Jib 0 #1 March 19, 2005 We come up with marvels of modern medicine that prolong the lives of a lot of people. But, I've visited some very good nursing homes only to find zombies parked in wheelchairs in front of a television, unable to move and barely able to communicate. At some point do you think anyone will ask not whether we can keep people alive without any quality of life, but should we? -------------------------------------------------- the depth of his depravity sickens me. -- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #2 March 19, 2005 This is why everyone needs a living will... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likearock 2 #3 March 19, 2005 QuoteWe come up with marvels of modern medicine that prolong the lives of a lot of people. But, I've visited some very good nursing homes only to find zombies parked in wheelchairs in front of a television, unable to move and barely able to communicate. At some point do you think anyone will ask not whether we can keep people alive without any quality of life, but should we? Wouldn't this question be just as appropriate for Teri Schiavo? Wayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewGPM 0 #4 March 20, 2005 We're doing our best counteract the medical advances by being the fattest, least physically active generation. Someone told me that the current crop of high school students could lower the life expectancy by 3-5 years because of the high rate of childhood obesity. One concern is whether the food supply can keep up with the demand. We've already got a lot of starving people...if we start living longer, that's only gonna get worse. If the food supply can't keep up, then we should stop trying to live longer. Beyond the food supply issue, I am all for living longer as long as it's a functional old age. If you're 90, but haven't been out of bed in ten years...is that really living? My great-grandmother lived to be 99...and she was able to drive a car and live on her own right up to the last year. That was great. My grandmother is 85. She has dimentia, she's blind from advanced glaucoma, severly diabetic, constantly on morphine for the pain of bone cancer and has been bed ridden for a 18 months. As much as I hate to see her die, the person I know as my grandmother has been gone for the last 3 years. All the medical advances are keeping her alive...but I don't think it's worth it. It's not fair to her, the family, or the medical system. We're all waiting for her to die. One of her doctors suggested that we stop giver her insulin. She'd slip into a diabetic coma and die pain free. The family is still debating it. I can relate to the Terry Schiavo case...without the press or the courts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #5 March 20, 2005 QuoteOne concern is whether the food supply can keep up with the demand. We've already got a lot of starving people...if we start living longer, that's only gonna get worse. If the food supply can't keep up, then we should stop trying to live longer. Didn't Malthus think that we'd all starve to death sometime in the 1800's?-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,148 #6 March 21, 2005 QuoteQuoteOne concern is whether the food supply can keep up with the demand. We've already got a lot of starving people...if we start living longer, that's only gonna get worse. If the food supply can't keep up, then we should stop trying to live longer. Didn't Malthus think that we'd all starve to death sometime in the 1800's? Lots of people starved to death in the 19th Century, and lots more in the 20th Century. Even in the US of A.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red_Skydiver 0 #7 March 22, 2005 There is plenty of food supply for everyone the problem is a fair distribution of that food. Unfortunately those that have it (I'm talking about other resources too besides food) don't want to change their lifestyle to benefit someone in their own town never mind someone on the other side of the planet. If we can get a good balance of healthy diet and exercise there is no reason why we cannot enjoy life that little bit longer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #8 March 22, 2005 Sure,why not? If you have "quality of life" no reason not to go into your 80's or 90's.........Hell,I feel like I'm just getting started and I would like another 40 years or so......as long as I continue in good healthMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #9 March 22, 2005 Depends, what's showing on the TV? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
