Would you pull the plug?

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I

IloveyouGod

Guest
#1
Some of you may have heard about that woman who went in a coma and has been like that for months and months and her husband is fighting to get the right to pull the plug n' let her go.

And there's another case here in Canada of a 30 years old woman who is 22 weeks pregnant with her baby, got a sudden headache and was declared brain dead right after. Now she's on life support. They're trying to keep her till the baby is born with a C section as per her husband's request.

These things happens all the time with so many different scenarios.

So would you pull the plug generally in these cases? Or you would take it case by case?

I would say if the person is in a coma, I wouldn't terminate the life because you never know, they might come back. But if the person is clinically declared dead, then I don't know if terminating the life is ok or still a sin?......because I believe our lives belongs to our Creator, God, so no one has the right to terminate it under any circumstances.
 
W

ww_21

Guest
#2
In November 2013, my grand dad suffered a heart attack and was placed on life support. After about two weeks, they decided to 'pull the plug' and I can't help but wonder what if they had not done it? What if we just left him on the life support? Would he have eventually come back to us? So the answer to this is no I would not. If It's someone I love there's no way I'm letting go.
 

mystdancer50

Senior Member
Feb 26, 2012
2,522
50
48
#3
If there is a baby in the womb, I would never pull the plug, brain dead or not, if you knew that keeping the woman on life support would allow the baby to live and be born and whatnot. It really ticked me off when the husband and family insisted on letting her die and killing the baby. Whenever I see things like that, all I think is that he wants to move on with his life with no ties to his wife. Yes, it makes me judgmental. :)

When there isn't a baby involved and the person is brain dead, I'd leave it up to the family. The thing is that this isn't some peaceful way to die. You literally starve the person to death, or let them suffocate, or whatever it may be. Very painful and dark and yet those are the things that aren't explained.
 
I

IloveyouGod

Guest
#4
I'd say whether someone we love or not, if the person has a chance then we don't have the right to terminate the life. God is the Only one who has this right. So yes, I'd feel the same like you ww_21 if I were you in that same situation.


In November 2013, my grand dad suffered a heart attack and was placed on life support. After about two weeks, they decided to 'pull the plug' and I can't help but wonder what if they had not done it? What if we just left him on the life support? Would he have eventually come back to us? So the answer to this is no I would not. If It's someone I love there's no way I'm letting go.
 
I

IloveyouGod

Guest
#5
In this specific case of a brain dead, I "think" she's then dead because they said in the news that they are actually trying hard to keep her alive on life support. So yes, definitely I'd save the baby, but hopefully I can....you know what I mean?.....

However, just being in a coma, you never know. Maybe the patient can hear or I don't know what's going in there. But I wouldn't pull the plug because then that's terminating a life and again, no one has the right to do so except God.


If there is a baby in the womb, I would never pull the plug, brain dead or not, if you knew that keeping the woman on life support would allow the baby to live and be born and whatnot. It really ticked me off when the husband and family insisted on letting her die and killing the baby. Whenever I see things like that, all I think is that he wants to move on with his life with no ties to his wife. Yes, it makes me judgmental. :)

When there isn't a baby involved and the person is brain dead, I'd leave it up to the family. The thing is that this isn't some peaceful way to die. You literally starve the person to death, or let them suffocate, or whatever it may be. Very painful and dark and yet those are the things that aren't explained.
 

Fenner

Senior Member
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#6
For me it would be case by case, but a pregnant woman no.

If I was found brain dead, I'd want the plug pulled on me.
 

Nautilus

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
48
#7
I'd want someone to pull the plug on me, im not wanting to be kept alive by machines. If i was married I would certainly prefer my spouse to have the same opinion. Why keep someone in an awkward half-life state? Just let them go.
 
I

iTOREtheSKY

Guest
#8
If I am in a coma or life support I want someone to pull the pulg. I've thought about this long long ago,and no way do I wanna be kept in that state. Now would I pull the plug on a loved one?
It depends. More than likely if they were that close to me,like a spouse or a parent,child...I'd have already had this convo with them & know where they stood on the situation & then I would respect that choice.

JUst like the convo I'd have about funeral arrangements. Myself,I don't want a funeral. I want to be cremated after any organs I have can be harvested. If someone can use my eyes,heart,liver,kidneys...anything that can help save another life..take it...then torch me. lol I know it sounds terrible,but I am not this shell. If someone I am with needs a grieving period & see my face or something,fine...but afterwards I'd prefer not to be ondisplay & buried with a tombstone & all that stuff. It's just a waste of good land.
 
K

kayem77

Guest
#9
On a pregnant woman, I wouldn't. If it was a different case, it would depend on the doctors' diagnosis and the family. Personally, I wouldn't like to be on life support for a long time, maybe about 3 weeks to see if there is any indication of change, and if there's not...then move on. I wouldn't want to prolong my loved ones' suffering. Besides, it's better to be in Heaven :).
 
Sep 6, 2013
4,430
117
63
#10
Things like this are so hard. At what point does the soul leave the body? If a person's body is being kept alive (breathing, heart beating) by machines, but has no brain activity, is the soul still there or is the body an empty shell?

If I HAD to make a decision... it would depend on how much function the person still had. I will never forget the tragic story of Terri Schiavo, whose physical body was sound and functioning aside from the need to use a feeding tube because she couldn't swallow. I don't consider a feeding tube to be "artificial life support". Having a machine to keep your heart beating, or your lungs functioning... those are life support. If a person had no brain activity and no hope of any returning, and their body wasn't able to pump blood or breathe on it's own, with no hope of recovery, I believe I'd let them go. Otherwise... I simply don't know.
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#11
If a life would naturally die without the life support, I don't view it as immoral to pull the plug. Although I reserve the right to amend that in case there is a highly nuanced situation I'm not currently taking into consideration.
 
A

abbiejean

Guest
#12
In my heart, that is a God decision and one I would have to pray and fast, seeking His will before I gave the okay to do it.

I've faced this twice in my life, a former spouse and then later my dad who was in hospice. My late husband told me what he wanted done and as his wife I carried that out. With my dad, that decision was between my parents. I will be honest and share I don't feel the right decision was made regarding my dad based on my mom having issues of her own but it was their marriage and she will be held accountable for what she did and why. Not I.

I have written my wishes for what I would like done should something like that happen to me in advance directives, power of attorney and health care related decisions. Had the papers drawn up and signed them in my attorney's office last week.

Having worked in health care first hand, have seen alot, do understand a few things but in the end as a Christian I feel God has to make that call. Truly. The brain is the computer for the body, the heart pumps the blood that sustains the body.
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#13
We are spirit bodies, our natural flesh body is not natural, so, when it's time to go, the Lord leads, but, we go . :)
 

Fenner

Senior Member
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#14
If I am in a coma or life support I want someone to pull the pulg. I've thought about this long long ago,and no way do I wanna be kept in that state. Now would I pull the plug on a loved one?
It depends. More than likely if they were that close to me,like a spouse or a parent,child...I'd have already had this convo with them & know where they stood on the situation & then I would respect that choice.

JUst like the convo I'd have about funeral arrangements. Myself,I don't want a funeral. I want to be cremated after any organs I have can be harvested. If someone can use my eyes,heart,liver,kidneys...anything that can help save another life..take it...then torch me. lol I know it sounds terrible,but I am not this shell. If someone I am with needs a grieving period & see my face or something,fine...but afterwards I'd prefer not to be ondisplay & buried with a tombstone & all that stuff. It's just a waste of good land.

I think you and I feel the same way. I don't want a huge fuss. I think a memorial service would be fine. My family doesn't need to spend a lot of money on a funeral. If they chose that then fine, but not necessary. I also want to be cremated. Harvest my usable organs and cremate me. There is this new thing that you can plant a tree with your loved one's cremated remains. That would be a nice way to be remembered. Otherwise I really don't care.
 

Fenner

Senior Member
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#15
Things like this are so hard. At what point does the soul leave the body? If a person's body is being kept alive (breathing, heart beating) by machines, but has no brain activity, is the soul still there or is the body an empty shell?

If I HAD to make a decision... it would depend on how much function the person still had. I will never forget the tragic story of Terri Schiavo, whose physical body was sound and functioning aside from the need to use a feeding tube because she couldn't swallow. I don't consider a feeding tube to be "artificial life support". Having a machine to keep your heart beating, or your lungs functioning... those are life support. If a person had no brain activity and no hope of any returning, and their body wasn't able to pump blood or breathe on it's own, with no hope of recovery, I believe I'd let them go. Otherwise... I simply don't know.


I thought of Terry Schiavo when I read the title to this thread. I agree with you, her family wanted her kept alive he husband could have walked away. Very sad all around.

My Grandmother died from Congestive heart failure but before she had difficulty eating, but everything else was OK. My Mom and Aunt had to make a decision about a feeding tube. I was, I would put the feeding tube, she can breathe, talk everything else was fine. Well old fine, but she was still alive. My Aunt's husband wasn't very nice about it. He and my Grandmother didn't get along and he didn't think they should because it would prolong her life. I was disgusted with him. I still have a little trouble with that when I see him. My Aunt's first husband died, the second one she married about 10 years ago. He always was mad that my Aunt invested or spent so much time caring for my Grandmother. It was the last year before she died and we all helped. She lived in a nursing home too. But my Aunt loved her Mom and wanted to be there with her.

I did say to him, this decision is between my Aunt and Mom, not you or me or anyone else. The Doctor explained to them that this would help her get nutrition it wasn't life support. She died a couple weeks later, but at least she wasn't starving to death.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#16
If the person was pregnant (even if there was no brain activity), I would want to do everything possible to keep the person alive long enough to deliver the child.

If not pregnant and all tests showed a lack of brain activity, I would allow the plug to be pulled and let God BE God. The God I serve is not limited by life support systems. If He wants that person to live, they will whether they are plugged in or not. If not, He will take them home. Even if they ARE on life support and He has determined that their life here is done, they will die.
 
T

TJ

Guest
#17
How many people in here have been in a long-term coma with no sign of recovery? How many people in here have been married to, or had a child in a coma with no sign of recovery? It's difficult to answer a hypothetical question based on something you've never had to experienced. We don't even know the amount of suffering every person in a coma might be going through. I'd say the husband or wife or closest family member (which would be the spouse if you're married) has the prerogative whatever the decision may be, unless you think the decision to pull the plug on the person in the coma is subject to the prerogative of their parents before their spouse, which I don't think there would be biblically sound argument for. Just my opinion.
 
N

NightRevan

Guest
#18
Well this is a difficult situation that is best taken as a case by case basis. On the one hand it is correct to say that all life comes from God and belongs to Him, but some use this argument to say that the use of medical intervention is thereby itself attempting to go against God's will O_O, which is clearly daft. Still the point that makes is choosing to turn off the life-support is not euthanasia (actively acting to kill the patient) but rather deciding that further medical assistance will not help and leaving that patient directly in God's hands. So it doesn't go against God's will as far as I can see it, and would be something that would have to be decided on the merits of each case (and clearly assuming other lives were not dependant on the purpose being kept alive, a pregnant woman would be such an exception). Difficult issues, and one I hope I am never called to have to make a decision after, it must be heart-wrenchingly difficult for the families involved.
 

Fenner

Senior Member
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#19
How many people in here have been in a long-term coma with no sign of recovery? How many people in here have been married to, or had a child in a coma with no sign of recovery? It's difficult to answer a hypothetical question based on something you've never had to experienced. We don't even know the amount of suffering every person in a coma might be going through. I'd say the husband or wife or closest family member (which would be the spouse if you're married) has the prerogative whatever the decision may be, unless you think the decision to pull the plug on the person in the coma is subject to the prerogative of their parents before their spouse, which I don't think there would be biblically sound argument for. Just my opinion.


I believe we all were giving hypothetical answers. I understand it would be a difficult decision, as I know most of the other posters here do. I think it's important like Abbie Jean said, make a living will so your wishes are known. That way your family will understand this is what you wished for. Although it still wouldn't be an easy decision, either way.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#20
I wanted to answer sooner but was interested in reading others' experiences first.

My Grandma had a stroke several years ago and was declared brain-damaged beyond return (she fell into a coma.) It completely broke my heart, especially since I'd seen her the day before (and only for a few minutes because I was busy working--I look back and kick myself, wishing I wouldn't have told them I had to get back to work.) I truly believed God was going to work a miracle, but that's not what happened.

She was on tubes and the like for a week, and then my family decided to "let God be God", as Jullianna stated, and make the decision. To tell you the truth, my eyes fill with tears just thinking about it. God made His choice. She died peacefully just a short time later. Apparently, the damage had been so extensive that her brain could no longer keep her body functioning.

I truly think every case has to be handled individually. Something else I also wanted to mention, not as a dark cloud, but the financial strain of such a situation can be truly devastating to families as well and must be considered.

Now I'm definitely not trying to say that money should come before a person's life, but in my family, there is an understanding of, "If God is calling me home, let me go and get on with your life--keep going and finding what He has for you. Don't drain everything you and the rest of family have in order to sustain an artificial semblance of life."

But, this is just our own personal view.

And if it were my own parents, I know I would probably hang on at all costs even if I lost everything, because I've always been the type to hope against hope.