Zach LarkinsDR DEATH
Nick, of Nickoftimes Sanity Corner inspired this and I swear, I'm going to kill the bugger. Or at least maim him a little bit. At least, give him a severe tongue-lashing. Or lash him with a wet noodle.
Nick is a veterinarian and I've told my wife this guy can write. I follow him regularly and wifey checks in once in a while just to keep me honest about him. Anyway, he wrote this great piece about horses and ever since, my wife and I have been talking about what it must be like to be a veterinarian. I swear, if Nick ever retires, he's got a future as the next James Herriot.
So, we're sitting out on the patio the other night, jawing about Dr. Kevorkian's release from prison. What does this have to do with a vet, you ask? Stay tuned.
Dr. K is a bit scared of going back to the big house. He won't even talk about assisted suicide anymore in fear that he'll be violating some parole restriction. And the subject came up, like he said, what's the difference between what he does and what a vet does? Nick knows all about this. He gets to give the rabies shots, treat a cat for hairballs, spay or neuter an animal. And I know he dreads the days when a pet owner comes in and says, "It's time to put Fluffy down."
Nick can't hear that from the animal. He has to use his judgment and go with the owners wishes. That's got to be a real bitch (no pun intended).
So wifey and I are going over this and we come to the conclusion that what Dr. K was doing is not that different. The big difference is that Dr. K is treating humans who he can communicate with. We don't put humans down. We call it euthanasia. And that's a no-no. Why?
If I were to hear I had cancer and a year to live, you don't think I party hardy for the next year? I seen people die from cancer and when the end became imminent, I've seen them suffer in pain. No thanks. Put me out of my misery. Quickly please. If I was in a bad car accident, survived, but had to spend the rest of my life as a vegetable, no thanks. Put me out of my misery. Quickly please. People like Stephen Hawkins have my utmost respect because I know I wouldn't be strong enough to carry on with affliction such as his.
I can put up with (I hope) going deaf, losing a limb or going lame. Just please never let me go blind. My eyes aren't great but they've allowed me to see the world so far and it would be terrible to lose that sense now. Wifey told me of a movie she had seen years ago that revolved around a fellow who was nothing more than a head and a torso. Deaf, dumb and blind, he was kept alive anyway. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live like that. Send me to heaven where I'll be made whole and well again. Quickly please.
Nick has cost me two sleepless nights on this. Like I said, he can write. And he makes you think. I think Dr. K has a valid point that should be looked at more closely, more honestly. Thanks for bringing it up for me, Nick. But I'll tell you now, keep this up and I'll let you deal with wifey directly. Maybe I'll be able to get some sleep.
For more on this subject, visit www.thoughtzone.net. Winston has done a fine job and some great research on it.
Nick is a veterinarian and I've told my wife this guy can write. I follow him regularly and wifey checks in once in a while just to keep me honest about him. Anyway, he wrote this great piece about horses and ever since, my wife and I have been talking about what it must be like to be a veterinarian. I swear, if Nick ever retires, he's got a future as the next James Herriot.
So, we're sitting out on the patio the other night, jawing about Dr. Kevorkian's release from prison. What does this have to do with a vet, you ask? Stay tuned.
Dr. K is a bit scared of going back to the big house. He won't even talk about assisted suicide anymore in fear that he'll be violating some parole restriction. And the subject came up, like he said, what's the difference between what he does and what a vet does? Nick knows all about this. He gets to give the rabies shots, treat a cat for hairballs, spay or neuter an animal. And I know he dreads the days when a pet owner comes in and says, "It's time to put Fluffy down."
Nick can't hear that from the animal. He has to use his judgment and go with the owners wishes. That's got to be a real bitch (no pun intended).
So wifey and I are going over this and we come to the conclusion that what Dr. K was doing is not that different. The big difference is that Dr. K is treating humans who he can communicate with. We don't put humans down. We call it euthanasia. And that's a no-no. Why?
If I were to hear I had cancer and a year to live, you don't think I party hardy for the next year? I seen people die from cancer and when the end became imminent, I've seen them suffer in pain. No thanks. Put me out of my misery. Quickly please. If I was in a bad car accident, survived, but had to spend the rest of my life as a vegetable, no thanks. Put me out of my misery. Quickly please. People like Stephen Hawkins have my utmost respect because I know I wouldn't be strong enough to carry on with affliction such as his.
I can put up with (I hope) going deaf, losing a limb or going lame. Just please never let me go blind. My eyes aren't great but they've allowed me to see the world so far and it would be terrible to lose that sense now. Wifey told me of a movie she had seen years ago that revolved around a fellow who was nothing more than a head and a torso. Deaf, dumb and blind, he was kept alive anyway. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live like that. Send me to heaven where I'll be made whole and well again. Quickly please.
Nick has cost me two sleepless nights on this. Like I said, he can write. And he makes you think. I think Dr. K has a valid point that should be looked at more closely, more honestly. Thanks for bringing it up for me, Nick. But I'll tell you now, keep this up and I'll let you deal with wifey directly. Maybe I'll be able to get some sleep.
For more on this subject, visit www.thoughtzone.net. Winston has done a fine job and some great research on it.
DEBATABLE CONVERSATIONS...
with one exception, my first cat was called 'Fluffy' - *sob sob*
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
Then consider the horrific case of Terri Schiavo. Her devoted husband allowed her to lie there in a "vegetative state" for 12 or 13 years before slowly starving and dehydrating her to death when he magically remembered that she once said she "wouldn't want to be a vegetable." Her friends and family had long been forbidden to stimulate her or work with her to improve her condition. The few times (at the beginning) when she started to show improvement, the adoring husband left his mistress long enough to put a stop to anything that could return Terri to anything close to normal. At the end, when all appeals had been exhausted, the cold blooded murder was carried out with Terri's family having to watch her slowly die. But her husband was the "pet owner" and legally permitted to kill her.
The main thing I want you to consider is that if Terri had put her death wish in writing before she fell ill, there would have been no case. He kept her alive for the millions he was awarded to care for her. Then he killed her to collect on life insurance policies when that money ran out. Do you see something wrong with this scenario?
If you want to be executed for an illness or injury, put it in writing and leave no doubts. If you want to be kept alive as long as there's any hope, put that in writing before the fact.
I saw a man on the news last week (from Europe somewhere) who had been in a "vegetative state" for about 20 years. He didn't say he wanted to be killed and his wife stayed with him. He woke up and is expected to make a full recovery.
My main point is that you should make your wishes known, whatever they are. Otherwise a Dr. Kevorkian, a court or a Michael Schiavo will be able to get away with murder.
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
As for Terry Schiavo, I can't believe that anyone is still incensed by this. There was NEVER going to be a recovery. Did you see the results of her autopsy? Her brain was, for lack of a better word, pudding. Unless her recovery included regenerating all of her atrophied, useless grey matter, she was functioning as well as she was ever going to. I, for one, would prefer to be allowed to die with some moderate dignity, and thus spare my family the burden of thankless years watching me rot, then to be kept alive like a piece of meat hooked up to some tubes. Likewise, if my dad or my brother or my wife was in the same condition, I would not hold them here in a state that makes a mockery of life. They would not want me to. Or, if one of them was terminally ill and truly, truly suffering, and this option was the one thing they craved to end that suffering, who am I to deny them? I don't feel their pain. I can't speak of their ability to weather such agony. How then can I condemn them to suffer it against their will? If someone is of sound mind, and is demonstrably eligible for assisted suicide, they should not be judged harshly for that decision.
If you disagree, that is your right. But to deny people the right to choose otherwise is not just an infringement of their rights, it is deeply unethical.
Youranter, good post. I did a post on this myself, a few days before Kevorkian's release. This subject is good food for thought.
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
Thank you both for your comments. This is not a subject that is easy to put on a back burner.
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Here's the link to my post, if you want to take a look at it. I'd be curious to get your take on it. That goes for you too, SL!
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
If it ever got to the point where the State decided whether I were to live or die, regardless of my own wishes....I'd renounce my citizenship. It is absolutely wrong to deny someone an easy, relatively painless death, if they are in a terminal state or brain dead.
listen, stop blamin me cause ya havta use your mind dammit! Put that beer down slowly, and back AWAY from the keyboard!
LOLOL
But seriously, I tend to agree with you...it should be a matter of choice and legislation should be passed to make it legal...
However, forced euthanasia of human beings is a damned site different than it is with animals....I'm not saying that animals don't have souls or can't think and feel for themselves...because they can...and no, it isn't easy to put down any animal, but the only redeeming part about having to do that, is that the animal no longer suffers...
In the case of people, those who still have conscious, rational thought processes, can make decisions for themselves and are suffering from a fatal disease, then yes...I'm all for the right to choose...
This is a very touchy subject for me, because I sit on both sides of the fence here for many reasons...
a) I have a terminal illness
b) I already have a clear, precise and indisputable set of instructions to follow for every possible contingency...
Existing on life support to me is an oxymoron...because it is not living in any form or sense of the word, so therefore, when my time comes, everyone will know what's to be done and no one has the legal power to contermand my instructions...
I have seen owners struggle horribly with the decision to put their beloved pet down, and I have also seen family members drive themselves half crazy trying to decide whether or not to pull the plug on a relative...
Either way you look at it, it sucks to be in that situation...But my feeling is simply this...if you still have full mental capacity and are conscious and completely rational, then the decision should be yours alone to make...
Not someone else's, because they're not feeling what you are...They're not the one's suffering and in pain...But if there is even the slightest question, the slightest doubt, then no...forced euthanasia should not be an option...
Bad as that sounds, you have to think about the thousands of comatose people who HAVE recovered...who HAVE regained consciousness, even after years of being in a vegetative state...
Then again, it's all a matter of perception isn't it? If someone has absolutely no brain activity, then why bother to prolong things? That's simply being selfish on the family's part...
I personally don't think Doc K is doing anything wrong by humanely assisting people to die who are suffering so horribly...If it were me? I'd ask him to do it personally...
Fantastic blog buddy, thought provoking and well presented as usual...
Now, stop blaming me for problems with the wifey! LOLOL You married her, she hasta put up with YOUR tutonic butt, so deal with her British one!
LMFAO!
take care, both of you!
High fives to Ranter, hugs n stuff to the wifey,
Nick
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
No, I don't advocate forced euthanasia for anyone, but as you said, if a person is in full control of his/her mental faculties and knows what's coming, let them decide for themselves.
Sounds like you're feeling better. I hope you're back home soon. Take care and get better quick, buddy.
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Let's hear about the trip...
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern