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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Death preferable to dependency
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Marvin the Martian
Interplanetary
# 4360
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
b) knowing very well that at some point someone will make a decision regarding us, or our loved ones, that we violently disagree with--on the basis of cost.
Isn't that what insurance companies do right now?
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Hail Gallaxhar
Posts: 30100 | From: Adrift on a sea of surreality | Registered: Apr 2003
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Niteowl
Hopeless Insomniac
# 15841
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by WhateverTheySay:
For me personally, my independence is my strongest characteristic. No way would I be willing to lose that.
This is one of my biggest struggles at the moment. I've been disabled all my life and in my younger years was extraordinarily stubborn and fiercely independent. I functioned in the non disabled world at a time when the disabled weren't thought capable of independence. I did just about everything anyone else did, including some stuff I now look back at wonder how the hell I did it. I'm now of an age where the disability is catching up with me, along with illness, and little by little I'm losing that very independence. It's one of the reasons I don't see most of my friends from my younger years, as I've had judgmental comments about the "old me, who could do anything" being gone and when will I be back to normal? It ain't gonna happen and I don't like the judgment. The friends from those days that I do see still see I'm the same person and accept the loss of abilities of the past. But to be honest, I'd rather be gone than totally dependent, but still having an alert mind. I value life, but I've seen to much of what happens in convalescents and how many seem to be forgotten once there
I have a family who cares about me, but just to give an example of what can happen when you have family who don't care, I once did Russian language translation for an elderly woman who spoke no English and the staff spoke no Russian. She was dumped by her son who lived in another state and NEVER visited. ![[Mad]](angryfire.gif)
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"love all, trust few, do wrong to no one"
Wm. Shakespeare
Posts: 2437 | From: U.S. | Registered: Aug 2010
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Niteowl
Hopeless Insomniac
# 15841
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
b) knowing very well that at some point someone will make a decision regarding us, or our loved ones, that we violently disagree with--on the basis of cost.
Isn't that what insurance companies do right now?
You got that right. Having worked in hospitals I've seen more than my share of denials of needed medications, treatments, surgeries, etc. And even if we keep our present system exactly as is in place, like it or not rationing is coming. There aren't enough resources to meet demand and there are too many people treated in the only place they can be: the ER because they don't have insurance and can't pay the bills. It really doesn't take much to wind up there. Everyone without insurance is one major catastrophe away from it and even those with insurance will have a cap on lifetime benefits if Obamacare is repealed. I've known people who have maxed out their insurance and desperately need medication and/or treatment, but can't afford it.
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"love all, trust few, do wrong to no one"
Wm. Shakespeare
Posts: 2437 | From: U.S. | Registered: Aug 2010
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
b) knowing very well that at some point someone will make a decision regarding us, or our loved ones, that we violently disagree with--on the basis of cost.
Isn't that what insurance companies do right now?
They do; but at least in theory we still have the option to find another torturer (oops, insurance company) or to pay out of pocket (if we can afford it, haha) for the treatment we believe we need. From the stories I've heard on Ship this seems to be more difficult to do with a national health system (though not impossible).
But it's a crap situation either way.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Raptor Eye
Shipmate
# 16649
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Niteowl2:
This is one of my biggest struggles at the moment. I've been disabled all my life and in my younger years was extraordinarily stubborn and fiercely independent. I functioned in the non disabled world at a time when the disabled weren't thought capable of independence. I did just about everything anyone else did, including some stuff I now look back at wonder how the hell I did it. I'm now of an age where the disability is catching up with me, along with illness, and little by little I'm losing that very independence. It's one of the reasons I don't see most of my friends from my younger years, as I've had judgmental comments about the "old me, who could do anything" being gone and when will I be back to normal? It ain't gonna happen and I don't like the judgment. The friends from those days that I do see still see I'm the same person and accept the loss of abilities of the past. But to be honest, I'd rather be gone than totally dependent, but still having an alert mind. I value life, but I've seen to much of what happens in convalescents and how many seem to be forgotten once there
I have a family who cares about me, but just to give an example of what can happen when you have family who don't care, I once did Russian language translation for an elderly woman who spoke no English and the staff spoke no Russian. She was dumped by her son who lived in another state and NEVER visited.
Thank you for this. There's nothing easy about having to accept help from other people. ISTM that if those people treat us well and kindly and we're able to graciously accept their help, it might not be so bad.
Your story makes me mad too and I agree that many feel abandoned. Very few people seem to visit relatives or friends frequently if they're not recognised and responded to, and if they think that the visit will be forgotten in any case. The lady I visit shows her awareness of it in her language and behaviour if for any reason I fail to visit with the usual frequency.
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Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46.10
Posts: 4359 | From: The United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2011
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