NEChris,
I agree. My grandmother had a DNR, and she made sure we all knew about it.
But, then if it is wrong to prolong a patient’s life who is in severe pain, then why is it against the law for that patient to choose to take his or her own life when THEY are ready? Many who choose to do so, do it before they get to the point of a painful existence, choosing quality over quantity. Why do people think that this is so wrong?
Why should it be OK for a family member, a doctor or even the government to say enough, but not the patient?
As far as severe pain, if you know that the patient is in pain, that is one thing. However I had an accident last year where I badly broke a bone and was told I should have been in excrutiating pain…..I had absolutely none. It took me awhile to convince the ER person that I didn’t just have a “high tolerence”, but I had no pain at all! And I remained pain free (with no drugs) during the entire recovery, including surgery.
Either way, the government has no right and no business telling someone what they can and can’t have done.
