Mrs. Heald (Due October 31) End of Life by Lori Heald

Mrs. Heald

thelore — 2014-10-26 15:42:11 UTC

60 Minutes: Ending Life Episode

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Alex Marion Green

2014-10-27 22:22:52 UTC

Our society is not failing patients who are terminally ill because the term terminally ill means that there is no cure for that person. People are working on a cure for diseases and they haven't found an answer yet. Doctors and hospitals shouldn't be forced to enforce the patient's living will. Since this is America, people have the freedom to do whatever they want, but not the right to ask people to help end it for them if they don't agree with you. You can't put that kind of pressure on other people to take someone else's life. If a doctor agrees with that person and doesn't want to see them suffer should have the right to do that. There is difference between death with dignity and better end of life care. Death with dignity means that a person dies on their own terms and the better end of life care means you relieve pain and other practical symptoms and meeting your emotional, spiritual, and practical needs. There is also a different when a doctor prescribes morphine for a patient or when Mrs. Mancini handed her father his prescription. When a doctor prescribes a certain medicine for a patient, the doctor is helping the patient relieve themselves of pain. When Mrs. Mancini gave her father the prescription, she was willingly helping her own father kill himself. Her father was in the wrong because you shouldn't ask someone you love to help you kill yourself. It's much better to have a doctor either help you or not help or do it yourself, not asking someone you love. Like

In responce to

Steven Peixinho Blue

2014-10-27 23:38:20 UTC

Society is not failing ill patients who are terminally ill. were trying to find a cure we just cant rush them. people will die but its how it has to be. were not going to risk other lives to save one thats not there fault. dont suffer and dont have friends or family have to go through that just have the doctor kill you just let it happen its better than living sick the rest of your life.

Nicolas Williams- Purple

2014-10-28 01:58:20 UTC

In some ways, many doctors and hospitals are failing terminally ill patients. They could feel that they don't want to spend the money on somebody who will just die anyways, which is an awful thing to do. "Care of dying patients 'is not an important issue' for hospitals and treatment has failed to improve in many areas despite sustained pressure from campaigners, it was warned", says, "The Telegraph". Doctors should be required to enforce their last request because it is respectful, and would be bad to upset them through their final hours. There is something big that needs to be done about this still uprising issue.

In response to Steven Peixinho;

I disagree with you how you say how we shouldn't risk other lives to save one thats not their fault. Every should be treated with respect, especially when someone is dying.

Rachel Blustein- Purple

2014-10-28 18:03:17 UTC

Society is not failing people who are terminally ill. They are terminally, and there is no cure, so what society is doing is actually good. People are working for the cures, and in the mean time something has to be done. While the cure is being found, hospitals should be required to enforce the patient's "living well." For many people these are their last wishes. According to "The Telegraph," "Care of dying patients 'is not an important issue' for hospitals," but this is not true. As stated before, some of these patients last wishes are made in the hospital. There is a difference between death with dignity and better end life with care, but that doesn't matter. Whether the patient decides to end their life with aid or naturally is their choice, not ours. There is a difference between a doctors morphine prescription and what Mrs. Mancini did, but that doesn't mean what Mrs. Mancini was wrong. All she did was hand her father the bottle and she had the syringe in her hand, but Mr. Mancini did the rest.

In response to Brendan Mohan-

I agree that we are helping, not failing society for those are terminally ill. I agree that it is dangerous from a doctors prescription too, but to aid in the help of pain is not wrong.

Brendan Mohan- Red

2014-10-28 19:10:33 UTC

No we as society aren't fail terminally ill patients. For one thing we have served them to the best of our ability. We have had people working around the clock to try to cure terminal illnesses. In addition I believe we should be forcing people to carry out the ill's wish, with in reason! We shouldn't be allowed to aid in the suicide of a ill patient. End of life care, make death as comfortable as possible. Were death with dignity is ending right then & there. And no doctor prescriptions & handing people meds are both just as dangerous. This is because with both ways you don't know how it'll be used, "He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle"(MRS. MANCINI) to end the pain or end they're life.
In response to Alex Marion
I disagree with you statement about the doctor prescription & handing someone they're med it is not at all different, because they could use it either way

Brendan mohan -red

2014-10-28 20:06:20 UTC

No, we as a society aren't failing terminally ill patients. For one thing we have served them to the best of our ability. We have people working around the clock to try to cure terminal illnesses. In addition I believe we should be forcing people to carry out the patient's wishes, within reason! We shouldn't be allowed to aid in the suicide of a terminally patient. There is a big difference between end of life care and death with dignity, end of life care makes death as comfortable as possible. Where death with dignity is ending it right then and there. And there is no difference between a doctor giving you prescriptions and handing people meds are both just as dangerous. This is because with both ways you don't know how it'll be used, "He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle"(MRS. MANCINI)it could be used to end the pain or end they're life.
In response to Alex Marion
I disagree with your statement about the doctor prescription & handing someone they're meds which is not at all different, because they could use it either way.

Leah Lancellotta- Purple

2014-10-28 20:07:33 UTC

People are commonly asking the question whether our society is failing patients who are terminally ill. The answer is no. Doctors and nurses do everything they can to keep their patients comfortable and not in pain. If they are positive that one has no hope in surviving, there is nothing else they can do but keep them on medication to relieve pain. It is worse in a way because the patients family is probably having a tough time dealing with it already. Lets face it, it is very hard experience something like that and no one wants to watch their loved one linger on for days to what is inevitable. Although some may want to live the longest life they can, some may want to die earlier. They feel as if they are a burden to their family and it is not worth it. Knowing that people wish for different things in their lives, doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce the patients living will. As stated by Mrs. Mancini, “my father now died as he did not wish to die.” Regardless of whether the person wants to die or not, doctors and nurses should always respect what their patients think is best for them and their family as well.

Death with dignity and better end of life care are very different. Death with dignity states that a person dies peacefully and the way they wish to die whereas better end of life care states that a person lives a longer life provided by their healthcare. No matter what the person wishes to have, both of these are different but could be pretty similar. When a doctor prescribes morphine for a patient, their goal is to relieve the pain of that person. This is also why Mrs. Mancini handed her father his prescription therefore there is no difference in why they did this. Although people hold the idea that this was an example of her assisting an act of suicide, it was a legal prescription and she was enforcing the wishes her father wanted as many family members would.

In response to Rachel Blustein,
I agree with you that society is not failing those who are terminally ill, they are helping them. They try their best to do whatever they can to help them and keep them comfortable. I also agree with you that it should be required to enforce the patients living will.

Nina Biello-Red

2014-10-28 21:14:39 UTC

Doctors and nurses do everything they can to make the patient more comfortable and not in pain. Society is not failing people who are terminally ill. People are terminally ill because there is no cure! If there really was a cure then people would not be terminally ill. But in the mean time, if their really is no cure then that patient has no choice but to take the morphine or have doctors and nurses take care of them knowing that the patient is going to die. It's the worst feeling to know that a loved one is going to die. The patients family could also be having a tough time knowing it too. No matter what the patient chooses to do, both of these things are pretty similar. As Mrs. Mancini said, "my father dies as he did not wish to die."Doctors and nurses have to respect the patients decision. Although a lot of the people think Mrs. Mancini is an example of assisting an act of suicide, her father wanted to die that way. The prescription was legal too and she wanted her father to be happy and have his wish of dieing by taking the medicine.

In response to Leah Lancellotta:

I agree with you that doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce the patients living will.

Maxwell Tetreault Purple

2014-10-28 23:12:51 UTC

Our society is not failing people who are terminally ill. This is because people are looking for a cure for all different kinds of illness but haven’t found one yet. That doesn’t mean that we have given up, but everything takes time. For example the world might find a cure
for cancer but we don’t have the technology now to do it. So it is not our fault for everyone who dies now and up until we find the cure. No, doctors should not be enforced to carry out the patient’s “living will” because they do not have the right to kill someone upon request of the person. It is a hard choice to kill someone, and
the person who has a death wish should not be asking someone to actively participate
in killing them. The difference between death with dignity and better end of
life care is a big one. Death with dignity means someone kills themselves. A
better end of life care means someone kills themselves to get rid of pain or
suffering. Yes there is a difference between when a doctor prescribes you the
drug and when someone gives you the drug to kill yourself, like what Mrs.
Mancini did. When the doctor gives you the drug, he is giving it for you to
cure your symptoms. When a person gives you the drug in an act to kill yourself
that is a whole other story. In that case it is sort of like murder, because
you aren’t stopping the suicidal person from committing suicide. In fact in the
Mrs. Mancini problem she handed her father the murder weapon and let her father
do the deed.

I response to Alex Marion

I agree with you when you said
that we are not failing patients that are terminally ill. The reason that they
are dying is because we have not found a cure yet, but in the future we might. Also
you said doctors at hospitals should not have to enforce the patient’s living
will, and that it is too much pressure to ask someone to end your life.

Olivia Perrotta-Purple

2014-10-29 00:21:01 UTC

Society is not failing terminally ill patients. Doctors, nurses and caregivers do there best to make sure patients are getting what they need at the beginning of their illness but if they cannot do anything more to help they won't. There are cures that are trying to be found for diseases but while they are still doing that people are going to die anyway. Doctors should be required to enforce the patient's living will because they may be dying but some people may want to die a certain way. Some people may want lots of care and medications until their time but others may just want to let it happen and not have any care. Doctors should listen to it even if they think it is the wrong thing because it is not their life. There is a difference between death with dignity and end of life care. Death with dignity is saying that they can die the way they want to and without anything being done. End of like care on the other hand is where a patient can get any care they want when they are dying and they can get medication to help. There really is no difference with a doctor prescribing morphine or with what Mrs. Mancini did. You never know if the patient will use the morphine to kill themself like Mrs. Mancini's father did. Mrs. Mancini says "he asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle". She didn't know what her father was going to do with it and neither will a doctor if they prescribe the morphine to an ill patient.

In response to Maxwell Tetreault:

I disagree with you because why shouldn't a persons wants be met when they are dying. If they want a certain thing done they should be allowed it especially if you are dying. Also, Mrs. Mancini did hand her father the medication but she didn't know what he was doing but she also respected his wishes to not take him to the hospital. Wouldn't you respect one of your family members wishes to what they wanted?

Mrs. Heald

thelore — 2014-10-29 01:28:46 UTC

Thanks Brynn! I changed the setting.

Imani Briggs blue

2014-10-29 19:40:06 UTC

Our society is not failing terminally ill patients. Doctor, nurses, and hospitals are doing there best to make sure there patient has everything they want and need. Like cure we all know that everyone wants a cure for there illness, the doctors are doing everything they can to get a cure for everybody illness. Sometimes not every illness has a cure, even if the doctor trys to find one. Everybody deserve a written wish list even thougt there almost on their dead bed because everybody deserve everything special. Terminally ill people are the doctors number one priortity because the terminally ill people have a family and the doctors want to give them a cure and save there life so they can get back to there family.But we all believe that doctors are doing everything that they can to cure the terminally ill people . There is a difference between death and dignity, death is you on the death bed and dignity is when you can loose it when your terminally ill. Theres a difference when a doctor gives you prescribes morphine then someone handing you your prescription. The difference is when a doctor gives you prescrided morphine that means it was meant for you and you must need it.

in response to addie sampson

i agree with you when you say that doctors are trying to find a cure for terminally ill people, and there doing there best. And sometime the body doesn't take the cure and the doctors can't do anything about that

Abbi Sampson - Red

2014-10-29 19:47:15 UTC

In our society we are not failing patients who are terminally ill doctors and nurses are doing the best they can to help these ill people. Doctors and nurses do the best they can to make sure the patients get better, but some times their isn't a cure for some thing and the illness just takes over the persons body, or the patients body can't handle the illness so it just gives up on trying and the patient ends up dying. There is a difference between death with dignity and end of life care. Death with dignity is saying that they can die the way they want to and without anything being done. On the other hand end of life care is where a patient can get any care they want and need when they're dying and they can also get medication to help them stay alive. There is really no difference with a doctor prescribing morphine for a patient or when Mrs. Mancini gave her father the prescription. Mrs. Mancini says "he asked me to hand him the bottle of morphine and i did. i had the dosing syringe ready in my hand. he took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle." In this case people should never have more of the medication than the doctor prescribes, in this case he died of an over does. which means his body couldn't handle all the medication at once, so it caused him to die.

In response Imani Briggs

i totally agree when you say " we all believe that doctors are doing everything that they can to cure the terminally ill people ." and doctors are and like i said they are doing everything they can to help the ill but sometimes there is no cure for it. Also their may be a cure later on in life when the illness isn't that sever but right now they are trying the best they can to help same them.

Abigail Gorski - Red -

2014-10-29 19:59:02 UTC

David Boffa-Blue

2014-10-29 20:04:43 UTC

I do not think that our society is failing elderly and terminally ill patients. People are living longer and the longer they live the more likely they are to become terminally ill. Doctors and nurses can only do so much. Even if a patient has a living will doctors must treat according to state laws. Also, trying to help a loved one as Mrs. Mancini did you could be arrested and end up doing time in jail.

In response to Abbi Sampson,

I agree with you. People should die when they want to. It is not other peoples decisions if someone wants to die or not.

Jessica Tennett green

2014-10-29 20:31:24 UTC

Our society is not failing patients who are terminally ill. Doctors spend their days trying to help people survive and this puts a lot of stress on them. Doctors should be respected, not questioned. Doctors should respect some of the patients "living will", but they also have to do what is best for them. If a doctor is treating a patient who suffers from drug addiction, or any type of mental illness, the patient will, for example, want more drugs. The doctors cannot do this because it will kill them. The doctors job is to help the patient survive. There is no difference when a doctor prescribes morphine for a patient and when Mrs. Mancini handed her father his prescription. Her father could have easily gotten up and gotten the morphine for himself, so why does it matter if his daughter handed it to him? Mrs. Mancini said “he never came out and said today I am going to kill myself,” so she did not know what he was going to do when she handed him the bottle. The doctors are the ones who prescribed him the morphine, so if Mrs. Mancini is arrested, they have to be arrested as well. Her father also had the choice to end his life or not. Nobody else knew how bad the pain he was going through was, so they had no right to make the decision for him to live. In his mind, dying was better than dealing with the pain, and this should be respected. He also wanted to die peacefully. This was his decision, not the doctors.

In response to Abbi Sampson:

I agree with you. People should be able to die whenever they want, and how they want. It is not other peoples` decisions and we should not interfere.

Chloe Brown Purple

2014-10-29 21:32:50 UTC

Our society is failing patients who are terminally ill. People should be able to choose when they would like to end their life. They shouldn't just suffer and have their family suffer watching them. If the patient feels so much pain the docters should listen to their patient because the patient will eventually pass away and to just have them suffer isn't right. Death with Dignity is when the person knowing that they are going to die chooses to leave, the end of life care is when docters try to comfort the patient by giving them pain relivers, but the patient isn't cured the docters just try to help them. Mrs. Mancini gave her father morphine so he can pass away because he wanted to. By a doctor giving morphine and Mrs. Mancini giving her father morphine there isn't much of a difference because they both have the same goal to end there life.

I agree with Nicholas Williams because if they want to pass away then thats their choice.

Troy Cedarfield--- Blue

2014-10-29 21:45:13 UTC

Our society is failing terminally ill patients because like Joe Yourshaw, his wishes to end his life were not able to occur since he lived in a state where ending your own life is a crime and illegal to aid a suicide. Joe Yourshaw was suffering from a terminal kidney disease which caused excruciating pain. His doctor prescribed him Morphine. Yourshaw asked his daughter for his medicine and right after she gave it to him, he drank the whole bottle and 4 days later, he died. According to Doctor Iyra Byock, "I think that this case is emblematic of how we're failing elders, chronically I'll people, and vulnerable people in America." They're also failing because they're not meeting the patients needs.

In response to Brendan Mohan,

I disagree with you because if people want to die, let them. They'll do themselves a favor in ending their lives.

Mikayla Kiernan Green

2014-10-29 21:59:10 UTC

If a doctor knows a specific patient is terminally ill and is on life care, and they know there’s a 100% chance that patient is going to pass away very soon, they should not have to spend their own time in which they could be helping someone with a chance. However, it is in conclusion up to them, and the patient’s family. Our society is not failing these patients who are terminally ill. Doctors and hospitals should have to respect and enforce the patients “living will”, but to some extent. They should do what is best for the patient at all times and for the most part, doctors do that. They constantly try to do what they can to make sure the ill person is getting help and the correct medication and treatments. Dying with dignity and better end of health care are nearly the same. Although with dignity the person goes out stronger. Someone who dies while getting off of life care can still die with dignity, they just have to go strongly. Mrs. Mancini was not responsible for her father’s death. The doctor specifically prescribed Mrs. Mancini’s father the morphine, knowing it could end his life. “Doctors often write prescriptions for life ending medications,” even if they truly know that at any point those patients can simply overdose and be gone on the spot (Barbara Coombs Lee CBS 60 Minutes). It was not Barbara’s choice for her father’s death, it was his, and she simply wanted to honor her father’s last wishes. Mrs. Mancini was not aware of what her father was about to do when he asked for his prescriptions.

In response to Maxwell Tetreault, I disagree with you because it should be the ill’s persons choice on whether they stay or go. No one should be forced to stay alive if they can't handle the pain and suffering anymore. Also, Mrs. Mancini was not aware it was a "murder weapon" when she handed her father his prescription, from the doctor.

Nicholas Harter- RED CLASS

2014-10-29 22:45:22 UTC

When he drank that morphine and when Barbara Mancini said, "Well, I think you just drank a lot of morphine there." (Barbara Mancini), that was a act of helping him with suicide. Why? Well, first of all, you shouldn't of gave him the whole bottle. Instead you could of poured a smaller amount into a smaller cup, or just ask, "Why?". Second of all, this is kind of obvious, but suicide is never the answer. You probably have something that was going to happen important in your life later on. Lastly, the doctors should of treated him, but if really wanted to kill himself, why would he just be lying there and try to exit the hospital? Instead, the doctors could of strapped him into the bed so that he wouldn't escape. But however, killing yourself wont do anything. So if it wont do anything, why do it?

In response to Chloe Brown, I agree with you because every has to die sometime, but nobody would want do die in front of one of your family memebers.

Rebecca Dugas - Purple

2014-10-29 23:35:11 UTC

If in someone's Living Will they state that they don't want to be on life support machines with no quality of life, then they should be able to end their own life. People should be able to choose how they pass on. If a person isn't able to live a quality life and be able to make decisions for himself then they should be able to have a will made up ahead of time that states to what extent they want to live and how they want to end their fight for life. As said in the 60 minute video, Barbara Mancini said " I got arrested on the spot". She wasn't helping a suicide, she didn't know that when her father got the bottle of morphine he was going to drink the remainder of the bottle. Medical staff do everything they can in their power to keep the patient alive, because they took an oath to save lives. So by law they have a moral obligation to save lives. It's time that some changes are made to the laws as they stand right now.

In response to Abbi Sampson:

I agree with you because people should be able to choose how they die and we or the law shouldn't choose for them.

Dylan Manning- Green

dylan_manning — 2014-10-29 23:58:51 UTC

Society is failing terminally ill patients. It's understood that medical staff do everything they can to sustain and prolong person's life. They also do everything in their power to keep patients comfortable, and out of pain. Even if a doctor knows that his patient is going to die, he can do nothing except increase their medications and try to make it as gentle as possible. Family, friends, and the patient should not have to experience this slow process of death. As said by Mrs. Mancini, "my father now died as he did not wish to die". Some say it is unethical for someone that is terminally ill to end their own life. But, what's really unethical is making them live a life of pain and sorrow, knowing that they could die unexpectedly, at any minute. Hospital staff should have to adhere to a patients wishes on their medical treatment.

Hospice and Death with Dignity should be able to co-exist together. End of life care makes the process of dying more comfortable and relaxed for the patient. Death with Dignity should be for the people who think end of life care is not enough and the pain is overwhelming. That is in The end their decision and it should be respected. Someone telling you how to live your own life and controlling when you will die is not right. Plain and simple.

In response to Maxwell-

I disagree with you saying the term killed. It is death. Nobody is being murdered. A patient, by themselves, decides whether they want to prolong their death. Living for a few more painful months. Or whether they just want to end it then and there. If they ask a family member to help them in the process, it is not murder. It is a dignifying death. Wouldn't you want someone there with you when you passed away? Just because someone sits with a dying loved one, doesn't mean they are participating in killing them. Dying with dignity is not like murder in any way, shape or form.

Nick Psikakos-Green

2014-10-30 01:31:09 UTC

If someone is suffering from multiple diseases and only has a few months to live, it may seem harsh, to just kill yourself or put yourself down but it's a legal decision. As United States citizens we have the right to life, meaning we can do exactly what we want with our life no matter the outcome. Meaning, this should be legal for the correct terms. If some emo kid is like "oh I want to die" well no, that's just suicide. Even though this can be considered suicide it's still different if you think about it. Someone who actually is going to die in a matter of weeks who doesn't have the strength to move on should be able to make that choice to put themselves down or not. Barbara Mancini's comment to when her dad killed himself in front of her said how she could have stopped him; "I could have, I think. I mean he did it pretty quickly. But no, I didn't try to stop him." Though it is sad to see someone chug a bottle of poison, it's far to say the man had a reason to. Although, she should have stopped him, at least so he could have a chance to say goodbye to his loved ones. However it is fair to say, she shouldn't have been charged because if medical personal hand him the stuff, rather then someone who actually didn't see it coming, it's quite easy to state it shouldn't be any different. But it should be documented.

In response to Dylan:

I completely agree with your second paragraph statements, because we all have the right to life, which is the pursuit of happiness.

Katie Caraccia - Blue

2014-10-30 17:19:28 UTC

Unfortunately, dying is part of life. It is a very hard thing regardless of the situation but no one wants to see a loved one suffer. If a person is terminally ill and there is no chance that this person can be saved and he is suffering and their final wish is to die with dignity, why not? What quality of life is this person having? Keeping someone hooked up on machines or drugged up with morphine to prolong the inevitable is not living. Death with dignity and better end of life care are similar. They both serve the same purpose of letting a person die comfortably but with self respect. Doctor's and hospitals should enforce the patient's living will. A patient's final wish should be taken seriously. Barbara Mancini did not do anything wrong. Her father's doctor perscribed the drinkable morphine for him to take at home. He was going to take it whether she was there or not. He only asked her to pass the medicine to him. He was already drinking it when she really realized what he was doing; plus she knew that was his wish.

In response to Nicolas Williams:

I disagree with you when you said, in some ways, many doctors and hospitals are failing terminally ill patients because they may not want to spend the extra money on somebody who is going to die. Doctors take an oath to give the best medical care possible while in their care regardless of their outcome; but I still think doctor's should enforce their final wishes.

Luis Felicio- Red

2014-10-30 17:42:55 UTC

If a doctor knows that there is absolutely no chance in there patient living then why do they have to take care of this patient rather then another patient who has a chance of living. It should be up to the doctor and the patients family. Doctors should be required to enforce the living will to the patients because many people may want to die a certain way and we must respect that. If someone is going to die and there in so much pain that they cant even move on then they should be able to put themselves down per say. People may think its crazy for a people to take there own life, but it may be the solution to a person who has had a life of pain in sorrow. An example is shown in this artical. "Barbara Mancini: He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle.Anderson Cooper: Could you have stopped him?Barbara Mancini: I could have, I think. I mean he did it pretty quickly. But no, I didn't try to stop him." I believe she did the right thing he asked her to give him the pills and he must have been in pain and has a disease so she did.

I agree with Dylan Manning when he say, "Hospice and Death with Dignity should be able to co-exist together." This is completely true and literally just backs up my opinion even more.

2014-10-30 18:01:03 UTC

Jacob Zoglio - RED

2014-10-30 18:47:27 UTC

Right now their are a lot of people on life support that would rather end the suffering and die. This is a waste of electricity and hospital rooms. If a patient is terminally ill the doctors should let the patients decied if they want to live or die. Death with dignity is how most people want to die. If someone assist's a murder they shouldn't be arrested unless there is no documentation of the victim stating that he/she wanted to die. Her father stated that being alive was a "burden on his family" (60 minutes). What happened to Mrs.Mancini was unacceptable, she got arrested for murdering her father when he wanted to die. Also, all she did was hand her father the bottle of morphine.

In response to Arianna Deal:

I agree with your statement about living will. I also think that doctors and family members should respect their living will too.

Arianna Deal - -Blue

2014-10-30 19:16:57 UTC

In hospitals all around the U.S. there are patients that would rather be dead. For example, Mrs. Mancini's father said that him being alive is a "burden on his family" (60 minutes). We don't know what they're going through. Well, obviously it's so bad they'd rather die, but we have no idea. Doctor's and family members should respect their "living will", but the procedure should happen in a hospital. Like what the other women interviewed with Barbara Mancini said, it's done descretely and the patients are told they have a right to change their mind. What happened to Barbara Mancini is impossible to understand. She was charged with "aiding a suicide" when he innocently just said "hand me my medicine", in the interview she makes it clear that she didn't know he was going to kill himself, but when she found out that he was, she didint do anything.

In response to Jacob Zoglio:

I agree with you about how Mrs. Mancini's charges are questionable and that she's innocent unless the victim stated that they wanted to die.

Matthew Giarrusso

2014-10-30 20:17:51 UTC

(From phone) when you hear about people who have come of old age, you will most likely hear that they are on life support. People on life support are in much pain and its the only thing keeping from meeting death. They will often ask to be put off life support but they wont let them. If someone is on life support and the intermiediate family approves. Than they should be taken off so they can (sadly) die. It is important when someone dies, that they are not in pain

Mia Paolino RED

2014-10-30 20:26:51 UTC

Yes, doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce the patient's "living will" (written wishes of the patient). Its unfair to that patient if they want to die with dignity. Also, if people like, nurses, doctors, or a hospital. Especially if he or she is in pain. For example, Barbara Mancini's father Joe Yourshaw was suffering from kidney disease. Joe told Barbara to hand him the bottle of morphine. Barbara did as her father asked because she promised that she would honor his wishes. Should Barbara be punished for letting her father die with dignity? In my opinion Barbara shouldn't be punished because that was her fathers choice and he was going to die anyways but in agonizing pain. Barbara didn't want that for her father and she also made him a promise. So, yes the U.S. and other countries should have the "living will" law.

In response to Ariana Deal she is right doctors don't know what its like to have a disease that's so painful they'd rather die.

Stefano Lonardo BLUE

2014-10-30 20:30:12 UTC

Death with dignity can be better then watching your family suffer. My Nana had Alzheimer disease for seventeen years, and she was never able to speak or move around on her own. My family always had to watch her and help her eat throughout the day. It was a burden in my family, and if she could speak she would have never wanted us to go through all that pain. People should be able to make their own choices for their life. It is what Barbara Mancinis dad wanted. Her dad was "terminally ill"(Michael Rubinkam) and he new there was no hope for him to get better. He did not want his daughter to go through the pain of watching him suffer, so he decided to end his life to not put a burden on her. That is why death with dignity is better then death with agony.

In response to Arianna Deal

I agree with you that we should realize that terminally ill patients must be going through something horrible to want to end their life. And it is thier decision.

Tatum Hassett RED

2014-10-30 20:41:14 UTC

Are society is failing patients who are terminally ill. They should have a say if they want to die then they should be able to die. Its not fair to hold them if they don't want to feel the pain and just die a little bit earlier. Doctors and hospitals should be required to give their patients a "living will". People that have cancer should get a wish to make before they die. Going to Disney or anything else the patients want as a wish. There is no difference between death with dignity and better end of life. Some people think that it is good to die with dignity rather then not. Mrs. Mancini's said she "won't stop him if she could"(60 minutes). She is right he should be able to have a say when he should and should not die.

In response to Chloe Brown

I agree with you that people should be able to decide when they die. If Mrs. Mancini's father wanted to die then he should die. They don't know what his pain feels like and how it feels to got through life like that.

Victoria Williams-Blue

2014-10-30 21:02:50 UTC

Citizens have the right to life, which also means that they have the right to take away their life. As sad as that is, they have the right to end their life, they have the right to live as long as they want, and they have the right to not live a very long life. Mrs. Mancini was not treated the right way when the police arrested her for "assisted suicide" because her father should have the right to end his life if he feels the need to. Also, doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce the patient's "living will" because it should be what the patients' want. Lastly, Mrs. Mancini stated that she "couldn't stop him, because he was too fast for me", so why should she be arrested? If she didn't have the chance to stop him, than she should not be blamed for assisted suicide.

In response to Abigail Gorski,

I agree with you because all citizens have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, so if someone's pursuit of happiness is dead, the government nor the doctors and close family members can stop them, because their right cannot be taken away.

Casey Regine- Blue

2014-10-30 22:38:15 UTC

All over the world, people in hospitals want to die than to suffer their illness. Citizens have the right to life and the right to end your life. In this case, Mrs. Mancini's father wanted to end his life. He attempted suicide and Mrs. Mancini was there helping him. Later on, Mrs. Mancini was arrested for "assisted suicide." It's right for Mrs. Mancini to get arrested. She deserves years in jail for watching a family member committing suicide. If I was her I would rather want my father to live then make him happy and let him commit suicide. Even though all her father said to her was " hand me my medicine" and that's all. Obviously she was going to because she didn't know, but she should have. Furthermore, Mrs. Mancini did this because she wanted to make her father happy. Her father didn't want to go to a hospital and spend the rest of his life there. Instead he wanted to commit suicide using drugs and alcohol. Going to the hospital, doctors and nurses don't fail a patient because they are ill they try their best to save their life. In addition, Mrs. Mancini didn't want this somehow. Doctors and hospitals shouldn't allow "living will" because even though some patients want to die, doctors wouldn't want to let a person die. That's not what a doctors job is.

In response to Sabrina Sorvillo,

I disagree with you because I think that Mrs. Mancini deserved being arrested. She witnessed a suicide right in front of her. She should have token the "medicine" away from him right when she gave it to him not knowing it was a suicidal weapon pretty much.

Jason Carroll - Purple

Jasonc07 — 2014-10-30 22:52:31 UTC

Doctors should probably be focusing their efforts on people who have a better chance of living than people who are terminally ill, likely dying. Society definitely isn't failing those who are terminally sick because there are literally billions of dollars put in to finding a cure for cancer, and that's cancer alone. For those who are terminally ill, there are specialists just for that, but your typical doctors or even some ER rooms should be reserved for reasons not as serious, but at the same time, defeats the purpose of an emergency room. Also the incident with Mrs. Mancini when she "handed her father the prescription" is unacceptable because it is against the law for someone to not accept the prescription themselves,

In response to Caitlyn Lamond,

I agree with you when you say that doctors should not completely disregard the deemed to die but not focus on them either and focus on the people who have a better chance of living.

Jamie Anderson- Purple

2014-10-30 22:54:46 UTC

Doctors and hospitals should definitely be required to enforce the patients "living will." If patients are terminally ill, and they want to end their life without suffering for longer, then they should be able to. Especially if the doctor's are positive that the person will die, they shouldn't spend their time trying to cure them, they should help others who are not terminally ill. If the patients want to pursue their own choice, they should get the right to do so. Mrs. Mancini said, "my father now died as he did not wish to die". Some people think it is wrong for someone that is terminally ill to end their own life, but it is that person's choice, and the hospital should not interfere with that. Death with dignity should be more for people who want more than health care. Death with dignity should go with better end of life care, because people can have their own opinions and both should be open for either type of person.

Also, there is a difference between Mrs. Mancini handing her father the prescription, and when doctor's give patients morphine. This is mainly because doctors should be the ones to deal with any medicine of any sort, and they know better than to give patients anything they think they need. Even if the man wanted to end his life, Mrs. Mancini should have contacted a doctor immediately instead of giving her father the prescription directly.

In response to Maxwell,

I disagree with you when you say that the patients are being "killed". Death with dignity is completely different than someone being murdered. It is the patients choice, and i understand that you can have your opinions, but in this case, that is incorrect. death with dignity gives the patient who is terminally ill to either suffer until they die, or to have themselves put to sleep. Also, when Mrs. Mancini gave his father the prescription, it wasn't murder, because it was his choice to take it from her, and he did not have to.

Mrs. Heald

thelore — 2014-10-30 22:56:43 UTC

Hi Guys, Due to an inappropriate post, the site was done for an hour and the settings were changed. ALL postings will be approved before they can be viewed.

Joshua Shaughnessy

2014-10-30 23:03:11 UTC

People that are terminally ill are
most likely going to die. However they should not be killed by doctors as soon
as they are diagnosed. I think the law in Oregon are good and that other states
should follow, but the patient should be killed only if they want to. They should
be killed if they think that their life is not worth living anymore. Mrs. Mancini
shouldn’t have been arrested. First, how was she going to know that he was just
going to down the whole bottle of morphine? She didn’t she was just doing what
she thought was right for her sick father. In conclusion I think that elders
who are terminally ill should be able to be killed if they feel the need too.

In response to Chloe Brown

I agree with you that people should die when they want to die. Mrs. Mancini didn't know that her father was going to kill himself

James Horton-Blue

2014-10-30 23:03:46 UTC

Our society is failing terminally ill patients because people who aid the terminally ill in killing themselves get arrested and get charged with aiding in a suicide just because they fulfilled the persons wishes. According to Barbara Mancini (2014) " He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand." All she was doing was fulfilling her fathers wish because he was in pain and couldn't live like that anymore. On the other hand hospitals should be required to enforce patients to write a living will because it gives them a chance to say good bye and give something to certain family members to remember them by. There isn't a difference when a doctor prescribes morphine or when Mrs. Mancini handed her father his prescription because the life of the person who is ill will end the same anyways whether its a doctor or not and if people get penalized why cant doctors get penalized too, they're doing the same thing. There isn't a difference between dying with dignity and better end of life care because everyone should have the right to die with dignity and better end of life care gives them the choice.

In response to Jason Carroll

I disagree with you when you say that society isn't failing terminally ill people because lots of other people aid in ending family members lives without knowing it like Mrs. Mancini and getting penalized for it

Andrew Saillant- Green

asaillant811 — 2014-10-30 23:07:56 UTC

Society today is failing to serve terminally ill patients. Doctors should absolutely be required to obey the will of their patient. If a patient is in agony from whatever they are afflicted with, they should have the right to do whatever they want. Doctors try to make the patients death comfortable and easy, but it is a horrific experience to watch a family member die so slowly. A person should not be hooked up to a machine to live only for a little while longer. In the 60 minute video, Barbara Mancini says that her father had “died as he did not wish to die.” Her father had specifically told her that he had not wanted to die hooked up to machines, and unfortunately, because of the laws doctors have to follow, that is exactly what happened.

Better end of life care and Death with Dignity can certainly exist together. Death with dignity states that a patient can die peacefully and however they chose to. Better end of life care hooks the patient up to machines and supports their life as long as they can. The decision of which one to use should be up to the family or patient. There was not much of a difference between a doctor prescribing morphine to a patient and what Mrs. Mancini did. The doctor is giving the patient a bottle of the medicine, but said patient can them do what he or she wants with it. This is the same as what Mrs. Mancini did. She handed him the bottle, and he drank it, just like he could’ve if a doctor gave it to him. Overall, we are really failing the terminally ill people and they should be treated however they want.

In response to Maxwell Tetreault

I strongly disagree with you when you said that doctors can’t carry out the person’s will because some one who is suffering and wants to die should not have to live on painkilling medicine.

Brendan Dodd - Green

doddwhms2 — 2014-10-30 23:08:18 UTC

There really is no clear answer to this. You could really

argue both ways. If someone really is ill and they just don’t want to live

anymore, it is okay and not okay. In some states it would be called a suicide,

but some states it is legal. If someone just doesn't see the reason to live

anymore, it really is their decision. It really shouldn't be okay to take you

own life away though. It isn't legal first of all and it just isn't right. To

take your own life is ridiculous, but there somewhat is a reason because you

are suffering. If someone just commits suicide for being bullied or something along those lines, that is wrong and isn't right. If you are terminally ill

there somewhat is a reason, but it still shouldn't happen. Barbara Mancini

says,“I had the dosing syringe in my hand, he took the cap off, and he drank

what was remaining in the bottle.” The

fact that she could have stopped him and didn’t isn’t really a good thing. He

did say he wished he would die, but nobody should take their lives.

In response to Nick:

I kind of agree with you. Putting yourself down isn't really and shouldn't be

the best option. I know people suffer and want to just die, but nobody

should take their lives because of this.

Sophia Kue- Green

2014-10-30 23:12:01 UTC

Our society is not failing patients who are terminally ill. Doctors spend every day trying to help people survive. Doctors do the best they can to help patients, but they should also respect the person’s living will. In addition, it is the doctor’s job to help the person survive and live longer. When Mrs. Mancini gave the bottle of morphine to her father she didn’t know he was going to drink it all because, “he never came out and said today (he is) going to kill (himself)” said Mrs. Mancini (2014). Also, her father had the right if he wanted to end his life. Maybe the pain was unbearable and he rather die than endure the pain. He wanted to die peacefully and independently and people should respect his wishes.

In response to Victoria Williams:

I agree that Mrs. Mancini shouldn't get blamed for the suicide. Also, I agree that her father should of had the choice to take away his life because of the unbearable pain he was enduring.

Sarah Hobin - Purple

2014-10-30 23:16:55 UTC

In today's times, doctors are not failing patients who are terminally ill. The doctors and nurses do what they can to make the patient comfortable and happy, which is more than enough. In terms of the living will of the patients, doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce it. Everyone needs to be respected and that is not respect if their living wills are not being carried out or enforced. Mrs. Mancini said that “my father now died as he did not wish to die”. He went to the hospital after overdosing and that is not what he wanted. The hospital did not respect his living wishes which was wrong on their part.

There is a difference between death with dignity and better end of life care. Death with dignity is when someone dies on their own terms. Better end of life care, on the other hand, is when someone has to live a loner life on their healthcare. While there is a difference between these two terms, there is no difference between a doctor prescribing morphine for a patient and Mrs. Mancini handing her father the prescription. She did not know that her father was going to do that. It was his choice and she did not influence him or help him knowingly.

In response to Sophia Kue:

I agree that society is not failing patients and that the patients wishes should be respected. Wether dead or alive, everyone has rights and it is wrong to take them away.

Cody Chu - Green

codyrc101 — 2014-10-30 23:17:42 UTC

our society is not failing the terminally ill. If your terminally ill you cannot be cured you only have certain amount of months before you die. The person who is terminally ill they know that and should have the right to chose if he or she wants to die. Barbara Mancini was arrested for doing the deed her father wants. Barbara's father didn't wanted the death he received but that he had he wanted to die peacefully"my father now died as he did not wish to die" quote from Barbra Mancini from the show 60 minutes. This showing that the doctors went against his will and how he wanted to die. Doctors should enforce "living will" its your life and you choose how you want to live and how you want to die. This showing why doctors should enforce "living will". There are both similarities with death with dignity and better end of life care. Both should be a option for the patient. They can choose what they want to do if they want death with dignity they can choose, it they don't have to suffer for the next months. If they want better end of life care they can choose to be cared for for the next remaining months. Its all in the persons hands on what they want to do with their life. Its their life nobody has a say in another person life.

In response to: Sarah Hobin

I agree with you on how doctors and nurses do what they can to make their patients happy and how doctors should enforce the will of the patient. I also agree on how the doctors didn't respect Mrs. Mancini's fathers wish

Alissa Anastasi Blue

2014-10-30 23:19:52 UTC

Everyone in the world has a choice or right if they want to live or not. People who are ill might have to make this decision, because of their family members. For example, if someone is seriously sick then their family is going to want to put them on life support, but what if they don’t want to? Also, people might not have anybody to make decisions , so they need to make sure that they are able to. Doctors need to ask their patients this question because it’s very important. People need to make a choice on what they want in their life. Barbara Mancini who recently got arrested for helping her father kill himself says “He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle. This was a choice made by her father, so she shouldn't of gotten in trouble for it. He had a choice if he wanted to live and he chose not to. It’s not like she made him swallow the pills. Overall, everyone has a choice of if they want to live or not.

In response to Victoria Williams:

I agree with you that citizens have a right to live and a right to die sadly. It’s their decision and they should be able to make it for themselves.

Richard Lepre-Red

richardlepre55 — 2014-10-30 23:28:02 UTC

From the video doctors should be allowed to require to enforced the patient's will. It should be l like the doctor's be able to give the patient their last will and the option to go or still live. There is a difference when a doctor gives the medicine because the doctor has to watch the patient so he or she doesn't over do the medicine. When some one else gives it to them like a family member then that'd a whole new ball game. The patient might take more than usual. All doctor's should have to watch the patient all the time when they take the perception. Finally the society is failing patients who are terminally ill becausr doctor's spend their life trying to keep ill patients better but the patient should still be able get their choice to go or keep living on with their life.

In response to Matthew Giarrusso

I agree with him because if the patient is very ill they should have the choice to live or take their life. It's also important when someone dies because they are free from all the pain in life. It should be the patient's choose to live or go. We all have to go at some point in life

Isaiah Cruz

2014-10-30 23:30:00 UTC

Death with dignity should be allowed in all states in the U.S. but it should also be used properly. But patients should not take the medicine right away, they should make an educated decision on when they want to take the medicine that will never make you awake and go into a permanent slumber. Doctors should suggest to patients that they should make a well thought out decision on the time they take the medication. There is nothing proper about what you are doing, soldier, but do try to kill me properly.—last words of Cicero (attributed), this is a quote about death with dignity. People should want to die the real person they are and not not able to do anything they used to be able to like wash themselves or take care if their home. In response to - there is nobody to respond to....

Sarina Connor-Red

2014-10-30 23:35:16 UTC

People have the choice and right to decide whether they want to die or not when terminally ill. If the patient is going to die and is very weak and tired of being sick and living that way and choose to die, they should be able to stop suffering. There is no difference when Mrs. Mancini handed her father the morphine, her father wanted to stop suffereing and die peacefully with his daughter. Mrs. Mancini said "my father now died as he did not wish to die". Mrs.Mancini didn't don't anything wrong, she simply wanted her dad to be happy and stop suffering. Therefore if people want to die when they are terminally I'll they should have the right to in every state.

In response to Victoria Williams,

I agree that's citizens can choose to live or die when they feel they are ready. As a person they can make that decision

Will Walmsley, Green

2014-10-30 23:56:20 UTC

The right to ones life includes the right for one to end his or her life. To strip someone of this right is cruel. Nobody would want to live in constant pain for six months when they know that they will die. To not respect and understand this fact is deplorable. As in the case of Barbara Mancini, her father had no chance at pulling through. He was in pain and burdened with knowing that his family continuously paid bills to allow him to continue is meaningless and painful life. He himself made the choice to end his life. He had the right to do so - the right to life. Because Mancini didn’t discourage his decision - which was HIS decision - she was arrested. Her father was later was taken to the hospital where the doctors saved his life… but he didn’t want his life to be saved. In the hospital, he was “ more angry than he ever had been” and “died in the exact way that he didn’t want to,” according to Mrs. Mancini. To prolong a dreary unwanted life is wrong. Living Will should be followed in any situation regarding terminal illness.

In addition, the only one who should be able to tell whether their end of life care makes life worth living is he who is being cared for. Regardless of what others feel is worth living for, the person making the decision is the only person whose opinion matters.

Overall, living will is something that should be followed no matter what another’s opinion is.

In response to Brendan Dodd,

I disagree with you saying “it really shouldn’t be okay for you to take your own life.” When dealing with terminal illness, there is no hope of getting better. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. Things will only get worse. A life like this doesn’t have much value, and would be extremely unpleasant to live. If someone who knows that nothing will get better kills himself because he feels it would only hurt him to move on, he is relieving himself of the pain and suffering that his life would forever bring.

Austin Morrocco Red

2014-10-31 00:01:25 UTC

Unfortunately, dying is part of life. It is a very hard thing regardless of the situation but no one wants to see a loved one suffer. If a person is terminally ill and there is no chance that this person can be saved and he is suffering and their final wish is to die with dignit. Keeping someone hooked up on machines or drugged up with morphine to prolong the inevitable is not living. Death with dignity and better end of life care are similar. They both serve the same purpose of letting a person die comfortably but with self respect. Doctor's and hospitals should enforce the patient's living will. A patient's final wish should be taken seriously. “He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle. This was a choice made by her father, so she shouldn't of gotten in trouble for it. He had a choice if he wanted to live and he chose not to. It’s not like she made him swallow the pills. Overall, everyone has a choice of if they want to live or not.

In response to Victoria Williams:

I agree with you that citizens have a right to live and a right to die sadly. It’s their decision and they should be able to make it for themselves.

Brendan Kelleher- Green

2014-10-31 00:03:01 UTC

It's sad to think about it but we all know that death is inevitable for all of us, and if the survival rate of a patient is dictating how he or she is being treated, then America is pretty messed up. But it is not fair to say that doctors are failing terminally ill patients. Hospitals should be required to enforce the patient's "living will", it would only be fair to the patient. Put yourself in a patients position, you're dying, you just want to get it over with to get rid of the pain, but the doctors just give you more meds and give you more machines. To be honest, most doctors are getting paid in stacks, so if that were me in the hospital bed, those doctors better do everything they can to keep me alive. On the other hand if the patient wants to just pass away, you should give them their last wishes. It sounds horrible to say but it's true. Are you going to deny someone's last wishes before they pass away. Like in this weeks 60 minutes Mrs. Mancini said, "my father now died as he did not wish to die", and it is fair to let someone die the way they please. There is a HUGE difference between death wit dignity, and better end of life care. Both should be able to coexist wit each other but dying with dignity is probably important to most people. If I patient wants to die a certain way, they should have the right to choose how they die and that is final.

In response to Brendan Dodd

With the bullying piece you have a really good point, because I that was a law technically those people would be dying the way they want so I understand your concerns. But you also have other cases like with Barbara's father, what are you going to do then. So honestly this argument could go on forever, and I completely agree with everything you said.

Zachary love-blue

2014-10-31 00:07:36 UTC

Everyone is free to make their own choices even if it means they don't want to live. Doctors should be required to follow the will go the patient. So if the patient wants to die then that's their wish they just want it to be done and get it over with this is their wish and we should respect it no matter what even if it is your family of course they'll be devastated that that happened but they'll be in a better place then to be in pain in a small room waiting for it to be their time." He asked me to hand him the bottle and I did. I had the dosing syringe in my hand. He took the cap off and drank what was remaining in the bottle. This was a choice made by my father." She shouldn't have been to blame when it was her fathers wish.

In response to: Brendan kelleher

Hospitals should be required to enforce the patients "living will" and it is inly fair to the patient to get what they want. I mean their gonna go either way.

Bailey Morgan - Green

2014-10-31 00:08:05 UTC

Our society should not be deciding if a patient lives or dies. The patient should be able to choose whether they want to continue life or die. If somebody wants to die, the doctors should have no say whether they are going to keep them alive or not. The doctors should be enforcing the patients “living will”. If a patient wants to die instead of live in a hospital connected to tubes, then they should have that right to. A person should be able to decide when they want to die, not their doctor. It’s their life and they get to decide if they want to live or not. When a patient, for example Mrs. Mancini’s father, decides that they don’t want to live anymore they should not be forced to. Mrs. Mancini was told clearly by her father that he didn’t want to live anymore, and she respected that. When he asked for the pills, she gave them to him, because “(she) promised him the (she) would honor his wishes” (Barbara Mancini 2014). She wasn’t going to stop him because this is how he wanted to die, with dignity. When somebody dies with dignity they die choose their own time and way. However, if you choose better end of life care, you get a better quality of life and a better quantity of life. Mrs. Mancini’s father wanted to die instead of get hooked up to machines or be taken care of in a home. He did not want to put his family through that, just like many other people, which is why doctors should respect the wishes of their patients. On another hand, when Mrs. Mancini gave her father the drugs that he asked for, it was okay because that is what he wanted and she was respecting his wishes. It was just as right for her to give it to him, as it would be for a doctor to. To conclude, doctors should give their patients what they want when it comes to life or death. If they want to die then they should be able to because it is their life, and they choose what they want to do with it.

In response to Andrew Saillant,

I agree with you that it should be up to the family or the patient to decide if they die or live. Patients should have the right to say whether or not they want to die or if they want to live, hooked up to machines.

Lauren Santilli

2014-10-31 00:11:12 UTC

If people in this world are terminally ill, how are they supposed to know whether they want to live or if they don't? They can't make this decision when they're not in the right state of mind or health. So, people should be required to make a will when they turn atleast 60. Once someone thinks they are having issues with health they should think about writing one. In this document, there should be a decision of whether they want to die with dignity, or to die connected to 37 machines just to keep their heart beating. People should die of natural causes, not taking extreme measures, but not necessarily giving them a bottle of morphine like Mrs. Mancini. Also, she says he "died as he did not wish to die". Some people may see this law as cowardice.

In response to Brendan Kelleher, I'm not sure I agree with you when you say " Put yourself in a patients position, you're dying, you just want to get it over with to get rid of the pain, but the doctors just give you more meds and give you more machines. ", because if the patient or their family say the patient don't want to be treated just to stay alive, then they must listen to them and respect their word. They could give them medicine to keep them comfortable, and send them home and die with dignity.

Daniela Marketos - Red class

2014-10-31 00:13:05 UTC

It is very difficult to predict whether someone lives or dies, if one lives they live, and if they die, they die. It may seem unfair of how it is but it has to do with the health of someone and how they chose to take care of themselves. The hospitals should require to enforce the patient's living will because if there is a chance of them passing away that can be done already, and if they survive they would have a will when the time comes. The doctors should be taking care of every person that walks through the doors of the hospital, we have our rights of life and liberty. If they would like to die in the hospital, even if they asked to be, it's their life and if they want to pass away then they should be allowed to chose their own path of how they want to live. If they wanted the pills they should be allowed to have the pills, it's their wishes and they should be respected. When Barbara Mancini's father was in the hospital he had told her that he did not want to live any more so she gave him the pills because she "promised him that she would honor his wishes". He wanted to die so she allowed him to, no one should be forced to do something that they don't want to do, they shouldn't have to do it. He no longer wanted to live so he should be allowed to chose his own choices. There is a difference between when a doctor prescribes something to a patient than when one is handed something to end their life, a prescription is given to try and help a person but when they wish to end their life and the drug is given to them they have their wish to die and it is respected.

In response to Brendan Kelleher, I agree with you, if their lives are being depicted on the treatments they are having then it is messed up for America to be thinking like that. If a doctor thinks their survival rate is lowered farther then they should be trying harder to help that person feel better instead of just no longer giving them a treatment. If a doctor no longer helps a patient they shouldn't be getting paid the money they are being paid. With all the money they get they need to make sure that they keep everyone laying on a hospital bed is getting better and try their hardest to get them back on their feet.

Alana Guglielmo-Purple

2014-10-31 00:28:03 UTC

Today doctors are not failing patients who are terminally ill. Doctors and nurses are caring for patients by trying to find a cure for them while keeping them comfortable and free of any pain they may be in. This should be more than adequate. A living will leaves instructions for treatment for those who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. This document should be enforced and respected by the health care provider. Several states have
enacted the “death with dignity” act. This act allows one to have the choice to end their own life when faced with a terminal illness. Without this act, doctors will continue to write lethal prescriptions without any standards. What happened to Barbara Mancini was rare but the risk of what happened to her is at every bedside of every dying individual. She was just trying to help her dad by fulfilling his wish to die with dignity without the assistance of a doctor or hospital. Barbara Mancini “promised him that she would honor his wishes” (Barbara Mancini 2014). She wasn’t going to stop him because he wanted to die with dignity. Many of us believe dying patients should not have to suffer against their wishes at the end of their life. In addition to good quality end-of-life care, terminally ill and mentally competent patients should be able to choose an assisted death, subject to legal standards.

In response to Bailey Morgan-

I agree with you that it should be the patient’s choice whether they live or die. They should have the right to choose.

Caitlyn Lamond Red

2014-10-31 00:32:40 UTC

People who are terminally ill and are going to die doctors shouldn't spend all there time helping to cure them. There are other patients that that have a better chance of living and doctors should be helping them more then the ones who don't have a good chance of living. No, society isn't failing patients who are terminally ill. The person who is ill should have the choice of what they want, either to suffer and die slowly or to die right away without any pain. This doctors should do whatever the patients want because it's their body not the doctors so they can decide on what to do. They should be required to enforce the will. "I could have, think. I mean he did it pretty quickly. Bit no, i didn't try to stop him". Patients have the right to do whatever they want with their life because it's their body and their decision.

In response to Brendan Kelleher

I agree what your statement. If a patient wants to die a certain way they should have the right to choose how they die and to say their goodbyes to their loved ones.

Victoria Cortes-Purple

2014-10-31 00:32:42 UTC

While the lives of everyone are gifts, things do go wrong throughout their lives, like bumps on a road. Sometimes these "bumps" are two difficult to bear. While some may argue that patients can overcome whatever crosses them, when they have been dealing with their obsticles for years and years, there is a breaking point in which nothing can save them. In these cases, if the person truly does not believe in living anymore, if it is a serious, thought out decision, they should be allowed to end their life. According to 60 Minutes "more than 750 people in Oregon have used lethal precriptions to end their lives since that state enacted its 'death with dignity' act seventeen years ago". While every patient has a different situation they are in, they all have the ability to know when enough is enough. If they truly think they do not wish to deal with the obsticles of life, allow them.

In response to Chloe Brown, your right. I can only imagine how stressful it would be for the loved ones of the patient to wait for their passing. Even the patient would be stressed. The idea of dying, but not being entirely sure when is painful to think about. The family would no doubt feel melancholy over the idea of the lost of their loved one, but of the pain they're going through. If the patient wished to die, to spare themselves, or their family of the stress, they should be alowed to.

Mia Schofield-Red

2014-10-31 00:41:10 UTC

If someone is terminally ill, meaning there is nothing that the medical community can do to help you get healthy again, a person should have the right to choose if they want to live or end this life. The doctors shouldn't necessarily enforce a patients living will unless they want to but should have someone in the hospital talk to the patient if they want one. No one wants to have someone watching over them 24/7 and be considered a burden on them. No one wants someone to have to go with you to the bathroom and watching over you all the time. As Mrs.Mancini's father said he doesn't want to be a "burden on his family." If a person is going to be suffering why would they want to continue to constantly be in pain?

I agree with Michaela Arudda that doctors are doing their best to find cures and should give patients the option to live or die and their are many patients in pain wishing they could have this option

Matt lombardi Blue

mattlombardi7 — 2014-10-31 00:45:22 UTC

Our society is letting patients down that are terminally ill. Doctors and hospitals should be required to enforce "living will". If a patient is in need of a cup of juice or some food doctors should do just that to help the patient. When someone is in the hospital it should be the doctors job to take care and make sure the patient survives. Dying with a bit of dignity inside of you is much better than dying with none what so ever. Being courages to others is one of the best things you can do in life. If someone is in the hospital and just does not want to live anymore, the doctors should talk it over with the family first. If the family does not want to see the other relative struggle anymore they should be allowed to hand the patient pills and let them doze off."I could have, i think. I mean he did it pretty quickly . But no, i didn't try to stop him" (Mrs.Mancini). Their is a fine line between wanting to end someone suffering and wanting someone dead. Mrs.Mancini just gave him the pills with no care in the world to all their family members. She tries to make the excuse that he killed himself too fast but she could have easily prevented him from doing so. Also she could have just not given him the pills or maybe even hid them.

In response to Brendan Kelleher i agree that if a patient wants to die it should be that way. Patients are probably the most important thing in the hospital and should get what they want.

michaelaarruda1 — 2014-10-31 00:52:04 UTC

Michaela Arruda- Red

Our society is not failing patients that are terminally ill. The doctors are looking for cures to cure the patients. They are not giving up on finding cures, it just takes time. The doctors and hospitals should be required to tell people who are very ill if they want to give up their life. This is because there are many patients who are very ill and would rather be dead then suffering, waiting for there to be a cure. An example of this is that Mrs. Mancini's father said that her father being alive is a "burden on his family"(60 minutes) It should be the patients choice if he/she would want to be dead instead of the doctor choosing the decision or the state laws. In conclusion if someone is very ill and suffering they should be giving the choice if they would want to give up their life.

In response to Imani Briggs: I agree when she says that our society is not failing terminally ill patients. I also agree when she says that doctors, nurses, and hospitals are doing there best to make sure that there patients have everything they want and need.

Jarred D'Amico

2014-10-31 00:56:01 UTC

It is unusual for Citizens who are terminally ill to beat the fight that they are battling. Therefore doctors and law makers should respect the decision of the citizens and let them choose between the to factors of dying to end the pain or living throughout it. If somebody wants to take away the pain from them selves they should have the right to. Doctors should defintly enforce the patients wishes beacuse it is there death. If you were in the hospital would you want to fight threw the pain just do survive the other day or make the pain stop? That decision is up to you and your decision should be respected and should be done. When asked if she would have stopped her father from committing suicide Mrs. Mancini replied "I would not have done that because it was expressly against his wish. And I promised him I would honor his wishes." This is how all doctors and law makers should have the mindset of. In conluction citizens should have the right to choose how they want to die and that decision should be respected.

In response to Andrew Saillant: i agree with you when you said, "Doctors should absolutely be required to obey the will of their patient. If a patient is in agony from whatever they are afflicted with, they should have the right to do whatever they want." It is wrong to make a person suffer when they could easily just end the pain.

Evan Rinaldi- Green

2014-10-31 01:08:10 UTC

Doctors around the world are failing terminally ill people. This is because they are taking it upon themselves to decide weather someone should live or if someone should die. That is the person who is terminally ills decision not doctors because they do not know what their patient is going through. Their patient could be suffering and be in lots of paint but the doctors are still keeping them alive. This is most likely why Mrs. Mancini's dad decided to kill himself, he was in lots of pain and knew that he was not going to live much longer so he pulled the plug and committed suicide. Mrs. Mancini (2014) said that she did not call doctors "because it was expressly against his wish. And I promised him I would honor his wishes". If someone you loved asked for their "living will" and you did not follow it you might thing you have made the wrong mistake for the rest of your life. If someone wants to die then let them die because why live a miserable life and you know you are going to die soon anyways. Mrs. Mancini should not be getting investigated because all she did was follow her fathers "living will". In a case like bullying you should not commit suicide because you can always run away from bullying or just put the phone down but if someone is terminally ill then you can not put the phone and should be able to pull the plug because you do not have much time to live. Also, who would want to live the rest of their life on machines and medication, it sounds as a boring and lonely life. A doctor may think that they can hep a patient get better and can try to convince them to keep fighting but they do not have the right to act upon their patients right if that is not what they want. This is why doctors are failing terminally ill patients.

In response to Will Walmsely-

I completely agree with you, this is because if someone want to kill them self and they are terminally ill then let them do it because it sounds like lots of pain and suffering and who wants to deal with that. Also, I agree that doctors should not have any say in weather the person is going to live or die because it is the terminally ill patients choice if they want to die or keep fighting and attempt to survive. Also, you know the end is near so it is not worth it to live painfully for the rest of your short life.

Noah Goldthwait-Purple

2014-10-31 01:21:43 UTC

It ishorrible to think that there are people out there who are extremely sick and want to kill themselves but are not being allowed to. If a patient who already has 6 months to live wants to end his or her life before they go through pain and suffering they should be allowed to. Doctors should be excepting the “living will” of patients no matter what. If an old man in his nineties with a terminal illness who cannot do much more with his life anyway wants to end his life before he is suffering with pain he should be allowed to. If you were in the shoes of these people you would probably want to be put to sleep calmly and peacefully instead of going through pain and suffering as your family watches you die slowly. Truly doctors are failing terminally ill patients by not carrying out their wishes and they should.

In response to Andrew Saillant

I agree that doctors are failing terminally ill patients by not obeying there will. If you are dying and want to end your life before suffering you should

CJ Royster Blue

2014-10-31 01:23:12 UTC

Our society is failing the patients that are terminally ill because hundreds of people die every day, either because of waiting for health care or the doctors made mistakes during a surgery. Doctors and Hospitals should be required to enforce the patients to have a "living will" because neither the doctor nor the patient knows whether the patient is going to survive or not. Yes there is a difference between death and dignity. Death is the end a living organisms life, and Dignity is to be respected and worthy of honor. The better end of life care would be great because then the patients would have a greater chance of surviving than a 50/50 chance, it could go up at least the tiniest bit of 1 to make the chances of survive 51/49. Yes there is a difference between a doctor prescribing you morphine and being given morphine from a friend or a family member. Prescription is when you are ordered by your doctor to take it at certain times, and being given morphine is when you receive it and you are able to take it on your on time.

Daniel White - Green

2014-10-31 01:48:34 UTC

This topic really depends on the way you look at it. It depends on if you follow strongly on what your relgion says. Either way relgion or not it is really up to you. If your doctor think its ok and perscribes you it then it should be ok. If you want to pass that way than youshould be able to. Also if you wouldnt find going out this way it may help otheres. The reason for that is beacause if you need a transplant and you dont have very long to live you could free up a stop on the list. All in all it depends on how you feel about it in genreal and you should decide wheater or not you want to pass that way.

In reasponse to Noah Goldthwait: I agree that it is horrible that people want to go out this way but really it is there chocie and they should be ab

CJ Royster Blue

2014-10-31 02:06:05 UTC

In response to Jarred D'Amico

I agree that it is unusual for citizens who are terminally ill to beat the battle they are fighting to survive, and doctors and law makers should respect the patients decision for them to live or die.

Cody Chu - Green

codyrc101 — 2014-10-31 02:10:53 UTC

In response to: Sarah Hobin

Jake Nunes Blue

2014-10-31 02:13:02 UTC

Patients that are ill have a right to either live or die, and it is up to the doctors and the nurses to respect their wish to do what ever they want. A lot of people die, including the ones that want to live, because it is not up to them, even though it should be. Whether a patient decides to live or not, they should have to make a living will just in case they don't live. If a patient were to "stop taking medications that might prolong his(or her) life",(Anderson Cooper) they are saying that they want to die, and the doctors should respect that. It might be wrong to the patients family, but if a patient's life is so bad that they want to end it, then why stop them. If a patient wants to continue living in a hospital or nursing home or anything like that, then they should be allowed to, but still have to make a will in case things go wrong. Some people would rather die with dignity and respect than sit there and suffer.

