NationStates Jolt Archive

Clicky (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_042205_comaboy.html)

A little background:

The kid apparently ended up this way owing to complications from a dental infection. As far as I can tell, he has only been in this state for a relatively short time, certainly not years.

The family is not asking for life support to be continued indefinitely, but they would like time to get a second opion before they accept the diagnosis of complete brain death.

he shouldn't be helped if he can't help anything else. you get out what you put into anything.

That's a toughie. It's always hard for parents to accept that their child has died. Especially if his heart hasn't stopped. But doctors do usually know what they're doing -- they've got a lot more knowledge about brain infections and brain death than your average parent does. On the other hand, he's 13 and can't speak for himself. His parents have the right to keep him on life support if they truly believe he could get better. The story in the link is so short it's hard to tell exactly what the situation is.

I believe if I were in the same situation as those parents and multiple doctors told me my son was brain dead, I'd let him go. In fact, I'd volunteer to donate his organs so that other people's children could live.

no its not euthanasia, its removal of treatment.

if i were the parents i would also want more time. young people recover more often than old people do.

but perhaps they are ignoring a "no brainwave" test that the doctors are going by. once you have no brain activity, you arent coming back

if ther eis a chance of recovery then they should give him some time but if there is no hope then they shoudl have mercy on him ASAP

Yes, but the point is, the hospital is going to disconnect him before the parents have a chance to get a second opinion about his condition.

Also, I an a little disturbed that hospitals can disconnect people against the wishes of their guardians. That seems a little odd.

Yes, but the point is, the hospital is going to disconnect him before the parents have a chance to get a second opinion about his condition.

Also, I an a little disturbed that hospitals can disconnect people against the wishes of their guardians. That seems a little odd.

The article you quoted doesn't say anything about that. Is there a more informative link somewhere?

Sorry for the aside in a serious thread, but did anyone notice the newstation's tacky URL for the story?

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_042205_comaboy.html

Anyway, the case is distressing. I'm not comfortable making a judgment without more facts, but it sad to see regardless.

The article you quoted doesn't say anything about that. Is there a more informative link somewhere?

I understand that. I heard this on the local news and this is a link to their website, the extra info I am giving comes from their TV report. I Googled Taran Francis, but couldn't find anything.

Fair enough. Thanks for trying! :fluffle:

Sorry for the aside in a serious thread, but did anyone notice the newstation's tacky URL for the story?

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_042205_comaboy.html

Anyway, the case is distressing. I'm not comfortable making a judgment without more facts, but it sad to see regardless.

Yah, abc7 in none too swift. Which is a shame, because it has to be in the number 1 or 2 market in the country.

Several years ago, one of their "ace" reporters on the street, Lucy Yang, interviewed a young man who gave his name as "Mike Hunt." She kept on saying "Mike Hunt" and couldn't understand why he kept on cracking up. To make it worse, they played that segment at the six o'clock and eleven o'clock broadcasts, so we all got to enjoy it.

Also, the anchor, Bill Ritter wears way too much eyeliner.

Well spotted BTW CT. :)

what kind of life would he be living?...not very pleasant...so i think he should be taken off life support because it sounds painfull and no one should live in pain

TV Broadcast (http://ww2.7online.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=403969&h1=Parents%2C%20Hospital%20Fight%20Over%20Comatose%20Boy&vt1=v&at1=News%20-%20Special%20Coverage&d1=140334&LaunchPageAdTag=Homepage&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&rnd=60342396)The hospital isn't pulling the plug just yet. There's a hearing scheduled for Monday morning.

TV Broadcast (http://ww2.7online.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=403969&h1=Parents%2C%20Hospital%20Fight%20Over%20Comatose%20Boy&vt1=v&at1=News%20-%20Special%20Coverage&d1=140334&LaunchPageAdTag=Homepage&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&rnd=60342396)The hospital isn't pulling the plug just yet. There's a hearing scheduled for Monday morning.

Thanks.