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| No. 30 | 
Nov 02, 2009, 05:34 PM
 Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support Originally Posted by rn2tobeatlanta  I see both sides but want to add that this concerns me a bit:
"Neither of the parents, who have been living at dedicated family accommodation, based near the hospital, since the birth of their baby, can be named for legal reasons."
Daddy might lose his housing if the baby isn't in care anymore.
What a cynical outlook. His parents, who are amicably separated, have kept a bedside vigil throughout his short life. Mr RB argues that his son is aware of his surroundings and has interacted with his parents.
His lawyers will submit video footage to the court which he says show his son playing with toys, enjoying listening to music and interacting with them.
Sounds like the father is involved with his son and views him as more than just a ticket to free lodging.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 32 |
Nov 02, 2009, 06:27 PM
Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support Originally Posted by rn/writer What a cynical outlook.
Sounds like the father is involved with his son and views him as more than just a ticket to free lodging.
I suppose it is. I did read the article and I don't think the father is entirely consumed with thoughts of his child being a ticket to free lodging.
My point is that it is part of the larger picture and I can never ignore any part of the picture, even if it seems small. People are both good and bad, selfish and selfless. The article, like most news pieces paints a dichotomous picture and frankly, real life is rarely that dichotomous. People are complex animals. No point to pretend this thing goes one way or the other.
It wouldn't surprise me if martyrdom also plays a role in the father's (and mother's) behavior as well but I suppose you think that makes me even more cynical. Ditto for the attention that they both get from having a sick child. It might not be the main motivational factor/huge role but its there and its something to think about.
| | No. 34 |
Nov 02, 2009, 06:46 PM
Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support
Originally Posted by oramar You are confusing me. You say, it is murder to take a baby off life support when the parents don't want them to be removed. Are you then saying it is not murder to take them off if the parents want them removed? You should be careful about throwing those words "kill" and "murder" around in these situations. Human beings are removed from life support everyday and no one is killing them, no one is murdering them. There is an issue here about removing a child from life support without the consent of both parents. It is a valid issue and needs to be discussed and it is no wonder it is ending up in court. A lot of times these things do end up in court for good reason. But using words like kill and murder turn the discussion into something altogether different. It is not murder to turn off machines and let a death that nature intended to take place. It is not killing someone to refuse treatment and allow nature to take it course.
Some would disagree with you.
But not many...
| | No. 35 |
Nov 02, 2009, 06:56 PM
Updated
Nov 02, 2009 at 08:23 PM by rn/writer
Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support
Ghillbert: I said that it was murder to withdrawl life support when the parents disagree! READ THE POST FROM CAROLADYBE3LLE THAT I WAS RESPONDING TO!!!!! She clearly states that whent he parents dont want it withdrawn ,the doctors can overide them!!
| | No. 36 |
Nov 02, 2009, 07:03 PM
Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support Originally Posted by Carolina Nights Another question. Is he doing this simply to spite the mother (his ex-, according to the article...)?
The article said they had separated amicably.
This isn't directed at any one poster, but I'm curious why the dad's motives seem to be the ones primarily in question. What about the mom? Maybe she doesn't want the burden of the child's care. Not that feeling that way is unreasonable, but the dad is the one who has been singled out for scrutiny.
I'm not making accusations or trying to cast aspersions on either parent. I would like to think they are two young people who are really searching their souls and trying to do the right thing for their baby. Just wanted to point out that the dad seems to be the easier of the two to look askance at, even though both parents have kept the bedside vigil and appear to be genuinely concerned about their child.
| | No. 38 |
Nov 02, 2009, 07:15 PM
Updated
Nov 02, 2009 at 07:19 PM by rn/writer
Re: Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support Originally Posted by izeofblu1973 Ghillbert: I said that it was murder to withdrawl life support when the parents disagree! READ THE POST FROM CAROLADYBE3LLE THAT I WAS RESPONDING TO!!!!! She clearly states that whent he parents dont want it withdrawn ,the doctors can overide them!!
Obviously you agree with pulling the plug on a baby when the parents dont want it.
What is it your advocating exactly? A world where because someone wants it, it is? I am wondering how many times you have taken care of the hopelessly sick and had their families put them through every sort of indignity, pain & downright misery for months and years? Why, because they aren't ready to deal with death, are thriving in the role of tragic family member, and all manner of psycho-social issues that have no place in the decisions that have to be made in these cases. We play god if you like by keeping people alive via vents and drips and tubes, sometimes it can save a life, but when all evidence points to the fact that this poor child is going to exist rather than live and will have the brain function to know that, imagine what that would be like?, yes the people who are expected to continue the torture, namely the doctors and nurses,do have a say.Like it or not the cost of treating this child will be affecting someone who also needs care, be it in the UK or the US. Costs are recovered usually at the expense of someone else.
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