[talaxandra]

Originally Posted by Mulan

I think that's a matter of opinion, and if ventilators didn't exist where would they be?

If insulin didn't exist, where would people with diabetes be?

[Quickbeam]

I do think a technology-dependent life entails risks. This situation is certainly one of them. Sad all the way around.

I'm still haunted by the man with quadriplegia who died in the World Trade Center collapse. No way to get him down. If I remember correctly, a co-worker stayed and died with him.

[Indy]

I can't go to bed on my nights off without checking to make sure my husband and daughter are breathing. What amazes me is that the father checked, saw the vent was on its backup battery and went back to bed. Maybe it needed the backup battery frequently, I dunno. I do think if I were in that situation I'd have to stay awake ready to bag. Yes, I'm aware that's a biased response but ... it still boggles my mind that the dad went back to bed.

[CHATSDALE]

indy, if you felt that the back up battery was functional and the power might be back on soon one might go back to bed so as to be fresh for work

i am sure that because he choose this option he will live with it for the rest of his life

[Indy]

Good point. I haven't had to live with someone in my house on a vent, I get to go home after 12 hours of it.

[TNWannaB]

First of all im not sure if i would bring my child home to live on a ventilator but in the case that i did If the power went out in my home i dont think i would trust a backup BATTERY, which we all know batteries run out. I personally prbably wouldnt have left his side untl the power came back on.

[jezbo537]

That was very sad, but did they not plan for these things? I mean I understand that they thought the backup battery would work, but they never thought about if it did not work? Still very sad situation all around.

[earle58]

this is so very tragic.
and, i wouldn't think to judge the parents in this case...
especially where they're not medical people.
it's easy for us to say what we would do/not do.

i would have hoped to learn of them receiving any sort of inservice when their child came home on a vent.

just horrible.

leslie

[rnmomtobe2010]

That's messed up....

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by Mulan

If a person can't live without a ventilator, are they really alive?

Should we just turn them all off?


How about dialysis machines? Antibiotics? What of the mentally ill person? The mentally slow, the aging mind - should we just herd all "defectives" into the gas chambers and the ovens?

I agree there needs to be some limit on heroics but your comment is really scary. People live with many limitations and losses - paralysis, amputations, loss of sight and hearing to name a few. Life is a precious, precious thing and we must never be hasty about determining who is worthy of this gift and who is not. We must be reasonable but what that means in each individual case - that is the question. That's the purpose of ethics committees, clergy, input from next of kin and other relatives, and the patient him or herself.

You must have seen some horrific things to have arrived at the conclusion that life on a vent is totally worthless. Can you share why you say this?