the whole catholic angle on shaivo is really weird...

[cap]

my mother died in a catholic hospital of a brain tumor. It was very fast acting and at the end of her life she was incapable of swallowing. The hospital did not order us to put in a feeding tube or pressure us in any way to take extraordinary measures.

[Divernan]

1. The difference is in never starting life support versus turning it off.

And this holds true across the board, not just in Catholic hospitals. That is why, at state legislative hearings on this issue, paramedics and EMTs explained that if you find an elderly relative unconscious or even apparently dead, and call for assistance, AND that relative has executed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, you better meet the responding medical personnel at your front door to hand them that order. Because their training is to start CPR and other treatment at once.

And once life support treatment of any kind has started, the hospitals get into all kinds of legal concerns before that support can be turned off. Of course, if you live in Texas, it's simpler - just tell the hospital there's no insurance or other money to pay them and they'll turn those machines off in 10 days. That 's thanks to the bill Governor George Bush signed to save money at the expense of the uninsured. Malthus called it "reducing the surplus population" and in George Bush's America, the only place where that "surplus population" belongs is getting themselves blown up in Iraq.

[Mr_Spock]

2. Your cynicism is very appropriate in your post

...and very much appreciated :D

[Divernan]

3. Yeah, but cynicism is a sad thing to bear.

On a brighter note, Mr. Spock, I once took my kids (lifetime Trekkies) to hear Leonard Nimoy speak. Afterward we lined up to get his autograph on his book of poetry. He kindly posed with the three kids so I could take their picture. I was using one of those little cameras with the flash "tower" attachment (back in the early 70's) and it fell off the camera and roled under a chair.
I couldn't believe that that sweet guy got down on his knees to reach under and retrieve it for me and wait until I could take another picture. His mama raised him right! I wish he were president!

[Mr_Spock]

5. Awww, Leonard is a good guy!

I'm glad he is a good doobie - unlike the narrow-minded bigot boy-king inhabiting the WH - ah, well :nuke:

[cap]

4. legally that is true, but

ethically, isnt it the same situation as Terri...

We didn't even try to feed my mom. In the last few days before she stopped eating, I took soft food and put it in her mouth. It could take 2 hours to feed her. When I saw she wasnt chewing, I stopped trying because she could have choked on the food.

It still is witholding nourishment either way you look at it.

The priest was there giving her last rites (4 times... my sisters and I didnt coordinate too well on this).