Life Support

Jazzy · Post by **Jazzy** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:53 am

A few weeks ago there was a horrible snow mobile accident involving a 15 year old boy. It was determined that he has suffered irreversible brain damage and is paralized from the neck down. The parents insisted he be put on life support and the hospital complied with their wishes. This so reminds me of Karen Ann Quinlan and I wanted to ask your thoughts on the parents decision to do this this. Would you would have made the same decision? Would you, yourself, ever want to be put on life support?

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:22 am

Jazzy;1293253 wrote: A few weeks ago there was a horrible snow mobile accident involving a 15 year old boy. It was determined that he has suffered irreversible brain damage and is paralized from the neck down. The parents insisted he be put on life support and the hospital complied with their wishes. This so reminds me of Karen Ann Quinlan and I wanted to ask your thoughts on the parents decision to do this this. Would you would have made the same decision? Would you, yourself, ever want to be put on life support?

omg.......how tragic.:-1

I think the parents need time....time to think, to get over the shock..........

I wouldn't have pulled the plug that soon if it was one of my sons, so many things to say to him, hold his hand, reminisce, tell him how proud I am of him and how much I love him....when all his friends and family came to say their goodbyes.....then it would be time to let him go.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:52 am

I honestly can't say what I would do and I hope to never find out. I can understand them not wanting to give up hope even where there is none. I do not want to be on life support if my quality of life would be poor.

Saint_ · Post by **Saint_** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:54 am

this is going to sound harsh to some of you, but my family believes that the body is nothing but a receptacle for the soul. When the brain is gone... so is the soul. What's left is nothing but an empty container.

I know for a fact that is true, since I've died before and seen my own body collapse to the floor while I watched.

Why bankrupt the family, spending thousands of dollars on ridiculously expensive medical procedures, only to keep an empty container artificially living? that money could be spent on the living members of the family and even a memorial to the boy.

Anyway, that's the way my family sees things. when it's our time to go, we don't get sentimental about the container left behind.

Post by **LarsMac** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:08 pm

I agree with Saint.

I had to make that decision, but not for my child.

When time is of the essence and you have to make a decision about a life, you can spend the rest of yours wondering if it was the right decision.

I know logically what decision I would make, now, but, cannot speak for my children' mother, and I cannot be certain of what I would do if it were my child in that condition.

I pray to God that I am never faced with that kind of decision, ever again.

My heart goes out to those people. They now face an even tougher choice than before.

To the last question, my wife and I have a Living will and have made the decision NOT to allow life support, and we have made that clear to our children. I don't want nothin' holdin' me back when it's my time to go.

It's a lot easier for older folks to deal with such a question. If our children had to make such a choice, I would offer my thoughts, but would support their decision.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:27 pm

I think the parents made the correct decision. It is their child, and if they think there is hope then they should have it. You would be surprised when they say there is no hope, what can possibly happen. Since I have seen it happen for my husband, I know.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:13 pm

I don't think there can be a wrong decision as such in these circumstances - each family must do whatever they need to do.

God forbid that I have to make such a decision - I just don't know which way I'd go.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:42 am

Jazzy;1293253 wrote: A few weeks ago there was a horrible snow mobile accident involving a 15 year old boy. It was determined that he has suffered irreversible brain damage and is paralized from the neck down. The parents insisted he be put on life support and the hospital complied with their wishes. This so reminds me of Karen Ann Quinlan and I wanted to ask your thoughts on the parents decision to do this this. Would you would have made the same decision? Would you, yourself, ever want to be put on life support?

your turn, what are your thoughts?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:28 am

Jazzy;1293253 wrote: Would you, yourself, ever want to be put on life support?

I dont think anyone that knows me would put me on life support.

Those kinds of opportunities dont come along every day.

Jazzy · Post by **Jazzy** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:44 am

Nomad;1293373 wrote: I dont think anyone that knows me would put me on life support.

Those kinds of opportunities dont come along every day.

:yh_rotfl

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:49 am

Good question Jazzy,

No, I would not want to be put on life support if there was no hope. I wouldn't want my family to suffer. I've already signed a DNR and put it into my will.

My family and I had to make that decision with a family member, and it was the most difficult decision that any of us had to make. I'm crying now just thinking about it, but it had to be done. If we knew that there was a glimmer of hope, we would have waited. Sadly, there were no miracles around to grab.

Now this member is at peace and not suffering.:-6

Jazzy · Post by **Jazzy** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:54 am

Odie;1293360 wrote: your turn, what are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that if this were my son I would not have put him on life support. Knowing the extent of brain damage and knowing that he's paralized from the neck down, I would have sat with him and let the "forces that may" take him from me. I feel like Saint stated that when the brain is dead so is the soul. I think often life support gives a false hope because you see the machines keeping a person alive and believe the person themselves are alive. I feel for this family but they are just prolonging (IMO) what they need to be dealing with.

I have a Living Will and it clearly states that I refuse to be put on life support.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:06 am

Jazzy;1293385 wrote: My thoughts are that if this were my son I would not have put him on life support. Knowing the extent of brain damage and knowing that he's paralized from the neck down, I would have sat with him and let the "forces that may" take him from me. I feel like Saint stated that when the brain is dead so is the soul. I think often life support gives a false hope because you see the machines keeping a person alive and believe the person themselves are alive. I feel for this family but they are just prolonging (IMO) what they need to be dealing with.

I have a Living Will and it clearly states that I refuse to be put on life support.

my will states the same.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:07 am

Okay, now that you guys have chewed on some thoughts, I am going to give you some facts.

Kathy Ellen, that DNR you put in your will is not worth the ink. For ANY DNR order to be valid, it MUST be signed by two doctors. EVERY TIME you go to hospital. New form for each hospitalisation. And for two doctors to sign it, you MUST be suffering a TERMINAL illness, or have reached a stage in the disease process where nothing else can be done. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Those living wills are only indicative of your wishes. They are NOT legally binding. Trust me on this, you guys. If you come into my ER without a medical history on your person, then we will err on the side of caution and resucitate you. Always carry your history in your wallet or purse, so we can make valid decisions, because we DO look for these things if noone is present to speak for you. We are not unreasonable people. But we will not allow euthanasia because as of now, it is still murder. We are bound by the ethics of our professions to do no harm. You MUST be terminal or at the end of a disease process, or deemed to be brain dead. Otherwise you will be resussed. PERIOD! FULLSTOP!:o

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:08 pm

Jazzy;1293253 wrote: A few weeks ago there was a horrible snow mobile accident involving a 15 year old boy. It was determined that he has suffered irreversible brain damage and is paralized from the neck down. The parents insisted he be put on life support and the hospital complied with their wishes. This so reminds me of Karen Ann Quinlan and I wanted to ask your thoughts on the parents decision to do this this. Would you would have made the same decision? Would you, yourself, ever want to be put on life support?

Not in a million years!

That sort of existence is my idea of Hell and I have, many times, stated my wishes that, should I ever be in that position, I should be put out of my misery never mind forced to endure more than nature intended.

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:01 pm

I agree Bryn. I am in the 'Autumn of my years' now, so if (Heaven forbid) I should be in such a position, I would certainly not want to 'hang on' with the aid of technology just for the sake of 'living' a little longer to the distress of my loved ones.