Wesley Smith freaks me out again. Just in time for the weekend. At least once a week he completely ruins my day with some “advancement” in the name of science or a study.
I was thinking about pulling some quotes out to show you how horrible it is but there are just too many to choose.
Smith writes:
Tube supplied hydration and nutrition is deemed a medical treatment, like aspirin, surgery, or chemotherapy, and hence, can be denied or withdrawn under the law. Normal receipt of food and water, is not allowed to be withheld when it can be taken, since that isn’t medical treatment. Still, take away either form of sustenance from infants (or adults) and they will die.
A disturbing study has come out about how long it takes to starve an infant to death, I assume by withdrawing tube-supplied sustenance.
October 22, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I'm going to go cuddle and feed my baby now. Don't mind the tears rolling down my face.
October 22, 2010 at 8:31 pm
I emailed this study to you, hoping you would cover it. It was put out as a Medscape study for nurses and other medical professionals!
Susan Peterson
October 22, 2010 at 9:08 pm
This is observational, not experimental. No babies were harmed in the making of this knowledge. But reading your blog post wouldn't inform the reader of that.
October 22, 2010 at 9:23 pm
No babies were harmed FOR the making of this knowledge. The readers are aware that this was an observation, not an experiment. That there were enough cases to make observations is reason enough to grieve.
October 22, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Gee Matt, how would I ever learn to follow your links if I didn't have a troll to help me?
October 22, 2010 at 10:09 pm
🙁 Please pray for medical professionals- my husband is at an ethics conference right now
October 22, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Loki- I see from your profile that you are a nursing student and an atheist- but you seem to be interested in spirituality if you are reading here. May I suggest that you read Spirituality In Nursing by Mary Elizabeth O'Brien and Making Health Care Whole: Integrating Spirituality into Patient Care by Christina Puchalski and Betty Ferrel
October 22, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Loki
How would you define harm?
October 23, 2010 at 1:26 am
Well, one thing is abundantly clear: somebody's going to hell.
October 23, 2010 at 2:10 am
How long would it take for a scientist to die of starvation?
Not that I'm endorsing such a thing…
October 23, 2010 at 6:36 am
I wish I could be surprised, but it's pretty standard MO: attack and kill the weak. "The Weak" are anyone you can attack without harm.
Standard bully tactics, taken to the logical end when the ability to respond is taken away.