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The Right to Die; The Right to Live
April 11, 2005
(This article was submitted March 28, 2005, just at the start of my vacation. I apologize for the delay in posting. - RG)
The Terri Schiavo case has probably been an ear sore to each and everyone of us here in the States. Day in and day out CNN covers this case like a hawk. Certainly, this gives us insight on what to think about end-of-life. As physicians, we have always been trained to protect life and to uphold it. But there is always a darker side to it. When is prolonging life become more of a burden and when is time to die the right time? You recall the famous Biblical passage of having time for everything under the sun. Often, the shift isn’t clear cut. Like it is in this case of Terri. I find myself switching sides, the physician in me versus the Catholic. Surely, if there was a “living will” then things would have been easier. Would it have been easier for her husband to have divorced her? Perhaps, yes. But we don’t really know the circumstance. It is not my position to discuss the details of this case.
We deal about life and death decisions in daily practice. Some of them certainly easier to fathom and some not totally clear. I have one patient whose family decided to pull off his feeding tube, he ended up eating again with the risk of aspiration but he continues to live. At most times we let nature take its course either through infection, an aspiration, heart attack or re-stroke. Then we are relieved of the utmost decision to discontinue life sustaining means. When we call in hospice to intervene, we are allowing life to proceed in its natural course, to end with dignity, comfort, and respect. This is when quality has become more important than quantity. Removing a feeding tube is certainly harder than discontinuing a respirator. A feeding tube is not necessarily life support but could be life maintaining. That is why the anguish of thousands in supporting its retention. There is no quality of life here but should the tube be removed now. I don’t have that answer. There are legalities to contend with. Her husband has the legal right. Did he forfeit that right by having another relationship while maintaining his marriage to Terri? I have no answer. She has family that would continue to care for her. Should we respect their wishes. That would be up to her husband.
Both sides are pitted against each other. Nobody wins, except when Terri will finally cross over to eternal life. Then all the legalities will come to pass. However, there is always that one thought in the back of your mind. Keep her tube and let nature takes its course. I have no answer. No one is right. No one wins. Life is precious. Is quality to be sought more than quantity? I can’t answer that. If this was my family, it would be hard. We will need to sit down and think … deeply, profoundly …. To keep the love one’s welfare in mind. There is no right or wrong here. There are stages .. the arguments will pile up. Under the sun … there is a time to live … and a time to die. Let it be at that.
Until next.
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All views expressed on this column and any other by-lined articles on this site are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization or its members.
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