Let the poor woman die already!

The BBQ Pit
1041

I’ve been wondering about the affect of the protests on other Hospice patients. That’s fucking despicable. They all deserve a good whack upside the head with a clue-by-four.

As far as anti-Hospice protests - there are people out there who think Hospice is an abomination, and refuse to either go there or allow their family members to be admitted. But I’ve never seen any protestors, and I don’t think my mom has either. Of course, there aren’t any cameras or reporters at other Hospices, which might explain why it’s unappealing.

1042

There are anti-hospice people? WTF???

That sounds strange. Hospice has been a godsend for my family on two occasions. And what’s the alternative? Pointless treatment just for treatment’s sake? If we’d done that to my great-grandmother she’d have come back to haunt us.

1043

I can’t imagine anti-hospice people either since I think they are all amazing, but then again I can’t imagine why this circus is even a controversy. My dad had bone cancer and signed a DNR. He basically died of starvation and dehydration since he was unconscious most of the final week and couldn’t eat or drink. I must have missed all the protestors and CNN cameras outside when my dad died, but they must have been there, right?

1044

Yes, there are anti-hospice people. Some just aren’t comfortable with the idea. Some are religious-types who believe that we should take every possible measure up until the last possible second, because we never know when God is finally going to work that miracle. Some object to the fact that palliative care can hasten someone’s death. Some feel that it’s lazy, or that it encourages doctors to give up too quickly when more could be done. Some think that we’re just trying to kill off people we find inconvenient.

I found it odd the first time I encountered it in a patient’s family. I’ve found that it isn’t a position that people reason themselves into, so it isn’t worth trying to reason them out of it.

1045

I sometimes wonder if the way modern society has managed to make death “the other”, something that most people have very rare contact with personally, is a good thing or a bad thing. While it’s great that people live longer and don’t die of (now) simple-to-cure-or-prevent diseases anymore, it’s tended to create this intense fear of death, not just as an ending of our contact with a person, but as some alien thing that’s contrary to nature. That’s what fuels the anti-hospice crowd, the anti-PAS-crowd, the extend-her-life-no-matter-what crowd.

It’s funny how God managed to keep his miracles straight before we could hook people up to machines that made them breathe and circulate and eat, isn’t it? :smiley:

1046

Used to be the extreme religious zealots were anti-medicine, saying it was “God’s will.” Now it’s the exact opposite.

1047

Jesse Jackson (“I reassure Michael Jackson every day that he’s just the victim of a conspiracy”) is on CNN going on about how cruel it is that Terri Schiavo is going to be left to die. or something.

I can’t actually concentrate on what he’s saying because I’m mesmerized by the sign-holding protesters walking behind him. They look like ducks at a shooting gallery, slowly walking behind his head, holding signs just a bit too high for the camera to actually see what they say.

I made out people holding bottles of water, a shredded flag, and a ‘just do it’ sign complete with Swoosh. I’m sure Nike loves that advertising tie-in.

1048

I am still laughing at the “Lassie” reference a few pages back. Thank you, whoever posted that. ( I know it’s bad form to not give credit where due, but I blanche at the thought of rereading all of that…)

The AAAAHHHHH WAAAAHHHH bit reminds me of “The Odd Couple”–with Felix ribbng Oscar on “Ohhhh Whhhaaa Tttttaaaa ggoooo Sssiii Aaaammmmmm”

Say it quickly to yourself. :slight_smile:
I’ve seen any number of dying pts over the years, and never have I seen one whose “skin was falling off” and whose “eyes were bleeding”, but I don’t get out much.

I find myself myself angered by the morons who have created this circus of hysteria and prevented OTHER families from their last moments with their loved ones.

I third MS as man of the year.

And now for a complete 180—I think that MS should let the Schindler’s have their RC orgy-er, funeral and burial.
To me, this whole debacle has been about control–MS representing Terri and her parents–who controls Terri. MS did the right thing and deserves much credit and accolade for his commitment.

But I think that these parents will need a High Holy Mass (with JPII for all I know) to release them from their delusions.

If he insists on cremation and burial in his family plot–this won’t end, ever.

Maybe this strikes people as hypocritical, but to me, MS did all he could while TS was alive. I see no harm in letting her “rest” with her family and her life celebrated according to the rituals that her parents hold dear.

Unless Terri has said otherwise—yikes! I can picture the lawsuits now!

Ummm. And this case has brought up a huge conflict within my marriage. My husband wants EVERYTHING done for our kids(if we found ourselves in this situation) and doesn’t care how many years they are kept alive artificially. (he wouldn’t want that for himself, mind you, just the kids…)
Oy. and Veh. We got a long way to go over here…

1049

Actually I was wondering about this. Why aren’t groups like the Christian Science people and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (who don’t believe in certain types of medical treatment) speaking out against this sort of legislation? Seems like a slippery slope when the government starts to enact laws against a persons wishes.

Or are they on the picket lines as well, because religious prohibitions against medical treatment are okay but secular prohibitions are not?

1050

My experience is that Christian Scientists are just not that intense.

For one thing, Christian Scientists think in principle that prayer should be enough to heal. Most of them go to doctors like everybody else, it’s only the really hardcore ones who wouldn’t. And secondly, refusing medical treatment for yourself is not at all the same as saying it should be denied to everyone else.

1051

Thanks. Didnt know that.

I thought it was one of those things, where you weren’t allowed to be half-assed Christian Scientists. Kinda like there is no such thing as a half-assed Amish. Well… maybe that’s what the Amish call the Mennonites.

1052

My FIL was initialy opposed to hospice care. He thought it was a scam, and that they were going to con my MIL out of all the money.

Ivylad basically told him (he was in the hospital at the time) that he could either stay there, or go home under hospice care, because those were his only options. He also pointed out that hospice was also to help Mom out, not just him.

They were wonderful people. IIRC, doctors have to recommend people to hospice care, and it’s generally when there’s about six months to live.

So, Dad got to die at home, in his bed, which is what he wanted.

He didn’t eat or drink a lot those last few days, either.

1053

Our hospice experience wasn’t all that good, but I wouldn’t preclude trying it again if the situation arose.

I don’t agree that MS should let the Schindler’s control the funeral. I can just visualize the breast beating, hair tearing, made-for-tv show the Schindler’s would put on. We could accept bets as to who would fall to the ground wailing first (I say Mrs. Schindler).

Certainly both families could not attend or the funeral home would need to put in metal detectors.

1054

MS cannot prevent the Schindlers from holding a memorial service. He controls the remains, but anybody can hold a memorial service, complete with all the histrionics you described. I am sure the Schindlers are planning a Must See TV event as we speak.

1055

I agree, the Schindlers are going to have their circus event either way. The best Michael can do is deprive them of having the body a trophy but I have no doubt that the Schindlers are already working closely with Fox News on producing the grandstanding service to end all grandstanding services, comlete with all the histrionics, lying, delusions, and slanderous accusations we’ve come to expect from these people.

i think it’s revealing that while the Schindlers and their hangers on have been performing for the cameras all week, Michael has remained continuously by Terri’s side and has studiously avoided doing interviews. I suspect that his own funeral for Terri will be similarly discreet, quiet and genuine while the Schindler’s own Circ de Soleil unfolds on cable news. Ten bucks says the Schindlers event will have monkeys.

1056

When its over, who will Randall Terry speak for next??

1057

I find this incredibly sad. Why aren’t the networks interviewing the family’s of the other hospice patients? I’m sure most of them are highly pissed, to say the least.

1058

. . . Taking bets as to who’s the first to compare Michael Schiavo to Scott Peterson . . . Her family? A preacher? A lawyer? Jesse Jackson?

(Unless it happened already and I missed it?)

1059

If I were MS I’d be making a long list of every asshole that stood up and slandered me in public and as soon as the funeral was over, I’d hire a good lawyer and start marking them off. I don’t know if he will, I don’t even know if it is possible. But it would sure be satisfying.

Testy

1060

I saw a protester with a sign comparing him to OJ Simpson and Robert Blake.