Earlier today there was a thread regarding Dr. Kevorkian's release from prison. Just as I was adding my thoughts, it got moved to the Current Events restricted area.
At that time, it seemed like there was 100% support for him. Honestly, I was surprised, especially since not everyone he killed was terminally ill. (I'm from Michigan, though, so maybe I know more about his history).
So I'm wondering, do nurses generally support the theory of physician assisted suicide?
Just ask the guy who had one for alcohol cirrhosis, Had him in the ER last night drunk. Another Liver shot.
Just ask the 40 yo male with a heart Transplanted, due to an MI suffered while on cocaine. Recently in the ER for methamphetamine OD.
Very Beneficial indeed
Yes, indeed, very beneficial. Just ask the still-surviving recipient of one of my brother's kidneys, after nearly 18 years. Or the families of his other two recipients, who had 10 more years with their loved ones before dying of totally unrelated causes. Or the home care pt I had years ago who received a cornea and could see her grandchildren. Or young woman I had seen many times in the ER when she was a child on CAPD, finally healthy because she received a kidney. Or ask my high school classmate, who received a heart when hers suddenly failed in her 20's.
After 19 years, I wake look around and say something obscene then go back into the coma.
Transplants are very beneficial
Just ask the guy who had one for alcohol cirrhosis, Had him in the ER last night drunk. Another Liver shot.
Just ask the 40 yo male with a heart Transplanted, due to an MI suffered while on cocaine. Recently in the ER for methamphetamine OD.
Very Beneficial indeed
But are these the majority of transplant patients? I don't believe so but, even if they were, it would be worth giving a hundred jerks transplants if in the process one person gets to lead an almost normal productive life. If we withheld treatment from people who were the cause of their own illnesses we would treat very few people. Let's be real, the majority of people in hospitals are there for smoking, drinking, or overeating related illnesses, or for not following md's orders, or for just being idiots who don't believe the laws of physics apply to them. Where do we start withdrawing treatment?
For everyone who has abused their organs there are too many positive stories, and I'm not willing to stop my support for transplants based on those few. I do not support transplants for smokers, alcoholics and drug addicts. Some of the patients have been chronically ill for their life or for a long time, and have that "chronicall ill personality" which might explain some of their behavior post-op.
I've known kidney transplant pt.'s who change their habits posttransplant. They keep their pressure under control, control their dm better, etc. Who's to say who will change and for what reasons. All else being equal, I probably wouldn't pick the addict first but if tere were an organ available that wasn't suited for anyone else, why shouldn't he have it?
Hey nurses wake up!!!!l.... we have no authority to "get " life out of somebody... Even in ourselves ..... these are just borrowed life .... and its only the ONE who gave this who has the authority to take it...As nurses... we're all equipt with the SKILLS to prepare a dieing patient... Can we not just use THIS SKILLS???......If you forgot this, better go back to your basics!!!!
Hey nurses wake up!!!!l.... we have no authority to "get " life out of somebody... Even in ourselves ..... these are just borrowed life .... and its only the ONE who gave this who has the authority to take it...As nurses... we're all equipt with the SKILLS to prepare a dieing patient... Can we not just use THIS SKILLS???......If you forgot this, better go back to your basics!!!!
I'm awake, Gil, thank you very much. We are all entitled to our beliefs. We will respect yours if you respect ours.
physician assisted suicide is already taking place [evil][/evil]however the term reads wrong and should be 'physician decided suicide'. giving physicians the legal right to do what they already do ie: often deciding that the ending of the pts,. life fits in with their plans for their four days off, or whatever menial excuse they can come up with., is happening as we debate this issue. i am appalled to see the nursing support for this on the forum and considering the vow that physicians undertake 'the hippocratic oath', it is apparent that in many instances it should have been rightly named 'the hipocritic oath', as they (physicians and those they entice as delegates for their decision, are hipocrites in their chosen field and have decided to play around at being god like. i nursed a pt. who was given the order that his life would be ended and this took place on xmas day because some self-absorbed physician decided to play at being god. the family were robbed of spending xmas day with their loved one in any conscious state because of a hipocrites decision to terminate his life! the problem being the pt. never asked for morphine let alone a syringe-driver with the quantity of opiates that was being so called-legally delivered for so called pain!!!!! there is a larger justice system that has recorded the physicians wrong doing and no doubt all who were procured into acting for her. fortunately for the pt. justice will prevail, just not in the way in which amsterdam legislates! shame on the medical profession!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am appalled by the lack of understanding on how the law works. Physicans do not get to decide on who lives and dies. It is only the patient who can pursue it. I am shocked at that vehement opinions that are not even based in the legality of the issue. In regards to Gil's post I too am awake and I do not recall taking an oath to be the watchdog of everyone else morale compass when I became an RN. What I did learn and do practice is advocacy by letting patients decide for themselves what they want...not the self appointed guardians who imposed their values and decide for them. Please read the law.
