Doctors advised unplugging 'vegetative' Mandela's life support
Source: AFP
Doctors treating Nelson Mandela said he was in a "permanent vegetative state" and advised his family to turn off his life support machine, according to court documents dated June 26, obtained by AFP Thursday.
"He is in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine," said a legal filing related to a family dispute over reburying the remains of three of Mandela's children.
"The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.
"Rather than prolonging his suffering, the Mandela family is exploring this option as a very real probability."
Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvM1BBxhXlqqfm40TYnqLM5E730w?docId=CNG.bdaecc6e13e31942ce0802a5f2d89e7a.ad1
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)jonthebru
(1,034 posts)I may be old fashioned, but I don't care who the person is, how prominent or famous; that persons dying conditions are a matter for the family to discuss and carry out.
Why any journalist would think this is news is way beyond my personal or cultural ethics.
So, are we having a poll or vote? Pull the plug.
let the poor old soul die in peace , and pull the plug . A vegetative state ad infinitum is not "life" .
muriel_volestrangler
(101,166 posts)if the doctors' professional opinions are accurate, anyway.
If the family were able to discuss things quietly among themselves, it wouldn't have come out. But they're in the middle of a big battle, with bodies of 3 of his children being dug up from one site and reburied at another.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)madrchsod
(58,162 posts)he will live in the hearts and minds of the people who were touched by his deeds.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)This should not have been released without the families OKing it.
I have had to make this choice before and it is very hard. I would let him go in peace.
sabbat hunter
(6,825 posts)have the same doctor/patient laws regarding privacy that we do?
That being said, I do not know why this is being made public.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)The legal papers allege what the doctor said.
As far as we know, no doctor did anything improper.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)It is time to let him go then.
merrily
(45,251 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Either someone was lying or his decline has been very rapid.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Breaking @BreakingNews
South Africa Presidency: Doctors deny reports Nelson Mandela is in a 'vegetative state' - @PresidencyZA http://bit.ly/12oY96t
https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/352889291078242305
Clarification on the health of former President Mandela
04 July 2013
The Presidency has noted media reports about the condition of former President Nelson Mandela and would like to make a clarification.
Former President Mandela has been and remains under the care of a multi-disciplinary panel of South African medical experts drawn from the South Africa Military Health Services, the public sector, the universities and the private sector. Under this panel a team of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals attend to Madiba on a 24 hour basis.
We confirm our earlier statement released this afternoon after President Jacob Zuma visited Madiba in hospital that Madiba remains in a critical, but stable condition. The doctors deny that the former President is in a vegetative state.
http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=15682
markpkessinger
(8,381 posts). . . the man is nearly 95 and is on life support, and is highly, highly unlikely to recover. To the Mandela family, stop 'exploring this option' and let the man go to his final rest already.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)You are the greatest fighter of our time.