I'm going to have to disagree here.

First, I am sorry to hear aboot this loss. It truely is a tragedy. However, I don't believe any child that age or even under the age of 12 can really understand the true meaning of death. I think that children in this type of situation are just in pain and sick and hurt by the treatment and are wanting all of the steps in the remedy to stop because of the pain. I don't believe the child really understands that if you stop treatment entirely due to the pain and sickness it causes, that they will more than likely die... FOREVER.

Forever has a much different meaning to a child than it does to an adult. The child hasn't experienced enough of life to really grasp what they are asking for. I am not saying that this is always the case. There are some rare ocassions, but I don't believe children can really make that descision for themselves. (IMO)

*Edit: Please don't take this personally, TM. I mean no disrespect. It is only my opinion. You know you rock my plimate world! ; )

If the children aren't "property" of the parents, do you want them to be the "property" of the government? I, for one, would NEVER withhold any health care from my children, especially the life-saving kind. I would not relinquish my parental rights to another person, I don't care who it is. When you become a parent you take on certain responsibilities and some people let their beliefs interfere with those responsibilities.

(sorry for responding so late, we are on the West Coast and didn't catch it until now)

I am not taking it personal at all. Children DO understand and even come to terms with death. You are shortchanging just how intuitive those little critters are! (I wish to go into Hospice actually, when I get my RN degree).

That child fought and fought. His sister who was 7 at the time donated her OWN bone marrow to try and save him TWICE, to no avail. A painful procedure for her.

Every option and treatment was exhausted. Anthony was tired. He told his mother and staff when he was done fighting. His mother is not ignorant nor illiterate, in fact, she is a nurse, herself.

Could I have done that? I cannot say. I hope I never have to, but I think her loss will forever stick in the back of my head if I ever should have to make such a decision and she would be a person I would talk to about it.

She held him for hours after he passed and dressed him in his fav pj's. They had to pry him from her. As a mom, I can understand never wanting to let go.

We keep people alive for own own sake I think, and even carry guilt that we don't do enough, or we should have done a bazillion other things.

I have to believe if anyone I loved said that they were suffering and was ready to quit treatments, I would respect that, no matter what their age.

None of this truely applies to simple things that can and should be fixed to avoid death.

Warning! Hijacking in progress!

Just a quick one then back to your normally scheduled thread...

I enjoy this kind of logical educated debate on a topic. One of the many reasons I am a Plimer.

Back to you, Dave (whoever he is).

Agreed!

I enjoy it too. I luv this place.

I have never been able to put into words what you just said, and I think you make an excellent point.

Also, with regard to the cavities thing, I think something like that recently happened in the Baltimore area but I can't find the article at the moment.

Something no one has addressed, which may be deemed irrelevant anyway :P, is that these parents, according to the doctrine they follow, now believe their children will go to hell.

What if it was a child of a Catholic family that was suffering with no cure or end in sight and the doctors/government decided to perform an assisted suicide against the family's will? Another child, allegedly, condemned to hell by the government.

Pardon my devil's advocate.

[edit] I'll add a note to state more plainly what is implied above: To these people their eternal salvation is at risk, something that is far more significant than their comparatively short life. What is another 40-60 years of life when compared to infinity?
Mathematically: zero.

I take it for granted that my government will pay for my health care and cover all costs - and that's something I need to stop doing.

Yes, I am willing to see my taxes rise even more to pay for better health care. I don't have a problem with my taxes as they are, and I don't really have a problem with our health care system, either.

I also would allow the government to infringe on my religion if it meant saving a life. I cannot put a price tag on someone else's life.

And yes, I will HAPPILY give more power to my government, with whom I am rather content, actually.

Interesting point.

I don't think the government should ever choose when to end someone's life. I don't think anyone should choose when or how to end the life of another human.

I definitely don't think assisted suicide is something that should be allowed for children. It's one thing for a child to decide to stop fighting, as TM pointed out, but it's another thing for someone else to end that child's life, whether the child consents or not.