Health

Rozlee

(2,529 posts)

23. The article left out a huge reason that many people cling to life even when terminally ill.

Wed Oct 16, 2013, 10:22 AM

Oct 2013

Religion. I'm going to be stepping on some toes big time and I might even have my post deleted, but here goes. I'm an atheist, but also a retired RN. I've seen my parents die and my oldest sister died 2 months ago. I'm the only atheist in my huge Hispanic Catholic family. I've seen how many religious people try and cling to life. Many do so from a belief in how precious earthly life is, from dogma that life should be fought for by every means possible or for fear of afterlife retribution, among other things. I had a few family members that were militantly against ending the suffering of our loved ones because they thought giving up on Life was a sin. Yes, with a capital L. Like earthly life is its own deity and throwing in the towel means apostasy. This is a topic that the doctors in the article didn't touch with a ten foot pole, but one that I believe is as responsible as many others for decisions made to extend life near its end.

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Doctors' Secret for How to Die Right [View all] xchrom Oct 2013 OP

This sort of information is especially useful Turbineguy Oct 2013 #1

Yesterday my cat had a stroke and I took her to the vet. safeinOhio Oct 2013 #2

So true, safeinOhio. brer cat Oct 2013 #6

My vet took us out to a gentle stream behind her office KurtNYC Oct 2013 #9

so very sorry for your loss. niyad Oct 2013 #20

I'm so sorry for your loss... magical thyme Oct 2013 #15

what a very thoughtful vet niyad Oct 2013 #21

My vet and I had the same conversation when we ended my best friend's life 4 years ago mountain grammy Oct 2013 #17

so very sorry for the loss of your furbaby, safe. know how very hard it is. have heard others niyad Oct 2013 #18

My mother is going through this right now Snake Plissken Oct 2013 #3

I'm so glad you are having better quality time with your mother, CrispyQ Oct 2013 #11

I went through the same thing with my mother this past spring. Squinch Oct 2013 #35

This is the right thing if society is paying for your health care costs. i miss america Oct 2013 #4

I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this. MineralMan Oct 2013 #5

This is how our new healthcare system will operate. i miss america Oct 2013 #29

What is how it will operate? MineralMan Oct 2013 #31

I think we need a better strainer. Squinch Oct 2013 #33

society isn't paying for my health care costs, but I know it's the right thing for me magical thyme Oct 2013 #16

That will soon change once the new system is in effect. i miss america Oct 2013 #30

And how, exactly, do you think it will change? And by the way, where are you Squinch Oct 2013 #34

what will change? my lack of interest in endless procedures to drag out my death? magical thyme Oct 2013 #36

This is a very good thread, xchrom. brer cat Oct 2013 #7

Please read thisi TNNurse Oct 2013 #8

when one of my relatives chose hospice I had her neighbors and friends KurtNYC Oct 2013 #13

How is this new or controversial? AtheistCrusader Oct 2013 #10

Fine post, but why the aggressive subject line? You're on the same side. nolabear Oct 2013 #24

I am. AtheistCrusader Oct 2013 #25

Thank you for this post. russspeakeasy Oct 2013 #12

My brother chose hospice, and while so very difficult for us, it was the right thing to do FailureToCommunicate Oct 2013 #14

My brother was the first hospice patient back in 1980 before anyone even knew what hospice was.... a kennedy Oct 2013 #22

My father was a physician for 55 years, and he chose hospice and palliative care. ColesCountyDem Oct 2013 #19

The article left out a huge reason that many people cling to life even when terminally ill. Rozlee Oct 2013 #23

Not to mention : hedgehog Oct 2013 #26

Sadly, there are family members of a patient who is incapable of making decisions question everything Oct 2013 #27

I think a lot of the problem is that the family members who say, SheilaT Oct 2013 #28

I've already nixed dialysis Warpy Oct 2013 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #37

I know several people who have made 'advanced directives' to try to avoid such a fate LeftishBrit Nov 2013 #38

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #39