Vera's story in the Catholic Herald this week shows what is going on in hospitals up and down Britain every day. An ordinary member of the public, concerned at the way in which an elderly person is treated, faces the determinedly soothing assurances of the medical professionals as her friend is dehydrated to death.
The family are frightened and defensive because they have accepted the assurances of the medical professionals and would be horrified to think that they had been complicit in Vera's death. We should understand the pressure that they have been subjected to. After all, whose advice should they trust? The doctor and the nurses are telling them what is "best".
We need to hear the stories of those who are closely affected by the euthanasia that is now practised in Britain. These stories need to be archived, put on record, so that future generations can say "Never Again!"
7 comments:
I live in Australia. My mother died two and a half years ago. Towards the end she was unable to drink more than sips of water, however, when I broached this with her GP he insisted that as long as she was taking anything by mouth they would not put in a drip. I lived a 5 hour drive from her at the time, and she was being cared for by my brothers, neither of whom are practicing the Faith, had no idea of how insidious the culture of death is and trusted the GP and nurses implicitly. Although I had power of attourney, this did not come in to play as she had not been declared mentally incompetent. I was at the stage where I was going to pursue this when she died. I will never know whether she died from the disease or from dehydration - I suspect the latter. It is very difficult to fight against the medical profession. They are so sure they are always right. Please pray the repose of her soul.
At the moment, it seems that some states in Australia, particulary Victoria, are watching everything that happens in Britain and then implementing it here.
Andrea
Fr. Tim,
Recently, a friend of my parents was seriously ill and was admitted to hospital. His family was then "encouraged" by the medics to agree that he was in a terminal situation and that the life-support machinery should be switched off on a let's-get-it-over-with basis. And it was. When I heard the story it just sounded like the hospital was having a clear-out of outdated stock.
The person was a Catholic and I do not know whether any attempt was made to find a priest to administer the sacraments before the apparatus was disconnected.
We need to intensify our prayers that we do not have an "unprovided death" -- a precipitous departure without spiritual and sacramental preparation. And also that we have the strength to stand up for incapacitated parents and grandparents when Dr. Secularist decides that they are life unworthy of life. Now where does that expression come from...?
There are several cases where families have challenged the neglect of patients. The victims all seem to be elderly and are either being not fed/hydrated as policy. In one case, a family which brought in their own home cooked food to feed their mother was told by the hospital that they could not do so. These cases amount to a systematic policy of Euthanasia by stealth. I am sure they will all come out very soon.
"Quia si in viridi ligno haec faciunt in arido quid fiet."
I found this article particularly disturbing, not least because I have an elderly Aunt, actually named Vera, and would be totally horrified that such a thing could ever happen so quickly to her. As it is, this is not euthansia but murder as the consent of the person concerned (not that she could morally give that, anyway) has not been given. Palliative care should never hasten the death of the patient, except incidentally, e.g. the administration of pain killers that are needed but that also may shorten the patient's life. It certainly should never include the deliberate starvation or dehydration of the patient. That is no longer palliative but intentionally destructive. Sadly it seems, even without positive legislation, that euthanasia is practised today in the UK. We need to speak out against this - as a Church and as individuals.
Thanks for the post!
I've got a 'nice video' related to this topic. It makes its point!
k.c.
http://kneelingcatholic.blogspot.com/2009/09/speaking-of-palliative-care.html
Dear Father Tim,
I am an NHS Consultant Anaesthetist. I read Vera's story thoroughly and would like to make some comments:
The diagnosis of acute abdominal inflammation is non specific, but most likely describes a catastrophic event such as perforated or clotted off bowel, or pancreatitis. Any of these caught too late would be irretrievably and agonisingly fatal in a 48 yr old, let alone a 98yr old. Her bloated appearance, unconsciousness, and breathlessness suggest advanced multi-organ failure to me.
Water by mouth or feeding tube would only induce vomiting as it would not get beyond the stomach. Intravenous fluid or feed which I consider extraordinary treatment, especially when there is no hope of recovery, would be for whose benefit, her or those watching her?
Strong palliative drugs are of course clearly indicated, and morally allowed by second effect. Commonsense and long professional experience must always win out over eager but amateur well intentioned anxiety.
Euthanasia will only be stopped by pro life professionals fighting from within, against the rising tide of the culture of death. Alarmist newspaper articles such as this one do not help our cause: they make us look foolish.
Dear Brian
Intravenous fluids would be for her benefit. Swabbing the mouth with a damp sponge is not a substitute for proper hydration: where that can be administered, it should be, surely.
Palliative drugs will not be a case of "double effect" - if they have an effect, they will prolong life, not shorten it.
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