Living while dying
Reflecting on (2nd place, Story of the Month)29 total reviews
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
It is a pity that palliative care, especially for the elderly is underfunded and also under appreciated. When someone is dying they are regarded as finished and as they are soon to be leaving this world, have no value in society. It is only when we ourselves are in that position that we realise how important it is to end out days on a happy note. Your work is very much needed and valued and I hope you continue with it Wendy. I'm remember when my Father was dying, we never left him alone, we made sure he always had company until the end, we all felt this was important, a fine write, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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It is a pity that palliative care, especially for the elderly is underfunded and also under appreciated. When someone is dying they are regarded as finished and as they are soon to be leaving this world, have no value in society. It is only when we ourselves are in that position that we realise how important it is to end out days on a happy note. Your work is very much needed and valued and I hope you continue with it Wendy. I'm remember when my Father was dying, we never left him alone, we made sure he always had company until the end, we all felt this was important, a fine write, love Dolly x
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thank you Dolly for this thoughtful response. I too regard the palliative care work as valuable. One is always best to err in the side of caution. In this case of VAD, there is no room for error.
Wendy
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
There is so much in this difficult article, from the emotional to the moral to the theological. I think firstly it is indeed a great danger to put the power in the hands of the people. All revolutions have shown in history that one group of people does indeed shift to another, who has a different agenda. The risks are compounded because you are talking about irreversible decisions, one wrong step and you are lost. And that of course is where theology comes in. I think we have to be careful about moving too far away from our roots, or we will have nothing to hold us from being blown away into nothingness. kay
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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There is so much in this difficult article, from the emotional to the moral to the theological. I think firstly it is indeed a great danger to put the power in the hands of the people. All revolutions have shown in history that one group of people does indeed shift to another, who has a different agenda. The risks are compounded because you are talking about irreversible decisions, one wrong step and you are lost. And that of course is where theology comes in. I think we have to be careful about moving too far away from our roots, or we will have nothing to hold us from being blown away into nothingness. kay
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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An excellent response, Kay. So articulate and well thought through. You?ve summarised my thoughts very well and I appreciate your review greatly.
Wendy
Comment from Pantygynt
If this article does nothing else it may help people understand what a thorny problem this is. There are no easy answers. The sick and dying must be protected from those who would harm them, but who decides what 'harm is' in difficult cases. Not everyone is a believer and those who are not will miss out on the 'comfort' belief is supposed to bring.
I thought this a well researched ans argued case, eventually coming down on the side of those who would take no accelerating action, merely making the patient's final days as comfortable as possible.
The six stars are not because I necessarily agree with the conclusions of the author but because she had the the courage and motivation to write a well-argued paper, written from the point of view of experience.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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If this article does nothing else it may help people understand what a thorny problem this is. There are no easy answers. The sick and dying must be protected from those who would harm them, but who decides what 'harm is' in difficult cases. Not everyone is a believer and those who are not will miss out on the 'comfort' belief is supposed to bring.
I thought this a well researched ans argued case, eventually coming down on the side of those who would take no accelerating action, merely making the patient's final days as comfortable as possible.
The six stars are not because I necessarily agree with the conclusions of the author but because she had the the courage and motivation to write a well-argued paper, written from the point of view of experience.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thank you very much Jim, and also for the six stars for the writing. Greatly valued indeed. Yes there are too many grey areas, and I fear the laws will be changed down the track to make it easier and more widely available, (and also more economical) until it becomes the norm, and to me that is a concern. Thank you again for your very thoughtful review.
Wendy
Comment from Aussie
Bravo. You dove with both feet on this one. When I was nursing palliative care, we simply upped the morphine and the lungs collapse. The future holds changes; like sick animals, I believe dying and disabled (brain damaged) will be put down. I don't believe in a box with a key. Man fears looking into the eyes of dying. We know it is simply a transformation to spirit and 'going home' our real home. My partner died in 2019; we both signed the forms for 'do not resuscitate.' She was down for 45 mins (brain dead) and the Dr brought her back. Ended up on a ventilator in ICU, lived on for two days. Then they said 'sorry she died?"
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Bravo. You dove with both feet on this one. When I was nursing palliative care, we simply upped the morphine and the lungs collapse. The future holds changes; like sick animals, I believe dying and disabled (brain damaged) will be put down. I don't believe in a box with a key. Man fears looking into the eyes of dying. We know it is simply a transformation to spirit and 'going home' our real home. My partner died in 2019; we both signed the forms for 'do not resuscitate.' She was down for 45 mins (brain dead) and the Dr brought her back. Ended up on a ventilator in ICU, lived on for two days. Then they said 'sorry she died?"
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thanks so much Kay, also for the six greatly valued stars, and also for sharing your own sad story. Yes, I do think there is a difference, and "Do not resuscitate" means "do not prolong a natural death and keep somebody alive by medical means only", and that is okay, for the natural processes are taking place. The person is not choosing a box so they don't have to go down a painful path. If they are still able to unlock a box with a key and self-administer, are they really at the point of NEEDING it? That's why I think the laws will all be changed, and it will be made easy to do it for some-one else if they are beyond it and there is no Assisting Practitioner available, and their wishes may or may not be taken into account. I don't trust law-makers very much!
Wendy
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I have no family. Will be 78 in Sept. I bought a non-attendance funeral. Cremation for $2,500. I have put my name down at a nursing home but it still doesn't take away the fear of being abused. Sigh. Oh, get a new keyboard, borrow one and try it. If not, it is the computer because it talks in numbers! Like me, I talk under concrete!!
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Everything I have is new. I think it is FS.
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I won't annoy you anymore.
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Lol. You are fine. I just don?t think it?s my keyboard as I see the same when others respond to me. Cheers. Nevertheless I?ll check with my IT son when I next see him.
Wendy
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Goodie gumdrop, mum's got a tech nut!
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Oh believe me, I need him! Even if he does think I'm a tech-idiot. Lol.
W
Comment from royowen
Yes, you're right of course, but I guess their unbelief thinks there's no judgement after death, but it's probably best to resist the euthanasia group, there's more hope in that wait, while one is still alive one has hope, beautifully written, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Yes, you're right of course, but I guess their unbelief thinks there's no judgement after death, but it's probably best to resist the euthanasia group, there's more hope in that wait, while one is still alive one has hope, beautifully written, blessings Roy
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thank you Roy, for your thoughtful review. Appreciated, as always.
Wendy
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Excellent writing.
Your arguments are succinctly developed and presented in a logical fashion.
We in the U.S. had this public debate (euthanasia) a couple decades past with the publicity surrounding Dr. Kavorkian. It died down without codifying end-of-life measures. Many people, including both my parents use Hospice to 'help' them pass on by eliminating all medical services accept palliative (pain and comfort) care.
Introducing spirituality into the conversation begs the question of whether a Christian would 'ever' allow, or condone, the death of a known non-believer?
Thank you for offering this piece.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Excellent writing.
Your arguments are succinctly developed and presented in a logical fashion.
We in the U.S. had this public debate (euthanasia) a couple decades past with the publicity surrounding Dr. Kavorkian. It died down without codifying end-of-life measures. Many people, including both my parents use Hospice to 'help' them pass on by eliminating all medical services accept palliative (pain and comfort) care.
Introducing spirituality into the conversation begs the question of whether a Christian would 'ever' allow, or condone, the death of a known non-believer?
Thank you for offering this piece.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Yes, a very good question. Thank you for your very thoughtful review, appreciated. It's very difficult to have a good discussion on these ethical questions - will a Christian be given the right to not participate in any way which might encourage such a death? The fact is, if they can manage to open the locked box and self-administer the drug, are they really at the point of needing it for intolerable pain? Or are they just avoiding going down a painful road?
Wendy
Comment from Tom Horonzy
You are a work of art, or better than that, a work of the heart. Caring, supportive, finding ways to improve the day of another. Going outside yourself to care for another be in human or animal.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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You are a work of art, or better than that, a work of the heart. Caring, supportive, finding ways to improve the day of another. Going outside yourself to care for another be in human or animal.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thanks so much To. I appreciate your kind words!
Wendy
Comment from Brett Matthew West
Notes full of html. Makes them distracting and an easy error to correct.
You seem to voice opinions on several issues in this piece.
Interesting read with insightful information provided.
Happen to agree assisted suicide should be an option for certain individuals and that there are many grey areas involved with that situation. However, can understand why some would see this as viable.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Notes full of html. Makes them distracting and an easy error to correct.
You seem to voice opinions on several issues in this piece.
Interesting read with insightful information provided.
Happen to agree assisted suicide should be an option for certain individuals and that there are many grey areas involved with that situation. However, can understand why some would see this as viable.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thanks for letting me know about those gremlins. Yes I have edited them out. Thank you for your thoughts. Appreciated, as always.
Wendy
Comment from Sanku
It is a very thought provoking article .V AD has ,how ever we try to explain it, a lot of question marks, a lot of 'what ifs'. And as you rightly pointed out where is the Power Above Us here?
yes there is a concerted attempt to move away from God...
Thank you very much for this detailed analysis ..
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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It is a very thought provoking article .V AD has ,how ever we try to explain it, a lot of question marks, a lot of 'what ifs'. And as you rightly pointed out where is the Power Above Us here?
yes there is a concerted attempt to move away from God...
Thank you very much for this detailed analysis ..
Comment Written 02-Apr-2023
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2023
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Thank you very much for thoughtfully reviewing and for the honour of six stars. Greatly appreciated!
Wendy