Monday, July 13, 2009

mercy!?


My neighbor is dying.  He's in hospice care and he’s on a ventilator, conscious off and on.  He’s also bleeding somewhere, perhaps in his lungs.  He has signed a DNR.  If they take him off the ventilator, the doctors say, it will take 2 to 24 hours for him to die.  


To slowly strangle.


To possibly drown in his own blood.


There will be no easing him through to what comes next.  There will be no sparing him the slow torture of his death.  Because that is called inhumane. 


That is called Murder.

12 comments:

  1. Oh, that is absolutely awful. What a horrendous time to be in for his family and friends. It seems inhumane to not give someone peace in the final moments of their live. I hope that his passing is quick for him and everyone who loves him

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  2. What a very sad situation. Wishing him and his family peace at this difficult time.

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  3. this is so horrible! this is a sad facts, but i wish there is still hope for him, i will pray for him too.

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  4. Awful...hopefully peace is on its way.

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  5. My sense of these horrible situations is that it isn't so bad for the person who is dying. It's far worse for those who have to sit around and watch the throes of someone dying.
    Or maybe that's how I rationalize it, who knows?

    After recently "euthanizing" my dog (i.e. killing him) I'm not clear that there's ever a great way to die unless, like my friend Gordon, you lie down for a nap and never wake up. Maybe even that isn't so lovely. who knows?

    Many condolences to you and your neighbor's family. May he pass quickly and with as much ease as possible. Then may he rest in peace.

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  6. That is so sad...... The family must be in agony. I agree with Reya, it must be horrible for the family. I suppose that until it is our own time we will not know what the experience is like.

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  7. I am so sorry for the family and for you. I feel similar, it makes no sense to prolong suffering, we wouldn't do that to our animals... My mother who has now passed, told me that when her aunt died of lung cancer, the doctor instructed her on how to administer a lethal dose of pain killer, he left her twice as much as was needed and then left my mother in charge. But that, is a different burden to bear.

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  8. It's dreadful - this is why I suspect we all want to go quietly. And yes, we wouldn't do this to animals, but we get tied up in moral arguments for people.

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  9. Wow. I don't even know what to say about that post. That is hard core though. What a tough spot to be in...for both him and his family. Imagine his poor family thinking they can't do anything while he dies. But, what kind of life is he living now? Wow...very tough.

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  10. So sorry, Ellen. I pray with your for mercy.

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  11. This is terribly sad.. sending best thoughts your way.

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  12. Why in the world can't we treat each other as well as we treat our pets. When are pets are near the end, we do wht we can to alleviate their pain and suffering. It's called putting them to sleep. Why in the world can't we figure out a way to be able to do the same for our loved ones?

    So sad for him. My thoughts are with you.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.