Allowing to die.The discourse in your journal regarding the Terri Schiavo Theresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo (December 3, 1963 – March 31, 2005), from St. Petersburg, Florida, United States was a woman who suffered brain damage and became dependent on a feeding tube. case has been disturbing ("Caring at the End," March 10). In grammar school, high school, college, and medical school (all Catholic institutions), I was taught the same things. The dying person is human. You owe the dying comfort. You must offer the dying food, water, nutrition, medicine, and medical care. You do not owe him extraordinary care. For forty years as a family physician I watched death and its approach. With chronic disease the primary consideration is, what's the diagnosis? If the prognosis prognosis /prog·no·sis/ (prog-no´sis) a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disorder.prognos´tic prog·no·sis n. pl. prog·no·ses 1. is good, then let out all therapeutic sails. If expectations are dismal, then death can be a friend. In Schiavo's case, this physician would have allowed her to die of metabolic, electrolytic e·lec·tro·lyt·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to electrolysis. 2. Produced by electrolysis. 3. Of or relating to electrolytes. e·lec distress, in metabolic acidosis Metabolic Acidosis Definition Metabolic acidosis is a pH imbalance in which the body has accumulated too much acid and does not have enough bicarbonate to effectively neutralize the effects of the acid. . The husband was correct. Death with dignity was the preferred outcome. The physician is good at doing; sometimes he needs to be good at not doing. When there is no hope of recovery, the person needs a priest, not a physician. J. E. BALTHROP, MD Oak Ridge Oak Ridge, city (1990 pop. 27,310), Anderson and Roane counties, E Tenn., on Black Oak Ridge and the Clinch River; founded by the U.S. government 1942, inc. as an independent city 1959. , Tenn. |
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