nuke44, perhaps it is I who owe you the apology. You sounded like a number of folks who I've heard rail against Holland's system, and I may have jumped to a conclusion. if you've had surgery in Holland, I'll have to put much more stock in what you say. As I said in my previous post, my impressions of Hollands system are from reading a few of their gov't officials, and from my friend. My friend though, is not likely to have been exposed to the darker side of life there.
I'm not terribly familiar with Holland euthanasia stance, but I do think it's pitiable that in this country we won't even give our old folks the same consideration we'll give our dogs and cats. Fido is on his last legs, suffering terribly? That's ok boy, we'll end your pain. Grampa--you have to suffer because your life is sacred.
Before anyone says anything about a slippery slope...my mother died in September of 1997. She had a stoke that caused massive brain damage. She had made it clear that she didn't want to live like that, and had spelled it out in a living will. She would have required a feeding tube, and round the clock assistance. Our only option within the law was to withdraw her food and water and watch her dehydrate to death. For the life of me, I don't see any difference in the act of letting her dehydrate, and giving her an injection that would have had it over quickly. Well, except for the fact that it took a week for her to die.
Barb |
