Dear List(s),

With all the noise about "Terri" it's time to take a good look at what
all are
concerned with; it's THEIR choice of what they think when plagued by the
media accounts of this "client" in a PVS.

Persistent means long term.

Vegetative infers NO COGNITION, meaning the mind is gone. If indeed
all the MONEY used to advertise, "terrorize" the public with accounts were
spent on "medical care" to "save Terri" it would not matter. She is
physically
and mentally PVS.

The question becomes "so what do we do?" Our medical technology has
reached alarming potential; you can live to ages never lived before, you can
function with machinery to prompt your heart, take fluid off your brain, you
can also be post CVA and or PVS and lay in a LTC facility rotting in your
own urine and feces, filled with infection, abused by overworked staff, and
sign whatever dignity you have over to the "costs of medical care" for society
is not KILLING TERRI but God is taking her home.

I'm sorry folks I do not question my God or His will, but I know He gives
each a purpose and perhaps education is more in order:

1. Terri's husband has nothing to do with Terri.
2. Terri's family has nothing to do with Terri.
3. Terri is now a cost of American taxpayers and there
comes the dilemma.

What does Terri want? Until we devise a language for those in a PVS that
is consistently understood we cannot surmise that physical responses including
smiling, grimaces, et al are due to cognition or mental capacity. They are
not.
Touch receptors, pain, et al are all instinctive. Do not go to bed at night
in a
sweat worried that WE a SOCIETY is putting Terri to death.

Remember Karen Ann Quinlan? OD on Ludes, many years ago. How many
have died of OD's whether heroin, pills, and the like and gone unspoken. How
many in PVS under the age of 18 have gone to God? People give it a break.

When I liken this to OJ Simpsons media scandal it is for a good purpose.
If
you took the "millions spent" and put it into research on "communication
methods
for those in PVS" for example you might get a new picture. But as I go
through
life as an advocate for those in NIP I state the same purpose; those in NIP
who
cannot have pain controlled live in pure torture in hell, and they too have a
right
to die.

Yes make your "living will" if God is speaking to us and tells us to "obey
the laws of the land" run for your nearest doctor (perhaps two depending on
what state you live in) and realize as well if some family member stomps in
thinking they are God your living will might be toileted. In my profession
and
top administration I have had DNR's kept alive during off hours only to return
to my office at 7 a.m. to see a DNR resusitated and then having to call in
physicians, staff, and all concerned for this becomes a "legal" issue not just
moral. LIFE SUPPORT is what we term it today and for those of you now
who term "feeders" NOT on LIFE SUPPORT let me tell you folks something
they are; most are on surgically inserted tubes (abdominal surgery) suffer
PAIN from the surgery and ARE NOT MEDICATED for pain post op that's
right become OBSTRUCTED, require more surgery, and they have NO
PLEASURE in eating this way. I encourage ALL who think they are happy
joyful citizens to buy a coupld of cans of Ensure and take a good long
drink (no holding your nose when it goes down either) and realize that what
we see as pathetic, sad, and emotionally painful is OUR interpretation not
for the well being of those suffering.

I have to say why are we doing this, and if this woman were bulemic
or anorexia nervosa back when she became so ill from her eating disorder
that she evolved into PVS what would she say today? She is being force
fed for one thing, and furthermore she is not the "skinny gal" she wanted
to be (and that's giving into severe psychiatric disorders which both
mentioned
are.) Why blame her husband or her family? She is now a "medical case" no
one minus the good Lord above can or will save her. Do you think He has
had enough, well the answer will be revealed if she continues.

On an aside if she is in hospice care she will be under "comfort measures"
we almost automatically if hospice is chosen do "comfort measures" in the
written orders. That means she likely will be given ample medication to not
suffer and yet if she is PVS the thought is does she feel pain, well I always
as a professional ERR on the side of what we do not know. Sadly enough
folks radical post CVA's and PVS do not recover okay they don't?

Could they 30 years from now sure. We could find a cure we could find
an answer and then you can do what you like for there is a CHOICE in
treatment there are no choices here I'm sorry.

Peace and God's blessings for all,
Karen


Karen Hallenbeck~Sikorsky~George BS,RN,UM,QC
http://hometown.aol.com/anewplanforyou



Owner-Moderator
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADayWithoutPain/
"ADayWithoutPain"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnAnGeLInPain
"AnAnGeLInPain"

Ya'll are special you truly are, and to be the
catalyst for this group is a miracle for I know
in my heart that God's will created this group(s)
and each of you are very very special to me, always
no matter what I AM SO PROUD to a "part of" what
this family has become..AND WILL BE!!!!
Interqual Certified
Published Psychiatric Researcher
Advocate for those in CIP, HIV, Psychologic Pain
"A Higher Power is necessary to find the ability to withstand self
destruction.."


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