[MrsTina]

Just curious as to what everyones opinion is on the Terri Schiavo case in Florida.... Could you be the person that maybe eventually had to pull the feeding from her? How would it make you feel if you had to do that task? I know as nurses we all have to do something that we may or may not want to do... Thanks for your input on this.

[Dreamer]

I am certain I would NOT pull the feeding tube! It is appalling such a decsion would have to go to court. I watched the videos at Terrri site. She does respond to her family!

[nursinghumor]

If it was her (or her family's) wish that the tube be pulled, I'd pull it in a heartbeat.

I see it as no different than the family of a incapacitated oncology patient who is suffering terribly asking for a morphine drip knowing it will result in death very quickly.

She has an irreversible, chronic condition that cannot be reversed or improved. It is a horrible state with little if any quality of life to it.

How often have you been told by a family member that the patient "wouldn't want this." I'd respect the husband's wishes. I'm sorry, her parents are her parents, not her husband. Unless they were in the process of filing for divorce at the time of her incapacitation his decision should take precedence.

They are doing their daughter a disservice by prolonging a life that according to her husband, she would not want to live.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[MrsTina]

I agree I would have no problem pulling the tube...In fact I have had to pull a feeding before it is not easy but if I have an order I have to do it... Actually the order sat through two shifts ( 3-11 and 11-7) neither of them nurses wanted to do it... I had no choice so I did it... Did I feel bad YES I did and I cried about when the man passed ... But she has a husband he should have the ultimate decision an her parents need to deal with it ... they have 15 years of this to say good bye ... they need to let her die .. she has no life and no chance of recovery.. but that is just my opinion ... and I thank you for yours

[cassioo]

I would hope someone would pull my tube..and if someone fought the idea and I did "wake up" in 20 years the one that wouldn't let it be done would then be in for a butt kicking. I don't know if this husband wants it done because that's what she'd want or just because he wants to remarry but for whatever reason her parents are holding on. I haven't followed it all but can he get divorced if that is his reason?

[rsg]

I agree with Andrew. If you've been in this life-saving business very long at all, you've seen over and over again that sometimes "we", the medical community, have too much knowledge and too many new techniques to save lives that God is obviously trying to take. I've done ICU over 10 yrs and believe me there are worse things than a dignified death. I would pull the tube and feel sorrow and relief at the same time.

[smbrn]

I am still mixed up about one thing in this case. If her husband "knows" that she would not want to live like this, who authorized the placement of the feeding tube in the first place? I have to assume he did. So why the change of heart now after all this time? I most certainly would not pull the tube simply based on a physician's order. The fact that this woman is alive, no matter what others think of the quality of her life, is causing no harm to anyone. Certainly there are many instances where extremely aggressive care is given to patients in whom it seems inappropriate. These cases can always be taken up by the ethics committees at hospitals, etc. Just because some families seem unreasonable in their requests or expectations for care or recovery of their loved ones is no reason for healthcare professionals to rob families in general of their autonomy in making these decisions. I agree with the sentiments of those who say they would not want to live that way. I would not either, nor would I want anyone I love to linger that way. It is important to remember that patients and families do not come to these situations armed with extensive knowledge about such things. More communication from healthcare providers about what is reasonable to expect, etc, would go a long way towards helping these people come to grips with reality.

[MedicRN]

We place many PEGs and Trachs in my ICU. Most of the time it's done with the knowledge that the patient is *going* to recover but only after a long rehab (other times, the family just can't accept reality). The tubes were placed with the assumption the patient would eventually recover to the point of not needing them anymore. Some times these assumptions don't play out as planned. Then what do you do?

I helped my grandmother with the decision to place a PEG in my grandfather mostly because we thought he would recover (we all knew he didn't want to be kept alive by machines or with no hope of recovery) and partially because she wasn't ready (his illness was extremely sudden - he had never been sick a day in his life). While he didn't linger on for years (only a few weeks), we did only plan for it to be a temporary measure to be able for him to recover (the very real potential was there).

I would imagine Terri's husband thought the same thing many years ago when he allowed the tube to be placed. But unfortunately, that hope did not become a reality.

[ QUOTE ]
smbrn said:
The fact that this woman is alive, no matter what others think of the quality of her life, is causing no harm to anyone.

[/ QUOTE ]
Our Prime Directive (to borrow from Star Trek) is to 'Do No Harm.' Do you not consider it harmful to the patient with PIV to maintain them in this state when they had no wish to exist like that?

Just food for thought......

[LisaST]

I can understand what her husbands thinking. But, he is going to starve her to death. I can understand when someone is on a vent with not chances of ever waking up again, but she is awake. She had brain damage and is breathing on her on. Do not starve a person to death.

Lisa RN

[MedicRN]

Is she awake or existing?