In response to Noah Goldthwait:

I agree with you in saying that if a patient wants to end their life before they have to suffer, they should be able to. It is sad to think that people would rather see them suffer than kill themselves.

Mourad Taman Blue

2014-10-31 02:16:56 UTC

Doctors are failing terminally ill people because they are deciding if the person should live or not. This should be up to the person who is terminally ill because the doctors might have no clue what the painet is going through or the pain they are going through. If you were feeling the same pain as the terminally ill some would probably want to end their life which should I always be up to the terminally ill and not the doctor. This is probably why Mrs. Mancini's dad decided to kill himself, he was in lots of pain and knew that he was not going to live much longer so he pulled the plug and committed suicide. "because it was expressly against his wish. And I promised him I would honor his wishes" If someone you loved asked for their "living will" and you did not follow the demand you would be putting them through more pain and you could be living the whole rest of your life thinking you put them through so much pain. There is a big difference between death with dignity and better end of life care. If someone wants to pull the plug and commit suicide you should let them if they are terminally ill. If someone is not terminally ill and wants to commit suicide no one should allow them to because there can be a solution to your problem.

I agree with evan rinaldi if someone is terminally ill and wants to pull the plug and commit suicide they should but if that's not the case and they want to commit suicide they shouldn't.

Brian Fitzgerald Blue

2014-10-31 02:34:32 UTC

Are doctors everywhere are failing terminaly ill people? No, these doctors are trying there hardest to keep each and every patient alive as best they can. Hospitals around the world require the pantient to have a "living will" because of the chance they may live or die. "He asked me to pass him the bottle of morphine and i did" was stated by Mrs. Mancini as she assisted her fathers suicide (Mrs. Mancini). This should not be illegal in all states because if you are ill and no longer want to live, you should not have to. understadibly, this may not be possible because you would have people all over the U.S. commiting suicide because its legal. there would have to be laws, like having the doctor tell you if you may or may not be allowed to commit suicide.

In Responce to Jarred D'Amico

I also belive that people that are in that much pain should be able to commit suicide.

Gloria Paz- Purple

2014-10-31 02:36:34 UTC

Our society is not failing terminally ill patients. Doctors and nurses do so much to make sure the patient is satisfied. The problem is they shouldn't be the ones to decide if the patient should live or not. People should have the option to but after everything has been done to help them. When the doctors have tried and tried, then it will be okay for the patient to have the option. The option should be granted to those who can't handle the pain or nothing more can be done for them. Barbara Mancini said that her father was "with no control in pain, having things done to him". People should be able to choose. They should be in control of that. Hospitals should be required to enforce the patients "living will".

In response to Jarred D'Amico

I agree with you the hospitals should respect what the patient decides. If a patient wants to take away the pain away they should have the right to. The only thing I disagree on is that the patient should have the option after everything has been done to save him/her.

Sophia DiMeglio-Red

2014-10-31 02:46:22 UTC

First, the family/patient should be in charge of the will. It should be the family's decision not the doctors. Yes, today our society is failing patients who are terminally ill. Have you ever been to a nursing home and so all the elders that look like the just want to die. They aren't doing as much to treat these people who need the help because they figure there old and going to die soon anyway. Yes, there is a difference because the doctor and herself are giving to different things that are both very strong, but if she's giving it that's kind of there own personal option. For example getting your nails done, if want to do them yourself they won't be as good but if you let a doctor handle it it will be "professional. As Mrs.Mancini stated "And I promised him I would honor his wishes". She would do what his wishes were, so if he told her to give hime the drug she would do so.

In response to Evan Rinaldi: I agree on how you state that the doctor shouldn't decide on if the pacient dies or not because if they want to die that there choice not the doctors.

Ethan Gomez - Blue

2014-10-31 03:30:52 UTC

The society today is very much so failing our society with the patients who are terminally ill. Many patients die awaiting for their health care to provide them with the necessary treatment. Hospitals however should not enforce the "living will" of its patients because their "living will" can make away all of the patients medical decisions. In the event that the patient can make their own decisions, "the agent cannot continue to act of the persons behalf"(PBS). This quote, from the article "Living Wills and Advanced Directives: What You Need to Know" from PBS by the Caring Connections Website, explains that a patient no longer has assistance by an agent with extensive knowledge to aid you throughout your conscious illness.

In response to CJ Royster:

Hospitals should not enforce but should allow "living will" because it can lace the patient in a very bad position after their terminal illness when they are left with nothing to go on with and may not even know what may have happened in their near past.

Brynn Terry- Purple

2014-10-31 04:24:23 UTC

I don`t believe that we are failing them. We are doing what we do can do today, but tomorrow we will do even more. Every day we learn more about helping them. Of course they should enforce the patient`s wishes. It is not the doctor`s life, so it`s not the doctor`s choice. Everyone wants to die before they get worse. A person with Alzheimer`s may want to die while they still remember everything before they die knowing no one and knowing nothing. As for better end of life care, the hospitals could make it more comfortable. They should be in more comfortable beds, homier rooms, and cozy clothes. The two need to combine. When Mrs. Mancini said "Why can't death with dignity coexist with better end of life care?" it made a lot of sense. The doctor usually means for the morphine to stop the pain, not stop everything. Mrs. Mancini allowed her father to take his life, and the doctors believed that was wrong, reversing the effects.

In response to Will Wamsley:
I agree with you in the fact that the only opinion that matters is the one who is suffering. It is not the doctor`s choice. Even though the family may want them to stay, we all have to die sometime.

Justin Ramirez / purple

2014-10-31 06:06:08 UTC

No, society today is not failing people who are terminally ill because doctors do everything they can to help people survive. Obama is forcing healthcare on everyone and even supplying it for people who can't afford it. Yes some doctors make mistakes but no doctor purposely kills someone. Doctors and hospitals should be enforced the patients living will because if someone dies suddenly, no one would know what to do with their belongings other than give it to family. Yes there is a difference between death with dignity and better end of life care because if someone gets better end of life care than all their needs and wants will be giving before dying. Lastly there is a difference between doctors prescribing you morphine or you being givin it by a friend or family. The difference is doctors know exactly what you need when they prescribe you medicine, but a friend or family member is basically just guessing on what you need to be taking.

In response to CJ

Although it is true many people die daily. Most of the reason people doe isn't due to a doctors fault. Also it is very rare for a doctor to mess up during any type of surgery. So they are not failing the person because they messed up. Everyone messes up , that's part of life, but its not like the doctor goes into work and says "I'm going to mess up and kill someone today," they don't do it intentionally if it ever does happen.

Anthony Lazzareschi- Green

2014-10-31 10:59:17 UTC

Every body eventually dies. We choose how we want to live our life as well. The pain and suffering just thinking about it hurts. Even if you have months to live you are still hurting laying in bed. So should they let you make the decision whether to let you die or try the hardest for you to live? Doctors should let you make the decision but have other people or family members confirm it. This is so no alteracations occur after the patient dies. Also the family members will no what is best by how he is talking and things like that. Recently doctors are not following through with the patients last wishes and that is something that can be improved. In the Mancini case, "he took the cap off and he drank what was remaining in the bottle"(Barbara Mancini). This is a great example when the family members know best. She let him do that knowing the pain he was in. Also those were his wishes that the doctor didn't fulfill. We should listen to our patients and carry out their last wishes even if it is death.

In response to Noah Goldwait, I strongly agree with you. Like you said about carrying out the patients last wishes that even if the patient has no other thing to do with a severe illness if he or she wants to die let them die or if they wanna live try your hardest to let them live.

Leah Ragosta-Green

2014-10-31 11:34:59 UTC

Society is not failing patients who are terminally ill. They try their absolute best to find cures and keep the patient free of pain. Though these efforts do not prevent the terminally ill from dying. This is why doctors should respect and follow the patient's living will. If someone has a few months to live and they’re in extreme pain, they should be given the choice of ending their life. No one should live in pain, and the patient should make the decision not a doctor. Mrs. Mancini should’ve been permitted to hand his father the prescriptions. It was her father's choice, and he deserved to die with dignity. Dying in a hospital bed was “expressly against his wish, and (she) promised him (she) would honor his wish” Ending Life 2014).
In response to Michaela Arruda,
I completely agree that its the patients decision whether they want to die or not. Doctors can’t make that choice for them. Only the patient knows how much pain they’re in.

Dennis Austin/ Blue Class

2014-10-31 12:06:04 UTC

No one body like dying in life but we sadly have to encounter the end of life and saying goodbye to our loved ones. Doctors should enforce the patients that are "living will." There are two differences between death with dignity and better end of life care. Dying with dignity the doctors were not helping you so you die faster and the people with better end of life care will be able to live longer and be able to say their goodbyes and they will be able to survive a few more days. Yes it's different when a doctor prescribes morphin and a prescription. Morphin is only suppose to deal with pain when prescriptions can fight your illness.

In response to Troy Cedarfield,

I do agree with you because if people want to get healed they should and they should keep asking and annoying the docter until they get noticed.

Mrs. Heald

thelore — 2014-10-31 12:18:35 UTC

Thank you