would you call it murder?
Italy woman sent to clinic to die
A woman at the centre of the right-to-die debate in Italy has been moved to a clinic where she will be allowed to die after 17 years in a vegetative state.
Eluana Englaro was transferred by ambulance overnight to the private facility in the northern city of Udine.
The Vatican and anti-euthanasia groups have strongly opposed the move.
In November, Italy's highest court ruled Ms Englaro's feeding tubes could be withdrawn, but the health ministry then warned state clinics not to do it.
On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI added his voice to the debate about euthanasia, calling it a "false solution" to the tragedy of suffering.
"The true response cannot be to give death, even if it is seemingly more soothing, but to show the love that can help people face pain and agony in a human way," he said in his weekly address.
But the pope did not mention Ms Englaro, 37, who has been in a permanent vegetative state since a car crash in 1992.
Her father, Beppino, has been battling with the courts in Italy to let her die since 1999, insisting it was her wish.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7867197.stm
I agree OM, and i am sorry for you or anyone who has/will ever have to make a gut wrenching decision like that.
I guess it is one of those things that is so close to general term it is just cased as being under the ubrella of euthanasia, it's just one of those things, i agree though, it's nothing like the case that is going on the UK right now. It is a choice made by the family, for the family. Just a shame that something should be absolute in it's privacy always seems to dredge up some kind of media attention.
I also think that keith has touched on good thing there, being that, at one time is was only really needed to write a last will and testament, but as medical technology advances, and they manage to sustain us for that extra year or so, it is important to document legally your wishes for a sistuation like this.
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Horrible situation to be in,for the familly and the patient . Personally I have let it be known to my own nearest and dearest that in such a situation I should be allowed to pass.
i think it should not be considered euthanasia in this case. mercy killing is when the person can still function, but chose not to.
in this case, the only reason she was alive is the food that is pumped into her body through a tube. she was not functioning normal, if at all. all other systems are medically sustained only, and that is not life.
i went through the same agony of making that decision for my little girl. it's not a life. her body is forced and sustained by something artificial, without which, her body will die gradually.
it IS inhuman not to help them to rest. nobody should be allowed to keep existing like that. it is selfish not to let them go.
Its just allowing or helping someone to die peacefully and with dignity.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
I agree that a person is merely "existing" and the burden lies with the family, not only financially, but emotionally.
Have mercy and let her go when she can truly rest in peace.
Everything has its reasons....it could be true to this woman. We may not call it "life" that she has, but being in a vegetative state, she must have been experiencing another life dimension(after all, God is still allowing her to live?!) If we look at it at face value, it seems unfair. But maybe, while she is in that state, something has been transformed, something has been polished...not just on herself, but to those who have been in contact with her...
One thing we can do is to continue loving, continue caring...that could be the last thing that they will experience. Even in that state, they can feel. We don't know what it could do to them.
No it's not murder. It's allowing someone to die with dignity.
some say a person in vegetative state has the will to rest himself. they will just stop breathing even with the artificial support.
its one of the reason that Churches dont allow euthanasia.
but it is a very tough decision considering the emotional and financial straint of the family and i just feel sorry for the patient...if i am the patient i would simply rest in peace. but maybe the she isnt ready yet to bid goodbye..Only God knows...
I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it. ~Charles Schulz
-even in her vegetative state she can still feel the pain and agony of her condition-
resting in peace will not only ease the burden she is suffering... God Bless Her
and a tough decision to make :(
MJ_so touchy...
i cannot imagine life in a vegetative state....
Samael, with you 100% on that. Also imagine the finacial burden on the family.
Did you Google it first?
God have mercy on her. She could not live but now she has to fight even to die. It's the worst nightmare and after reading this,I'am sure I will have sleepless nights. Thanks for sharing this MJ. I have seen a new dimension of suffering.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
IT is in deed a tough decision to be made, I cannot imagine what would someone feel in such position where a humanbeen's life is in your hands.
Euthanasia is as touchy a subject as Abortion and Racism.
All people can do is really give their opinion based on their belief/Morals and how they would like to be treated if in that position.
I personally think that it was the best thing to do. 17 years of vegetation, even if she did by some miracle get her motors running, her muscles would be utterly destroyed, and she would be screwed in any case.
I think it is Inhumane to allow someone to EXIST like that. It is not life, it is just being.
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