Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew330
Bryan Dhai - how do you know "that's what she wants"? Are you privy to some info the rest of us aren't? You did say that's the only way you would do that.
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I
don't personally know that's what she wants. But (1) if I did, and (2) it were my place to make such a decision, then my answer would be yes, I could be responsible for her death by removing her feeding tube.
More specifically,
If you're asking whether or not as a healthcare provider, could I pull a feeding tube on Ms. Schiavo now, after all the controversy, then the answer is still yes.
As a married woman myself, and with several years of healthcare work behind me, I am reasonably comfortable with the assumption that her husband is far more likely to be aware of her wishes than her parents. I know very few people for whom talking about death and dying... especially their own death and dying... with their parents is not exceptionally difficult. Even when its the parents who are trying to discuss their own arrangements, its a difficult thing for parents and children to discuss between themselves. My own parents know my personal wishes, but that's because I'm perverse that way... I don't give a shit what causes them discomfort, the decisions about my body, my health, my life and my death are too important to leave it to them to decide.
I learned from one of the most amazing women I have ever had the honor of knowing, my hubby's stepmom, about how to live and die on my own terms, and how important it is to do that, and not accept any compromises. Rachel was an absolutely incredible person, and I still miss her dreadfully. But I wouldn't trade a second of the quality time we spent together during her last days for even a few more minutes if it meant that her wishes were being disregarded.