl wrote:abman,
If you really want to discuss Terri S. I'd be glad to do that with you. I followed closely her case and participated in some heavy discussions regarding her during that time. What part of her particular case fits into your OP and what question would you pose regarding her case?
If there's much more of these kind of threads I'll be begging someone to kill me...
I want to be shot first if this goes off into the Terri S. case.
Well, I shouldn't be so snarky. It was just such a great set up for that line.
*leaving the thread now*
Last edited by Anonymous on Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
From the Ernest L. Wilkinson Diaries: "ELW dreams he's spattered w/ grease. Hundreds steal his greasy pants."
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_Jersey Girl
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Blixa wrote:Jersey Girl wrote:abman,
If you really want to discuss Terri S. I'd be glad to do that with you. I followed closely her case and participated in some heavy discussions regarding her during that time. What part of her particular case fits into your OP and what question would you pose regarding her case?
If there's much more of these kind of threads I'll be begging someone to kill me...
Are there more? I haven't gotten round to reading much yet.
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_asbestosman
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Re: When is it permisable to let a person die--Terri Schiavo
Moniker wrote:So, if someone else that wanted to adopt the child could override the decision of the pregnant woman then that would be akin to the state telling family that they couldn't remove their loved one from life support.
That may very well be the case. However, even now the state won't allow the mother to remove the unborn child from life support in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters without some very serious restrictions. Perhaps a similar case could be made for others on life support who have already been born?
Also, in my opinion I think it would have been better if Terri Schiavo was given to her parents since they still wanted her. If it weren't for that I would have been fine unhooking her if it is true that she was a vegetable and had made it know that she wouldn't wish to remain in life support under such circumstances. I know I'd prefer not to be hooked up to a machine in a permanent vegetative state. On the other hand if my parents really wanted my body to stick around, I think I'd prefer to let them be happy.
The man who was pronounced brain dead makes me question just how much we know about consciousness and life. Are we really sure that Terri wasn't mentally there--more sure than the doctor was with that other man recently in the news? I think it's a hard question.
That's General Leo. He could be my friend if he weren't my enemy.
eritis sicut dii
I support NCMO
eritis sicut dii
I support NCMO
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_Jersey Girl
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Moniker wrote:Blixa wrote:Jersey Girl wrote:abman,
If you really want to discuss Terri S. I'd be glad to do that with you. I followed closely her case and participated in some heavy discussions regarding her during that time. What part of her particular case fits into your OP and what question would you pose regarding her case?
If there's much more of these kind of threads I'll be begging someone to kill me...
I want to be shot first if this goes off into the Terri S. case.
He mentions Terri Schiavo in the thread title.
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_Jersey Girl
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Sorry folks, at least part of this is going to Terri Schiavo.
What you think would have been better, abman, wasn't legally possible. Terri was legally married to her husband Michael at the time. On what basis would you have "given" her to her parents?
Also, in my opinion I think it would have been better if Terri Schiavo was given to her parents since they still wanted her. If it weren't for that I would have been fine unhooking her if it is true that she was a vegetable and had made it know that she wouldn't wish to remain in life support under such circumstances. I know I'd prefer not to be hooked up to a machine in a permanent vegetative state. On the other hand if my parents really wanted my body to stick around, I think I'd prefer to let them be happy.
What you think would have been better, abman, wasn't legally possible. Terri was legally married to her husband Michael at the time. On what basis would you have "given" her to her parents?