I'll be more specific

Post #201,116 by ben_tilly 3/29/05 2:27:12 PM Reply	I'll be more specific If most of my forebrain was destroyed, enough that in the opinion of neurologists (note, not radiologists and not non-practicing doctors who happen to be grandstanding politicians) I was no longer "Ben", and there was no medical hope that I'd ever regain speech, conciousness, etc, then I do not wish my body to have life preserved in my body. If all I retain is reflexes etc on par with a cat, I don't want my loved ones to be tortured by the continued existence of my breathing corpse. Is that enough for you to be willing to follow my wishes were I in Shavio's position? More difficult for me is the question of what to do if conciousness or the hope of conciousness remained but all that I had left was a life of pain and agony, then I'm more conflicted. I'm less confident of the ability of doctors to make such a diagnosis and I might have a hope of existing. In that case I can't give a simple rule to follow, but (in the event that I'm unable to express my own wishes in that situation) I believe that my wife would make a reasonable choice and I'd want that choice followed. (Were my wife not herself both an interested party and a medical professional I might be less inclined to say that than I am.) Would you be willing to accept her choice in that situation? Still curious, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #201,118 by mmoffitt 3/29/05 3:28:06 PM Reply	Dunno about him. But put it in writing, with witnesses along with a statement affirming your good mental health from a third party, and that'd be enough for me. bcnu, Mikem Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer. God Bless America.
Post #201,124 by ben_tilly 3/29/05 5:31:12 PM Reply	The statement of good mental health might be a problem... We're all a little crazy here... All the rest I think I just provided. :-) Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #201,120 by Arkadiy 3/29/05 4:00:40 PM Reply	I have one last question for you Suppose that you are indeed reduced to the level of a cat. And the cat actually looks like it understands that it's dying, and indicates that it wants to live. Not as Ben Tilly, but as a cat. Would you like me to kill that cat? The words of the detective from "Crime and Punishment" come to my mind: the law never punishes the actual criminal. The "trembling creation" that is locked up or executed is not the superhuman being who commited the crime. (can't find the exact quote at the moment :( ) -- And what are we doing when the two most powerful nations on earth -- America and Israel -- stomp on the elementary rights of human beings? -- letter to the editor from W. Ostermeier, Liechtenstein
Post #201,121 by Another Scott 3/29/05 4:19:35 PM 3/29/05 4:43:03 PM Reply	The problem is that we can keep bodies alive indefinitely. A post on K5 illustrates the [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org/comments/2005/3/23/204359/812/184#184\|problem with hard and fast rules] about who is alive and who isn't. There, in practice, is some subjectivity in talking about brain death. That's another reason why a person's wishes should be respected. The problem is that we have the technology to keep bodies alive indefinitely. Bodies can be put on heart-lung machines, dialysis machines, etc., and be kept alive for a very, very long time. Most would agree that those are artificial machines, and many would argue that G-tubes for food and drink aren't in the same class. But if a person indicates in "clear and convincing" terms their wishes not to be kept alive by artificial means, I think their intent should be honored. If not, when should such patients be allowed to die? Death comes to everyone. Interfering with the death of those who are in a PVS robs them, and us, of liberty, IMHO. What's your alternative? If there's a chance that a person in a vegetative state might have changed their mind, then their plainly expressed wishes when they were well should be disregarded? Family members should be allowed to violate the plainly expressed wishes of a person past the age of majority? The state should have the right to interfere with a person's dying liberty? I don't think so, but I would like you to elaborate on your opinion on what a just alternative should be. Thanks. [edit:] tyops Cheers, Scott. Edited by Another Scott March 29, 2005, 04:43:03 PM EST Expand All History
Post #201,123 by ben_tilly 3/29/05 5:30:14 PM Reply	The answer is, "Yes" In more detail, I do not consider it a great wrong to kill a cat. It isn't something that I think you should do every day, but I regard killing a cat as far less serious than, say, killing a fully functional person. In particular in this case I'd consider the act justified by the amount of pain and suffering that I'd avoid in people who care about me. (It may be that I'm seriously overestimating how much they care about me and they would suffer no grief at my prolonged lingering. But my belief is that they would and my wishes are based on that belief.) Would you want my wishes respected yet? How many variations on the same question do you need me to answer before you'll give me a final answer on this? Still wondering, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #201,125 by Arkadiy 3/29/05 5:34:36 PM Reply	Yes, you have me. And, I asked you not "variations", but "degrees" of the same question. -- And what are we doing when the two most powerful nations on earth -- America and Israel -- stomp on the elementary rights of human beings? -- letter to the editor from W. Ostermeier, Liechtenstein
Post #201,148 by tuberculosis 3/29/05 7:59:59 PM Reply	Don't worry Ben, I'll kill you "Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect" --Mark Twain "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." --Albert Einstein "This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mental losses." --George W. Bush
Post #201,163 by ben_tilly 3/29/05 10:27:20 PM Reply	Appreciated. But only if it is time. :-) Carrying out my wishes prematurely would be against my wishes. While I still have wishes, of course. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #201,166 by drewk 3/29/05 10:32:19 PM Reply	My mother was just a little too enthusiastic I asked her about this on the phone a couple of days ago. Said, "I just want to make sure if Jenn ever decides it's time to pull the plug you won't fight with her over it." Mom said, "She'd have to beat me to it." Uhh ... thanks? === Purveyor of Doc Hope's [link\|http://DocHope.com\|fresh-baked dog biscuits and pet treats]. [link\|http://DocHope.com\|http://DocHope.com]
Post #201,173 by Another Scott 3/29/05 10:46:04 PM Reply	:-)
Post #201,216 by Silverlock 3/30/05 8:49:23 AM Reply	Did you forget her birthday or something? :) ----------------------------------------- "In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." -- H. L. Mencken Support our troops, Impeach Bush. D. D. Richards
Post #201,169 by broomberg 3/29/05 10:38:51 PM Reply	I'm a bit more extreme I'm in agreement with Ben here, but actually I'd take it a bit further. If I'm deemed in an irreversable coma, or if I'm merely in one for over a year, kill me. Get it over with. This means even if there is brain activity. For all you know, my dreams are horrible nightmares, and I'd rather have nothingness than take a chance.
Post #201,170 by boxley 3/29/05 10:41:22 PM Reply	it all boils down to is there more after death? and you dont know unless you die. crap shoot or anal retention, you choose, thanx, bill All tribal myths are true, for a given value of "true" Terry Pratchett [link\|http://boxleys.blogspot.com/\|http://boxleys.blogspot.com/] Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 48 years. meep questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org]
Post #201,358 by Ashton 3/31/05 5:52:28 AM Reply	.. to be or not to be?___to coin a phrase ANd whether it's the Bardos or the Xians' deliciously-fantasized vats of boiling oil or an absence of ..to sleep, perchance to dream! -- clearly this is >the LAST Question you'd EVER want a fucking committee to answer For you.< (Unless yer a collectivist like marlowe, My Gramma and these bloody sanctimonious Neoconmen. Redundant to state, of course - they're psychos by inspection) Whole fucking country is driving itself Rushhannity-mouth Disneyland Wacko. Boring bunch of twits to boot - the final insult to any intelligent life left.
Post #201,171 by drewk 3/29/05 10:43:55 PM Reply	Pretty much with you on that one My mother agrees with us, too. Keep in mind that my mother had polio as a child and has used crutches ever since. She knows more about being disabled than most people discussing this. And she says if anything ever happens that will leave her in the same condition as Christopher Reeve was, she'd rather not make it. Conscious, fully-functioning mind, but complete physical disability, she doesn't want to live with. I'm not sure I'd want that, but if it ever happens I want to be able to make that choice for myself. === Purveyor of Doc Hope's [link\|http://DocHope.com\|fresh-baked dog biscuits and pet treats]. [link\|http://DocHope.com\|http://DocHope.com]

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