Hey nurses wake up!!!!l.... we have no authority to "get " life out of somebody... Even in ourselves ..... these are just borrowed life .... and its only the ONE who gave this who has the authority to take it...As nurses... we're all equipt with the SKILLS to prepare a dieing patient... Can we not just use THIS SKILLS???......If you forgot this, better go back to your basics!!!!
A wise MD once asked me if I really thought his medicines and ventilator and defibrillator could stand b/t a patient and God. Made me think. If I really believe God is soveriegn then what I do can comfort and alleviate pain and perhaps improve the quality of life a little but can neither end or extend life- that is in God's hands. We are all born dying, some just take longer than others.
Under the proper conditions (medical reason, etc.) and very strict guidelines, yes I do.
i voted yes but agree with this part you point ouyt- it needs to be controoled and everyone on board - like to remove someone from a ventialtor is stricly controoled and 2 docs need to sign off- so should the assissted "suicides" - strict controll of the issue and guidelines would stop inappropriate ones like the first poster ( i think it was first poster) talked of
i nursed a pt. who was given the order that his life would be ended and this took place on xmas day because some self-absorbed physician decided to play at being god. the family were robbed of spending xmas day with their loved one in any conscious state because of a hipocrites decision to terminate his life! the problem being the pt. never asked for morphine let alone a syringe-driver with the quantity of opiates that was being so called-legally delivered for so called pain!!!!!
how do you know the pt never asked for anything? were you a part of every single conversation the pt had had with his doctor, be it in the hospital or maybe in the doctor's office?
i am not saying that you're wrong, but perception is everything. if my relative had an illness that was painful and terminal, as much as i would love to have a conversation with him before he died, i would much rather he be as pain-free as possible. if, as in the case of cancers, this means the pt is too snowed to open his eyes, so be it.
if what you say happened is truly what happened, then it is a legal problem, one that most physicians do not copy.
I know because I not only nursed this patient, I am his daughter!!!!!!!!!!!! and witnessed the LMO waltz in and make the following statement. "Its, like this John, you are going to die, we are going to take all life sustaining means from you and end your life by inserting a syring- driver into your vein with morphine that will be delivered until John your life is ended. Do you understand what I am saying John. My father could not speak due to the large esophageal tumour and nodded his head, and drew a slice across his throat indicating he knew he was getting the chop. I hope I have made myself clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!By the way three other people were ended that day, like my father, left alone in the conspiracy whilst the staff fed their faces eating their xmas turkey!!!!!!
First off, please don't be harsh with me. You did not make yourself clear in the first post, you portrayed yourself as caring for the pt, so it was a natural assumption on my part that you were the pt's nurse, not his daughter.
Second, your father could have refused.
Third, I hope you sought the services of a good attorney, because if that's truly what happened, it's malpractice.
I am so sorry this happened to your father and your family but please don't take it out on me.
TazziRN, RN
6,487 Posts
Yes, indeed, very beneficial. Just ask the still-surviving recipient of one of my brother's kidneys, after nearly 18 years. Or the families of his other two recipients, who had 10 more years with their loved ones before dying of totally unrelated causes. Or the home care pt I had years ago who received a cornea and could see her grandchildren. Or young woman I had seen many times in the ER when she was a child on CAPD, finally healthy because she received a kidney. Or ask my high school classmate, who received a heart when hers suddenly failed in her 20's.
Or ask my father.