Who Decides to Remove Loved Ones from Life Support, Family, Hospital or Government?

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
This latest case is in the news right now. A girl supposedly was suffering from sleep apnea, and the family decided to let her get a tonsillectomy to help her. Well, after the operation, she became what is considered "brain-dead". http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2..._operation_may_be_taken_off_life_support.html

The hospital wants to pull the plug, but the family wants her to stay on life support. They are trying to move her to another facility in New York, and I believe they have a week to do it. I imagine if the family has the means to pay for all the necessities to keep her alive, then it should be their choice. I honestly don't know all the details of the case, but they're taking about it now on a radio show, and I'm hearing various people's opinions.

I think it should be the choice of the family on whether or not to 'pull the plug', providing they can afford future care. I don't think the decision should be made by the hospital, state/government. There have been past cases, and I know this is a very difficult decision to be made. I think if it was my family member, and they were diagnosed as being brain dead, I would voluntarily pull the plug for my loved one.

My mother was in a diabetic coma, and the doctor's said if she came out of it, she would be a 'vegetable' due to brain stem damage...so we had to think about her future. In her case, she went naturally and we didn't have to make that hard decision. The talk show host said that he and his wife had to make that decision for their own daughter, and they knew they had to take her off life support. What are your thoughts?
 

I went through a similar scenario with my sister. She was hit by a drunk driver and was in a vegetative state, so our family had to make the decision. It isn't an easy one, of course, but looking back at it now after 43 years I would never have wanted the hospital or the government to make that decision - it isn't theirs to make.

It might not be ours either, if you believe in certain religious principles, but I still think we're closer to the person and should have more say than some coldly efficient office worker.
 

Speaking in the abstract, I think that it is the family's choice whether or not to cease artificial life support but there is a limit to the resources available, and someone else may be depending on the equipment who still has a functioning brain and some hope of recovery. Hospital administrators have to juggle resources and patients and their relatives don't always understand this problem.

In the particular case being referred to, the family has not yet given up hope and need more time. All other things being equal, they should be allowed that time. If they have the financial resources to provide for their daughter without denying someone else a chance to live, then the state has no right to deny them this option.
 
Watching the news while in the doctors office today, they explained that in California, once a hospital declares a person brain dead the insurance company will cease paying for further care. As of 5 PM today the hospital was set to pull the plug. There were a couple of nursing homes willing initially to take the girl, but backed out. Possibly when they learned there would be no insurance funds coming to support her. Don't know what happened as of now, if they pulled the plug or not.

I think it's sad after this long that the family can't come to terms with the reality that she's never coming back and let her go peacefully.
 
Yes, I agree Phil, but they are getting more and more power to make medical and medicine decisions for us. They have the power because very few have the financial resources to go it without them, and we are at their mercy.
 
Its really simple,make your wishes known on paper and have it notorized with a lawyer.

THERE,you just pulled your own plug.
 
Davey Jones said:
Its really simple,make your wishes known on paper and have it notorized with a lawyer.

THERE,you just pulled your own plug.
Click to expand...

Not that easy Davey, unless you have unlimited resources and are not at the mercy of insurance companies.

But if you're referring to a person saying "no heroic measures" being taken, I agree that it should be in a directive. However, this is a child and the parents are the responsible parties making the decisions on her behalf.
 
All of the above.

But pivotal to Warri's point that no amount of money should preclude the chance of saving someone's life to accommodate the whim of a family to keep their own hopeless case alive.

If they have the financial resources to provide for their daughter without denying someone else a chance to live,
Click to expand...
 
Living wills are the way to go for adults but I don't think a minor can have one.

In a case like this the parents can make the decision IF they both agree. If they disagree then it will be up to a judge.
 
Diwundrin said:
All of the above.

But pivotal to Warri's point that no amount of money should preclude the chance of saving someone's life to accommodate the whim of a family to keep their own hopeless case alive.
Click to expand...

And who should be the arbiter of "hopeless"?

What happens when a medical opinion goes against a family's emotions? And BOTH go against the juggernaut that is the insurance companies?

As much as I distrust the medical establishment, I feel they are the most qualified - IF they are not being swayed in their decision by economic considerations, which is a VERY large "if".
 
And who should be the arbiter of "hopeless"?
What happens when a medical opinion goes against a family's emotions? And BOTH go against the juggernaut that is the insurance companies?

As much as I distrust the medical establishment, I feel they are the most qualified - IF they are not being swayed in their decision by economic considerations, which is a VERY large "if".
Click to expand...

An insurance company can over-rule medical gurus in something like that? Really???

That's not so in this case though is it?

But then who knows if brown envelopes were passed, we're never be sure I guess, that's why we're paranoid.

I'd presume though that the court would demand more tangible proof, EEG tests etc than the word of one medico.
To falsify those results would entail a conspiracy among the medicos and technicians and the more that know the more likely it'll be leaked.
Falsification would be tantamount to premeditated murder really wouldn't it? How many doctors would be willing to risk that
for a bribe? Remembering that they'd all have to be in on it, not just one. Those doing the deal in the insurance company would also be implicated right? mmmmmm.
 
Have been following this sad story as it is local and my heart goes out to her family. Definitely, the decision should be left to the family. Unfortunately, the fight is over who pays for her upkeep...
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top