Let it go? or keep holding?

@basqui (3888)
Philippines
June 14, 2010 7:20pm CST
If you have a relative who is in a hospital, let's say he had a stroke and went into a coma. Reality sticks and the only things keeping him alive are the breathing apparatus and the IVs. Would you keep him there as a vegetable in bed or would you pull the plug and let him go?
3 people like this
16 responses
@saphrina (31552)
• South Africa
15 Jun 10
As hard and harsh as this may sound sweetie, i will pull the plug. No one wants to live from machines. TATA.
@vandana7 (98529)
• India
15 Jun 10
While I wouldnt mind the plug being pulled out in my case, I wouldnt be able to do it anyone I loved.
@saphrina (31552)
• South Africa
15 Jun 10
There comes a time in ones life that you have no choice, Vannie. I don't want to suffer, so i won't let my loved ones suffer.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
IT's hard but it's harder if you are losing money and the patient is in a hopeless case or condition.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
To be honest I don't want to be subjected in this kind of situation. I don't have an answer to this and this is one question or situation that I really want to avoid. If there will come a time that I have to face this, it will definitely put my faith to the test. As much as possible I don't want to resort to Euthanasia...
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
I know what Euthanasia is that's why I've written it but thanks anyways maybe it's for the benefit of other readers who might not understand
@allknowing (130088)
• India
15 Jun 10
There is always a ray of hope that the person revives and so it is not ethical to pull the plug. This is a situation some are destined to go through and the inconvenience is more for those who are looking after the patient. I will not do it but take it as a challenge.
@vandana7 (98529)
• India
15 Jun 10
Some support!
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
That is a real holding on for you. View respected.
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
I say if he is still breathing and alive with the help of the apparatus, don't let go yet. Keep on praying for him and talk to him even if he seems not to respond. But if even with the apparatus, and your relative already passed away, that way you know that God has taken him already. This way, you would know in your conscience that you did everything that you can to keep him. But if the Creator took him already, that is the proper time to let go. Place your trust in the Lord to take care of your love ones.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
24 Jun 10
Having faith in God is really helpful, sometimes miracles happen and some patients survive.
@juicekodai (1121)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
oh, i dont agree on mercy killing and i will never will do that, pull the plug... God will be the only one to decide to let him stay in the world like that or not..
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
24 Jun 10
You have your own view, it's respected. But would you want to see them just laying there until they stop breathing? Laying just as vegetable?
• Philippines
24 Jun 10
i dont know, but i am a very optimistic person.. if the person is still there, breathing, i would still hope and pray she/he will be fine.. let it be in the hands of God..
• Nigeria
15 Jun 10
Choose to pull the plug is a bad decision, though it's painful seeing a relative in that state/condition but no condition is permanent,technology is advancing, someone may come with research and solution to that problem, just take care of the person and if in the process he/she give-up the ghost then no problem.
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
15 Jun 10
to me if there is no chance of all, then i would say let them go and be in peace. i dont think anyone would want to be kept alive in that condition. i know if its me, pull the plung
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I would keep holding, and hope for the best, you never know what will happen, they could pull through. It would be just cruel to give up, and say eh sucks to be you. If it were me I would hope that people would hold on.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
You have a different view and that's a nice thing of you not giving up on hope.
@rabajar (134)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
You better give it up. That person might suffer a lot when you keep on holding on. You also need to accept and talk to him that you're doing that for him. Its easy to say but very hard to do when you are at that kind of situation.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
Lol, I don't want to pull the plug yet if I can still talk to the patient. I'd rather hold on if he still can talk. What I'm saying is if he really can't respond to anything like even a move of hand or finger.
@mspitot (3824)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
that is very difficult. i think the doctor's advise will help in deciding. if he's been in coma for days and the doctor can't really see any sign of progress, maybe i'll let go of him. i'll give him the rest that he need.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
It will be a good decision than letting him stay in a vegetable state. He would just be laying there struggling in pain to hold on but to no progress.
@laratri (253)
• India
15 Jun 10
hi... It was a real difficult thing for them to do i think the doctor's advise will help in deciding.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
YEs, the doctor could give some advice.
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
15 Jun 10
You keep mentioning them being in pain. When you are in a coma, you are NOT in pain. The pain comes when and if you wake up.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
Oh, sorry. I meant for some patients not in coma..
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
15 Jun 10
When I became diabetic this became a very real possibility for me. I refuse to go on insulin and stick my finger every day. I have told my daughter that if I slip into a diabetic coma, let me go, do not revive me...NO INSULIN!!! I watched my mother go through that torture every day for years and it was such a relief when she finally passed! I have had people scold me about this but hey! I would rather the disease take me right away than fight for every day that I'm alive in pain. I live with daily pain now as it is...and not only am I not insulin dependent but I'm not even taking any pills for my condition so I'm doing pretty good with diet and exercise. The medical profession has betrayed my trust too many times for me to buy into their expensive remedies with all their nasty side-effects. When my time comes I want to be as far away from hospital as I can get. I don't want to be lining the doctor's BMW while my daughter is worrying about how to pay for the extreme measures my care requires. That said, I do take care of myself with diet and exercise as much as I am able and herbal remedies when I can and my A1Cs have been really good. Beyond the A1C, though, I don't worry about my blood sugar levels.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
16 Jun 10
That's really sad yet practical.. I've heard similar cases of cancer patients, the patient doesn't want the family to suffer from finding ways to find money for the chemotherapy so she told the family to wait for her to have her time to go. It's really sad but it's better to leave with the family not in debt.
• United States
15 Jun 10
That's quite a tough call and one perhaps I am not suited to make. However, I would say that you should do as the person wished. Gather all the people that knew him best, and discuss not only what would be best for him (what would be the most humane in a way) but also discuss what the person would have wanted. Many times people in my family have told me "If anything like that happens, pull the plug". And so... I know what they would desire. I understand that perhaps this is not how you feel when the situation actually arrives, but... That is the best advice I can offer friend, and I hope I helped at least a bit.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
15 Jun 10
My family still have the tradition of holding on to someone till he fades away but for me I would choose to pull the plug. It's hard but it's better than seeing my relative go through pains in bed. Thank God it didn't happen to my family yet. *knock on wood!*
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
15 Jun 10
That is one of the hardest choices in the world to make I would think. At one hand, it is always hard to let go. You want to cling onto the hope that somehow, by some miracle, that person will recover to live. Even if the chances are slim, I think we want to hope that the doctors were wrong. However, there is a harsh reality that it rarely is something like that. It is much kinder just to let go. Drawing out the inevitable can be unkind to both you, the person, and everyone else. I have never been in this situation and I really do not think I want to be. I would most likely hesitate and would hate to be the person to make the final call. There will always be a lingering doubt in the back of my mind. Granted, the thought might be delusions. Still, its the most difficult decision in the world but logically speaking, it might be kinder to pull the plug, no matter how hard that seems.
• United States
15 Jun 10
I think i would let god do his work!!! Man is keeping him here now... Maybe god needs his help in heaven and we are keeping here for selfish reasons!! not that wanting him here with you guys is selfish but holding on when its time to let go is sorta the same as! sorry to hear abou tthis tragity in your life! Hope you can see the light through the dark!