Is cutting life-support murder?

Question

I have to ask, and I'm putting this on the Religion And Spirituality section for a reason.

On December 26th, 1997, my stepfather cut my mother's life support. She couldn't do anything on her own, and was hooked up to many wires and tubes, such as for breathing, going to the bathroom, food, and many others.

The doctor said that despite her cancer and its spreading, she had already lasted 16 months longer than was expected of her. They said her will to live was keeping her alive, and how she often spoke of the fact that she felt she couldn't leave her children alone, and how much she loved me and my brothers and sisters. The doctors said so long as she was on life support, she was still be alive, and that in time, they may be able to help reduce the symptoms, and give her back her breathing, and remove some of the tumors.

My stepfather had it removed. At about 11 AM on December 26th, 1997 -- an hour after being cut off all the supports she had -- she died.

When I asked my -

- stepfather (the religious man he was, he was going to be a priest before he married my mother!) why he did it, he responded,

"I didn't want to have to pay for it."

... is cutting life-support considered as murder?

Answer 1

I am sorry for the loss of you mother. AS someone who has been faced with the decision to end life support..its a very touchy subject. My daughter was on life support for five days. In those 5 days numerous brain scans were done on her. There was no blood flow to her brain stem. She did have very slight blood flow to the upper part of her brain, but without the brainstem you dont breathe. I chose after much consideration to let her go. She was never going to recover, she was never going to do anything but lay in that hospital bed for the rest of her life. She would never smile or even open her eyes. She was Brain-dead. I disconnected life support and she died in my arms on April 14,1998.
Now if someone had brain activity and there was a chance they could come "back" then I believe it is murder. Its hard to lose a loved one. Nobody wants to be put in that situation. But would you mother have wanted to "live" like that for the rest of her life?? The reason your stepfather gave was crap..and hopefully he didnt mean it. Because the lack of money is no reason to disconnect someones lifesupport. Maybe that was his way of rationalizing the HUGE responsibility he had to undertake...and perhaps a way to hide his sorrow.

Answer 2

I'm sorry, but if she was on life support to keep her alive, how could the doctor think she would heal? I've never heard of a cancer that puts you on life support and then goes away. It sounds like she was being kept alive artificially, and I can't see how she would have improved, cancer does not just get better like that. I can't even imagine the pain she was in. Your stepfather sounds heartless about the money, but if he had said it was because she was suffering, he sure would sound a lot different. If it was me, I wouldn't want to just survive only to suffer, with no chance of recovery. So basically, I suppose I believe that if the person has no way to recover, its not murder, its a relief.

Answer 3

His excuse was rather cold, and I'm sorry for the loss of your mother. That must be very difficult for you, and I hope that you live your life to the fullest in memory of her.

Was your mother conscious or had any hope of regaining consciousness? Personally, if I were on life support and unconscious, I would rather my life support be cut so I could move on to what's next instead of being trapped in a lifeless body on Earth. My organs could go to help others, and it would give my husband closure.

I think the thing with life support is it is very circumstantial, and it needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis. It depends on the chance of recovery, brain activity, the wishes of the person, and the wishes of the family. What's weird is that with the medical advances, people live a lot longer than they would otherwise, and we need to be grateful for the miracles provided but understand the limits of medicine.

Answer 4

I don't think it's murder. In this age of advanced technology, I think doctors put too much effort into maintaining life at any cost, and not enough effort into creating a high-quality existence.

If you're a vegetable hooked to machinery who would die the minute the machinery was detached, then what kind of life is that? Is that how you'd want to spend every day of your existence for god-knows-how-long?

Answer 5

this is why myself and eberyone in my family has a living will -- i recommend one for you and yours too.
i'm sorry about your mom - that's a hard situation to be in. i don't know your stepfathers personality but....when i rad it i cringed and then realized - that is something my dad would have said too - he has a very dry andoften morbid sense of humor - it helps him maintain in stressful situations.

i do not believe she was murdered if she could not maintain life on he rown. my living will states when that happens - they can sustain my life for up to 72 hours - in time to harvest major viable organs and get them to or the recipients of the donor organs there.

i know it's been some time, however this is still weighing heavily on your mind. do you still communicate with your stepfather? if so-- come out and ask him what he thought about your mom or even if he has a living will - it might open the door to find out a little more into his charachter and bring you peace of mind.

God bless and keep you!

PS - i'm Roman Cathollic and even in their traachings catechism 2278 it talks of discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary or disproportiniate to the expected outcome can be legitimate, it's the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. here one does not cause death, ones ability to impede it is merely accepted. the decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able, if not, by those legally entitled to act on behalf of the patient.
it comtinues on saying that even if a drug shortens their life but brings them comfort in their time - it;s okay. they aren't saying to OD on something but.... the morphine drips given to my grandma made her eating poor and her life a muddle, however with the amount of pain she was in, it was the best thing for her.

Answer 6

Euthanasia is not murder. However it is not trivial either. The decision should never come lightly. It sounds like that was the case for you. The answer he gave sounds more like a defense mechanism rather than a sane reason for the pain of the decision.

Answer 7

I sincerely hope that isn't true. Sincerely.

I don't believe that the option would have been given to turn off life support if the Doctor's truly believed that there was a way she could recover at all.

It's not murder.

Answer 8

No it's actually not natural to be on life support. If one can not breath or eat or so many things on their own for a long time then they should be allowed to move on to their next destination. go to http://www.stephen-knaplp.com for heaps of universal information

Answer 9

It depends. If the person asks to be euthanized if they are on life support then it should be alowed. No one else should be able to make that decision for them...

Answer 10

well his reason is wrong.

i believe that if someoen is close to recovery then its very veyr bad,

but if someone is bot gonna get better and is worsening and is uncomfortabole adn in pain.
pu them out of their misery.theyll be in abetter place.


my condolences.