surgery on girl raises ethical questions

[d3n]

Originally posted by: dquan97
P&N

I have a slightly personal stake in this outlined over at P&N.

 

[FoBoT]

i read this yesterday, i am conflicted 🙁

sad either which way

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JS80
wow to you guys who are suggesting murdering a human being because he is disabled. very hitleresque.

BAN for bringing up Hitler in a thread. Seriously, are you kids programmed to cry "hitler!" when you hear something you don't like, or what?

That girl is never going to be a functioning human being. She's a vegetable.

I said "hitleresque" in lower case because I didn't know what other word to use to describe choosing who gets to live and killing non-perfect people. Geez.

 

[Aharami]

if the parents were leeching off welfare or taxpayers money (I assume they arent because welfare wouldnt pay for these kinds of services) to keep their child alive, then I'd move to oppose. But they are not. And it's their business, not mine. I have no right to say whether a couple should keep their child alive or not

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: JS80
wow to you guys who are suggesting murdering a human being because he is disabled. very hitleresque.

You can call it murder or you can call it putting someone out of their misery.

Why let someone suffer in this world when they don't have any ability to enjoy this world?
It is not only the child that suffers, the parents suffers just as well, if not much more.
At least the child does not understand the sufferings.

 

[RaiderJ]

It sounds like she is mentally aware, but not physically capable of moving. If that's the case, I can see wanting to keep her alive and as comfortable as possible.

I'd rather die than be a mentally aware vegetable. I think I would literally become insane.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JS80
wow to you guys who are suggesting murdering a human being because he is disabled. very hitleresque.

BAN for bringing up Hitler in a thread. Seriously, are you kids programmed to cry "hitler!" when you hear something you don't like, or what?

That girl is never going to be a functioning human being. She's a vegetable.

threatning bans is very hitlersque also.

😉

Nah, hitler would have just shot him. Threatening bans is not very hitleresque.

 

[mrrman]

how can parents do that to their own child...sick if you ask me

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
So what exactly happens when the parents die? Who takes care of her?

No kidding. It's worse than trying to provide for a parrot...I honestly have no idea why people keep those birds as pets.

 

[Fineghal]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: eits

because it's their daughter. it's ridiculous to suggest that her parents not keep her alive.
.

What if someone had a kid that was nothing more than a glob of meat with a heart? It would technically still be a person, but obviously not a functioning one.

Biologically, she's a person.


But she meets none of the conditions required for personhood.

Direct quote here:
"Shortly after birth, Ashley had feeding problems and showed severe developmental delays. Her doctors diagnosed static encephalopathy, which means severe brain damage. They do not know what caused it.

Her condition has left her in an infant state, unable to sit up, roll over, hold a toy or walk or talk. Her parents say she will never get better."

She cannot communicate, she is apparently not self-aware, she does not have second order desires.

I can promise you that an ethics panel for a major hospital examined this case much more seriously than any of the people who are decrying this.

I would be hard pressed, in fact, to find any definition of "personhood" which would encompass her.

Not to say she doesn't deserve care etc. however she is not a moral equal, only a moral patient.

Just rambling but as an emotional interjection, part of their argument was to prevent rape. I think we can all agree that paticular argument is pretty hard to go against.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: eits

yeah, you're right... i was so silly to suggest that loving parents should do what's in their heart in regards to the best interest of their child, family, AND their own personal/emotional stability. what was i thinking?

You weren't thinking- that's the problem.

You have such liberal beliefs that you're completely an emotional thinker and not a logical thinker. Rational decisions aren't going to made by you, plain and simple. Leave the thinking up to people with a fully functioning brain (and that cancels out your ultra-lib friends).

oh, jesus.

thank you for point out my flaw of not being a pure douche who makes decisions for other people. one of these days, maybe i can achieve the status of an emotionless prick like you.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: SampSon
I think a more trying ethical question is: Why are people with severe disabilities kept alive?

Because I believe that one should be on the side of life in difficult situations.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: eits


oh, jesus.

thank you for point out my flaw of not being a pure douche who makes decisions for other people. one of these days, maybe i can achieve the status of an emotionless prick like you.

You are still a pure douche, even if you can't make rational decisions for yourself or other people.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Since their child cannot, and will not ever be able to make decisions on her own, I believe it should be her parents right to decide what is best for her and best for them.
It's a sad situation, and one I hope I will never have to be in.

 

[0roo0roo]

no point letting her grow, what benefit does it give her? nothing. just makes taking care of her harder, so its fine from what i see. at a certain point rights should be limited.

like should a retarded couple be allowed to have children?

 

[DaShen]

W....T....H....

 

[phisrow]

It seems like a brilliant solution to me. We have a kid who will have the mind of an infant, and need to be treated as an infant, for as long as she lives. She'll be much better off with the body of an infant, which will suit her behavior, induce people to interact with her correctly, etc. than she would be with an adult body.

It's a rational, humane application of proven technology to a difficult situation. I approve.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: eits

yeah, you're right... i was so silly to suggest that loving parents should do what's in their heart in regards to the best interest of their child, family, AND their own personal/emotional stability. what was i thinking?

You weren't thinking- that's the problem.

You have such liberal beliefs that you're completely an emotional thinker and not a logical thinker. Rational decisions aren't going to made by you, plain and simple. Leave the thinking up to people with a fully functioning brain (and that cancels out your ultra-lib friends).

you're a tool. go back to reading o'reilly for kids.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'll bet the people who are really pissed about this are the movie theaters. They just don't like the idea of an adult being able to buy a children's ticket for the rest of their life. I can't really blame them for throwing a fuss.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JS80
wow to you guys who are suggesting murdering a human being because he is disabled. very hitleresque.

BAN for bringing up Hitler in a thread. Seriously, are you kids programmed to cry "hitler!" when you hear something you don't like, or what?

That girl is never going to be a functioning human being. She's a vegetable.

You really are an asstard. When it is YOUR child you will think differently. After the child is born and alive you as a parent will do anything in your power to make sure your chil dlives and has the best life it can possibly have.
I have a child with severe mental disabilities and the doctors all say she will never get above the mental level of a 1 year old. Should I just take her out to the country and shoot her?
I wouldn't wish for even my worst enemy to have to have a child with any kind of severe handicap, not even you.

And the reason people bring up Hitler, you uneducated moron, is because he advocated and ordered th extermination of handicapped people along with his ethnic cleansing.

 

[DougK62]

I think that the parents' decision in the posted article is atrocious.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JS80
wow to you guys who are suggesting murdering a human being because he is disabled. very hitleresque.

BAN for bringing up Hitler in a thread. Seriously, are you kids programmed to cry "hitler!" when you hear something you don't like, or what?

That girl is never going to be a functioning human being. She's a vegetable.

I said "hitleresque" in lower case because I didn't know what other word to use to describe choosing who gets to live and killing non-perfect people. Geez.

evolution?
Anyway - I can certainly understand that the parents want to do everything in their power to keep their child alive and provide the 'best possible' life in their view.
Unfortunately I take the much harder stance (some would say cruel) that letting this child live is cruel. Actually, I don't even consider what the child is doing is actually "living" (to barrow the other definition of the word). If the child dies, is it cruel to the child? Can they even comprehend cruel? Overall that is an unanswerable question as the only person who would know that is the child so we can only use our impressions. Its my impression that a release from life would be more beneficial.

 

[Googer]

Sad and wrong.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: SsupernovaE

Originally posted by: SampSon
I think a more trying ethical question is: Why are people with severe disabilities kept alive?

How would you define severe?

Unable to lead a happy life without major constant support or are ginger. 😉

 

[j00fek]

time to shoot those parents