by q8dreamer

Created on: May 30, 2010   Last Updated: May 31, 2010

The family of a patient on life support would want to hold on to him forever, no matter what the consequences are. They are willing to suffer emotionally with him just to see him alive, even if he is physically incapable of doing the daily tasks. On the other hand the patient feels that he is a burden and living on life support would not add anything to the life he lived.

Imagine living on a bed, where you could not get up and machines are hooked up to your body forever, people change your diaper, they feed you, change you, bath you, and do everything that needs to be done.

Imagine all the different kind of emotions that the patient feels, such as depression, anger, frustration, what kind of life that is?

Talking from the perspective of a patient, if I was in that situation I would want to terminate my life support, ease my pain and give my family a break. This is not selfishness, on the contrary this decision would benefit both me and my family. Death is imminent, they could not hold on me forever, so why should I suffer and make myself a burden on them.

I know that my family would not regard this as a burden and that they will take good care of me and do everything with love, but why should I continue living if I could not add anything to my life. The life I already lived, with all of its memories are enough for me, and my family should understand that, and support my decision.

The quality of life of a patient on life support is another thing to consider, the family should understand the emotions and physical frustrations of the patient, they should support his decision to terminate his life and end his suffering.

No matter how much care, love and time the family gives, the patient would still feel alone and unworthy. I dont think that any loving and caring family would want their loved ones to live in this way.

Life has so many dilemmas, different theories, and pros and cons of different issues. But in my opinion, in this case family should not take precedence over the patients right to relive his own suffering.

These three words sums up everything “his own suffering” so the decision should be his own decision, and no one should take this right away from him.

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