Jennie&Tim on 5/11/2006 at 01:32
I'd only be for it if the parents' permission was also required; I do worry that it could be a cost-saving measure for hospitals, however I've also heard about some truely awful birth defects that I wouldn't wish on anyone.
paloalto on 5/11/2006 at 01:41
Quote Posted by pavlovscat
Hell, I'm for it & I am disabled. That is one reason why I decided not to have kids, too likely to pass it on. I function OK for now, but my disability is progressive. Why would I take a chance of creating a life with built-in problems? Life is tough enough without a handicap. It's too bad that most people view reproduction as a divine right rather than a responsibility.
So you have learned nothing from having your handicap?Is your life pointless because you have a handicap?How about appreciating what you do have?
BlackErtai on 5/11/2006 at 01:48
Ooo, Ooo, everybody pile on the unpopular dogpile!
pavlovscat on 5/11/2006 at 02:03
Quote Posted by paloalto
So you have learned nothing from having your handicap?Is your life pointless because you have a handicap?How about appreciating what you do have?
I have learned loads from having a handicap. The first thing is that it sucks to be handicapped when you have a type A personality. The next important thing I learned was to trash almost every personal goal I had and smile about it. My life is not pointless, and I do appreciate every day that I wake up & can still walk & talk. However, that doesn't mean that I would wish this on anyone else. Successfully coping with a disability requires you to rethink everything you have ever done and to try & figure out how you'll do it now. If you're lucky, like me, you have a supportive partner & family. If you are lucky, you figure out how to afford health insurance, which I will loose in 18 months since I am now officially laid off from my New Orleans job and have begun coverage on Cobra benefits. Then, will I be able to afford the $1600 USD/month drug that gives me the best chance to delay further disability? You learn not to take anything for granted because tomorrow is uncertain. You learn to live in today in case there is no tomorrow. You feel more passionate about everything while you are still able to feel passion. You find a way to go on every day, no matter how hard it is to get out of bed sometimes. And, you smile, a lot, so you don't cry.
Aerothorn on 5/11/2006 at 02:08
For what it's worth, I'm gonna hop on the "I am disabled and I support it" train, but obviously we're talking pretty different and more severe disabilities than I have. But anyway, while I understand the creepy legal grounds and potential for abuse, in the end I support it - having a vegetable child destroys the life of both parents (unless one of the parents gets out via divorce, which happens in over 90% of cases), and one must imagine it's not very pleasant for the child either.
I don't mean to sound callous and harsh about it, but I know I'd want to be killed if I were the baby.
Hell, I wish my parents would have euthanized ME most of the time.
Mortal Monkey on 5/11/2006 at 02:19
Fingernail, I wish you'd know when to have a nice cup of Shut The Fuck Up.
Scots Taffer on 5/11/2006 at 02:21
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Hell, I wish my parents would have euthanized ME most of the time.
:emo:
And I would posit if you're going to say you're disabled and support it, ante up and disclose your disability so that it may factor into the discussion against the thus-far classified serious disabilities, otherwise it's no less insulting than being a racist and saying you've got a black buddy.
pavlovscat on 5/11/2006 at 03:07
Quote Posted by Scots_Taffer
ante up and disclose your disability so that it may factor into the discussion against the thus-far classified serious disabilities
Fair enough, though you probably didn't realize what you were asking. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 7 years ago, 16 days after I turned 30. I hate my disability. I have mobility problems associated to my 2 back surgeries in addition to my MS. Lucky me, my MS effects my higher cognitive functions. I do have some problems with numbness in my face or losing my sense of taste, but at least that came back. I can no longer do simple things like add or subtract. I often can't remember what I did yesterday. Unless I write things down I loose that memory. I have horrible balance & spatial problems. I tend to get lost in large places & have to call my husband to come find me under such&such a sign. And, I won't even detail the urinary problems. The written word is very important to me so I can re-read things & remember. I constantly refer to my dictionary & thesaurus to find the word on the tip of my tongue. When speaking, I have problems finding words, or I'll just totally forget what I'm saying. I take a shot 3 times a week to delay progression of disability, but that makes me feel horrible & causes depression. I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. I may not be physically deformed, but losing my mental abilities is worse to me. I would rather have to bear physical pain constantly, which I have done before both my back surgeries, than lose my mind. It's hard to know what you've lost and to know that it will only get worse, never better. Well, unless they find a cure. Till then, I live my life around my drug schedule. Sounds like fun, hmmm? And, the bane of my existance, people who say, "But, you don't look sick." Or people who give me dirty looks as I get out of the car which has special plates & is parked in a handicap access spot. Someone vandalized our car to the tune of $2000 because I didn't look handicapped enough. We know it was the driver for the guy with no legs who was in a wheelchair. He was leaving as we were arriving and gave us a really nasty look. We know who it was because we saw the video of the incident. This guy keyed the car down both sides to the metal. They don't know that if the sun is shining & it is warm outside, I can only walk about 25 ft before I'm in danger of collapsing. I am so heat sensitive that I can no longer drink or eat hot foods. I have to let everything cool off or I'll pass out. I take cold showers so I don't pass out in the shower. And, then there are the days where I can't get out of bed because I'm too fatigued. It's literally all I can do to go to the bathroom. But, I'm not physically deformed. I look fine, so my problems can't be too bad, right? No disability is minor to the person living through it. Though I admit that I'd rather have all my arms & legs and be able to do some things.
dj_ivocha on 5/11/2006 at 03:09
Generally, I'd agree with allowing euthanasia, but with very strict regulations. Don't give doctors much more rights than they do know - allow them to suggest the possibility for euthanasia, and eventually perform it. But ONLY after both parents have decided to go through with it, and ONLY after the case has been reviewed by a neutral third party. Don't allow the entire process to become too cheap, so as to not tempt various parties to use it as a cost saving measure. And only for babies with extremely severe higher brain function disabilities.
But, what about the continuous advancements in medicine and technology? The definition for disability would have to be changed on a yearly basis, possibly even taking into account near future possibilities.
Also, what Scots said.
[EDIT] pavlovscat, yours is indeed a nasty condition, to put it mildly. But let me be the devil's advocate and ask this - before your 30th year, you had lived a normal life (or at least had the possibility for that, I wouldn't know). You are also a mature adult, who can make decisions for herself, so if you wanted to, you could avoid suffering by ending your life, or you could keep going on and trying to make the best of it. But a newborn infant doesn't have those choices. Who are we to decide for it whether it may have at least 20 or 30 years of normal life, or whether it should die now?
Lucky Hand of Glory on 5/11/2006 at 03:21
I wish they could detect severe handicaps way before the thing becomes a being capable of surviving outside the mothers body.
I wish there was some way humans could reabsorption of the cells back into the mothers body if the child were to be bron with severe hadicaps, much the way rabbits do it.
But whatareyougonnado?
:erg:
