On Both Sides of the Atlantic, a Debate Over Quality of Life

On Both Sides of the Atlantic, a Debate Over Quality of Life - Longevity | Prevention | Aging - FOXNews.com

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Was John Paul II Euthanized?

The title is misleading, at least by my definition of "Euthanized", but according to the author it fits the official catholic definition. We'll never know for sure, and in this case, even knowing all the "facts" would still leave a lot up to opinion and judgment calls.

The point of the author appears not to be to criticize what was done by the Pope, but to criticize how the church deals with people in similar situations that do similar things.

Was John Paul II Euthanized? - TIME [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Emilio Gonzales - Fight over baby's life support divides ethicists

Fight over baby's life support divides ethicists - CNN.com

Emilio is 17 months old and has a rare genetic disorder that's ravaging his central nervous system. He cannot see, speak, or eat. A ventilator breathes for him in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Austin Children's Hospital, where he's been since December. Without the ventilator, Emilio would die within hours.

The hospital contends that keeping Emilio alive on a ventilator is painful for the toddler and useless against his illness -- Leigh's disease, a rare degenerative disorder that has no cure.

Emilio's mother, Catarina Gonzales, on the other hand, is fighting to keep her son on the ventilator, allowing him to die "naturally, the way God intended."

Update: More at the Washington Post

I'm going to have to think about this one some more, and maybe read some more, from both sides.

The medical decision lies with the boys parents....

But the doctors and hospitals have the right to refuse to follow the parents (or anyone's) wishes if they think it harms the child and/or is futile.

Then there's the cost issue. Doctors and hospital have gone to heroic and expensive efforts to save people even when there is only a slim chance of it working, and even when no one can pay for it. But in this case it sounds like they are not doing any actual "TREATMENT" for this child, they are just keeping him alive.

In my opinion, the purpose of artificial life support is to keep a patient alive long enough to repair, or cure them or for them to heal after a treatment. If there is no chance for cure or healing, and the person is in pain (or unable to communicate), then the question of how long to keep them on life support becomes very important. [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Italy: Judge rejects man’s request to cut life support

Judge rejects man’s request to cut life support
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16242596/

"The (Italian) constitution states that no one can be forced to undergo health treatments unless ordered by law".... but the since "Italy’s medical code requires doctors to maintain the life of a patient." .... no one can legally remove this respirator.

Go figure.... [This Post Continues after the jump...]