(no subject)

[techdragon]

I am having a hard time processing this....

http://cnn.aimtoday.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20041130%2F1754217753.htm&sc=1103&photoid=20010410NY190

EDIT: [AS IN] I can't seem to form an opinion on this subject as presented in the article. I don't know whether or not to be for it or against it - for this specific ideal.

Comments

[wolfka.livejournal.com]

I may very well be lambasted for this - but i am a supporter of legal human euthanasia. And i guess, i think if the parents are in agreement with the doctor's decision... then it would be okay to do.

But i don't have kids... and maybe my opinion would change if i did. But it's just my opinion, and i can accept being thwapped over the head for it.

~megan

[bifemmefatale.livejournal.com]

I felt horrified when I heard the initial teaser for this story...but then I heard the doctor himself speak on NPR. The 5 babies euthanized so far were already in the process of dying from severe spina bifida, were undergoing intense, irremediable pain, and the doctors were begged by their parents to end the childrens' suffering. The doctor made it quite clear that the hospital was bringing this to the attention of the media and government in order to be given a very clear set of legal guidelines.

I acknowledge that this is an extremely slippery slope, but after hearing the doctor speak I feel confident that he was/is acting in an honest and ethical manner, with full involvement of both doctors and parents in the decision. If my child were suffering horrible pain without possibility of relief, and were terminal, I have to say I would seriously consider euthanasia, just as I would like someone to do the same for me.

[muse-de-nuit.livejournal.com]

I know it sounds bad to "euthanize babies," but I had a cousin with severe spina bifida who lived for about two months in the most wretched pain I've ever seen. She convulsed almost continuously, mouth permanently open in a silent scream, hands shaking violently clenched. It was horrific. I was only about 13 at the time, and I grew up on a farm (where animals born with deformities were promptly put down to end their suffering), and so it was inconceivable to me that they couldn't do anything for this tiny human being. I only hoped that her serious neural defects kept her from *consciously* suffering... hoping that only her most basic animal brain functioning was operational... but even then I wouldn't want to see any creature suffer like she did. An overdose of sedatives would have been a blessing, in my opinion. I think if the doctors determine that the infant is terminal and they can not control his or her pain... and the parents make an informed decision to have to the procedure... then infant euthanasia should be legal. Of course, that's just my opinion along with a little background on how I developed it.

[asaka.livejournal.com]

Along the same lines as my pro-choice stance: I don't support killing babies. But I do support mercy. And I do not think euthanasia is "murder". Granted, a baby can't make decisions for themselves, but on the other hand, you can see when they are in pain and are going to die anyway. What's the other option? If it's known they're dying, then they will die. Just either in a long and painful way or in a short manner. Nothing would have happened that wouldn't have in the other scenario aside from some pain and suffering can be skipped over.
This is why we euthanize our pets when they get so sick they are dying too. And I don't say this to belittle babies at all because I love my cats deeply.
I think the media makes too much of this. In fact, I think the media is corrupt once again, but that's for another post. Rather than sharing news and facts they now have taken the role of sharing and enforcing opinions. Damn them.

[obafugakum.livejournal.com]

I support a hospital policy that lets the parents and doctors make this decision together. Is there room for abuse? Yes, but there always is. Could this lead to other less ethical policies, or doctors pressuring parents (or vice versa)? I won't say it can't happen. But the policy that was stated in the article I found very humane.