Feeding tubes
To my family and friends,
FOR THE RECORD:
If 1-I am unable to communicate, drink, eat, or go to the restroom without a tube in the corresponding orifice,
AND 2- I show no signs of improvement in the ability to do the above,
THEN
Please consider my state of being as "dead" despite any other definition of life. Please also do not take any measures to prolong my "life" in such a situation as I would not consider it to be of quality.
Simple enough, right? Well, I guess not according to our congress and President. Regardless of where you stand on the political issue of right to life/right to die, I hope the Schiavo case will get people talking to their families and loved ones about what they would want at the end of life.
You don't need a living will or DNR or power of attorney, although I'm not saying those things are bad. You don't need to be a medical expert and list off all possible scenarios and interventions. Such a list can in fact create problems if an intervention might be needed only temporarily in an emergency.
In my opinion, the most useful conversation everyone should have should be to answer the following: What is quality of life for YOU, and what daily activities or functions are so important that not being able to do them would make you feel functionally dead?
Whether your definition is on one extreme: "If I am no longer able to run a marathon or jump out of a plane, then let me die" or the other: "Any measure of life in me should be considered evidence that I want to keep fighting - do all you can to keep me here" does not matter so much, although I think most people are somewhere in the middle.
What DOES matter is that those who love you (who will be making decisions about your healthcare if you are not able) know what your views are.
Personally, I feel that I could still be "alive" as long as I am interacting with the world. Maybe that means only being able to watch television, listen to music, and say hello to loved ones by waving at them and smiling, provided there isn't plastic attached to either end of my GI or GU tracts.
4 Comments:
This case does show that people have the capacity to care, and care deeply, about another's life. However, it also shines light onto hypocracy, for many of the "right to life" activists themselves may support the war, or eat meat, and thus, Their compassion is all funneled into one american's life. Ethnocentric stage of care, and a coping mecanism to keep them sane, i am sure. However, it moves me that they do care THIS MUCH. the genuine care is there. but, instead of opening as limitless love and careing about all life, this care seems very narrowly directed. Also, this case is more proof that not only do people care about life, but peaple really fuckn fear death. They must see death as "end" instead of process, or death as "failure" instead of natural. May we all be free from suffering.
Hello -> Jane <- I just wanted to let you know that Feeding tubes was an interesting read and well presented. Just my two cents.
Regards,
Quality of Life Improvement
Hello -> Jane <- I just wanted to let you know that Feeding tubes was an interesting read and well presented. Just my two cents.
Regards,
Self Improvement Motivational Speaker
Hello -> Jane <- I just wanted to let you know that Feeding tubes was an interesting read and well presented. Just my two cents.
Regards,
Improve yourself
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