vegetative state

I'm with you. I believe her wishes should be taken into consideration. What I don't understand is why her parents would want to hold onto her life the way it is. I think it's cruel and I admire her husband for fighting so hard for her.

If I should ever end up in such a state, I hope someone loves me enough to say "Let her go".

My belief is that she has been kept in this condition already for 13 years. If she were going to recover, she would have done so by now. As sad as it is to lose a young person to a tragedy, it is more sad to keep them alive for the benifit of the family. I say let her die with some dignity intact. Our prayers go out to the family in this very difficult time.

I'm with baglady....

I truly hope, and have told my family this, that if I'm ever in such a condition love me enough to let me go.

I don't believe her condition is living it's merely existing...

Just MHO.

"vegetative state "

Oops. I thought this thread would be about Mississippi.

My husband & I have discussed this often, although we have not put it in writing.---I know, we should get it written!!

We want nothing done!! How awful it would be to have your wishes ignored and especially by people who supposedly love you. How Heartless!!

As some one all ready said, if she was going to wake up, she would have done it all ready.

This does show the importance of putting your wishes in writing!

My parent and I have talked about this and none of us want to left hooked up to any machine. I only hope I'm strong enough should there every be a time like that to turn everything off.

I also agree with Lecia

"I don't believe her condition is living it's merely existing... "

I think most of us would agree we wouldn't want to be in a vegetative state.

The question is many years into it, with the agrument that she isn't in a vegetative state, does her husband now have the right to "kill" her or "withdraw treatment".

I have strong opinions and have voiced them under current events. Basically, I think it's cruel and selfish for persons in vegetative states to be kept alive. Of course, I don't advocate pulling the feeding tubes off the 10,000 or more persons in this condition. But we are only keeping them alive for ourselves, not for the betterment of their lives.

Also as a disclaimer, I have cared for many such persons in my neuro career and my current unit. I treat them with compassion, talk to them, give them back rubs, am super maticulous in oral care and bowel care, the whole nine yards because they need me, same as I would any patient. I separate my feelings (which basically are against the md's and the families anyway) from my caring for the patient.

I agree that she is not living, just existing, but I could not pull that tube and watch her slowly die. Since Gov. Bush has stepped in, maybe the best way to resolve this issue, is what will be done if she contracts a illness that could lead to death? Will treatment be forced on her or will they allow her to die? I have great sympathy for the husband and her parents, brother and sister. Seems like somewhere along the line, there needs to be a talk/meeting between her family and husband and docs to resolve this issue. We need to keep this family in our prayers and remember to take care of these issues for ourselves and our loved ones. We never know what will happen to each of us before the day is over.

Originally posted by sjoe

"vegetative state "

Oops. I thought this thread would be about Mississippi.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I live very close to this situation. Regrettable, I have endured the facts of this case over and over again through the preceding 13 years. The problem is you can't just pull the plug after thirteen years. If your going to do the deed, you have to do it relatively quickly months not years later. I applaud her husband's love and commitment, but it isn't going to happen. Thirteen years is an awfully long time to tie up a hospice bed. The husband should (in my opinion) give it up, and let her parents take her home. I agree this is certainly no way to live. If it happens to me and you walk by my room please put a pillow over my head. The facts are: we all know how parents are when it comes to their babies, and giving them thirteen more years with her has just strengthened that bond. Unfortunately your SO's word isn't good enough - it's got to be in writing.