Artificial feeding-Terri Schiavo

Published

I posted this here becaue I think this subject is something that we as nurses deal with on a regular basis.....Many many people state that they have a big problem with the feeding being stopped "allowing her to starve to death" The Vatican says " To starve her to death is pitiless" Most everyone agrees that it is one's right to refuse to initiate artificial feeding but somehow this situation "is different" How? The patient "starves to death " in both cases-so why has this one galvanized the WORLD? My husband read me a quote from the Bible -forgive me because I can't remember it in detail-it was something along the lines that a woman marries and leaves her father's house and her husband becomes her family....My husband is my POA I hope no-one in my family questions his motives -He KNOWS exactly what I want....I can't question her husbands motives-I know that some suspect foul play and state the results of a bone scan support this...That bone scan was obtained 53 months after she went into her coma-after her body suffered the effects of her eating disorders for a number of years.... Her present level of responsiveness does not pertain to this matter IMHO-she CAN'T eat naturally--she did not ever want to "be kept alive like that " and she can't state otherwise at this point...So- #1 can someone PLEASE make me see why this case is" DIFFERENT" and #2 How do YOU support your patients and their loved ones when they are agonizing over this decision? ONe thing I always ask is "Did your loved one ever give you any idea of what they would want if something like this happened" and if they did then I advocate that stance for that pt as much possible.......I believe that death is the last great trip we'll go on and we should PLAN it as much as possible.The greatest GIFT we can give to our loved ones is an itinerary...........

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Dan, I didn't get a chance to respond after you posted it, but that was a lovely prayer you wrote the other day.

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:deadhorse

:yeahthat:

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:deadhorse

Last I checked she was still alive. :)

steph

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Excellent post, Steph! I belong to several non-nursing forums and private boards, and I'm constantly having to explain to non-medical-type people exactly what hospice is, but then I feel like I'm speaking out of the OTHER side of my mouth about why Terri is IN a hospice facility.

It is hard for people to understand, and all the garbage being reported in the media is not helping. It's all very confusing, and I fear that hospice is going to get a bad name.

Thanks - having a bad day and took a break and came here and read your comment which made me feel better.

steph

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Steph,

I have not seen every post in this thread, but every one of your posts I've looked at seems to be rational and thoughtful. I appreciate and compliment you on your strong and intelligent stance. :)

~Kitty~

BTW......has anyone here seen every post in this thread??? ;)

I agree Steph, I've been a Stevielynn fan for a long time. (We've disagreed a number of times and we still talk to each other, but she knows I'm right and she's wrong. LOL)

I haven't read every thread either, for a while I was staying out of it, but I've never been one who can keep his two cents to himself. :rotfl:

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I agree Steph, I've been a Stevielynn fan for a long time. (We've disagreed a number of times and we still talk to each other, but she knows I'm right and she's wrong. LOL)

I haven't read every thread either, for a while I was staying out of it, but I've never been one who can keep his two cents to himself. :rotfl:

That is true - Tweety is always right. :)

Lord, today has been a bear in all aspects - I'm looking forward to 3 p.m. :)

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Last I checked she was still alive. :)

steph

I think that was implying the over 700 posts on this thread! :wink2:

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I think that was implying the over 700 posts on this thread! :wink2:

And possibly that many of them are repeating the same things over, without regard to what has already been said.

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Specializes in NICU.

I just have to comment that it's refreshing that we've been able to discuss this issue without the thread needing to be shut down for personal attacks and flaming. I've read or skimmed at least 99% of the posts in this thread (hey, when you're on maternity leave there's nothing to do but read allnurses twice a day, every day!) and almost everyone has a strong feeling one way or the other. And yes, a lot of what's being said is repetitive now, but oh well right?

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There is a place in this world for Dr. Kevorkian! :crying2:

the man is ahead of his time!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
And possibly that many of them are repeating the same things over, without regard to what has already been said.

Agree. Even some of us have repeated ourselves over and over again, I'm sure I'm guilty.

I agree, though it's amazing it lasted 700s posts without getting shut down.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
There is a place in this world for Dr. Kevorkian! :crying2:

the man is ahead of his time!

Didn't he go to jail for murder?

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