It does. And whilst I hope it works, I also hope they're not letting a man who is in pain (physical or mental) and has no hope of ever having any semblance of proper mental function linger on.
If he's not there, then they are flogging a body but not really a problem. The real issue is if he has some level of mental function but is stuck in his body. I keep meaning to and really should, draw up a will and medical papers that put a straight time limit on any kind of life support functions that I am to receive.
The whole medical thing is a joke at this point. Even on the organ donation front, if I sign up to donate my organs why in the **** can my family dictate their own beliefs ahead of my own in the event that I die/am brain dead and they decide they don't want my organs donated. They are moving towards reversing the whole thing from signing up for organ donation to having to opt out from it, but I believe the plan is that family an still say no.
Why do family have more rights to my body after death than I do? My family probably won't be a problem and would donate them but it shouldn't be their choice.
Same way I should be able to decide what measures I'm put through and in what state I want to live. Everyone should be able to say what they want and have medical personnel follow those requests. For me if I'm brain dead, give it a 5-7 days for a miracle, for several repeat tests and make sure I'm actually brain dead in which case keep me alive for maybe up to a week to try to arrange for as many donations as possible. IE if they turn me off the next day and only a kidney recipient is available but wait a week and my heart, kidneys, liver and my left toe can all be donated I'm fine with that.
If I'm locked in, give it a couple months max to go through various treatments, a list of tv and other crap to have on to at least keep my brain from going nuts then turn it off if there is no further hope.
This goes for even more situations, like serious dementia where I'm not me, I'm a pain to deal with and I can't remember one day to the next, what's the point. I'd prefer to be dead than crapping myself for 20 years in a home where I make nurses lives miserable, as well as family, and my own. The idea that we can't control these things or dictate in what situations we want life extended or not is madness.
I can only hope that either he's far more with it that we know but just can't bear to be seen in public, or that he's not there at all. At least with dementia you don't remember how bad it is.
