OT: Charlie Gard

[AltyPie]

As I sit here thinking about this story, I genuinely have a lump in my throat. Sometimes life presents completely innocent people such as these parents with indescribably tragic dilemmas and one can only feel the maximum possible sympathy for them.

The only slight parallel I could possibly draw any empathy from (having considered it myself) would be that of a dying parent. As one who saw my father's quality of life deteriorate almost back to that of being as dependent on others as a small baby due to Alzheimer's (which can be an utterly awful illness), myself and my family were beginning to discuss the question of when should family assist their loved ones to die. In the end, nature saved us having to answer the question. There is simply no absolute answer to such questions. Charlie's parents, faced with a child who would lack the ability to experience so much of what we call "quality" in life (and potentially suffering as well) would have to wrestle with the question of when is it the loving thing to end someone's life you love.

[Steward]

I've been through something similar. I was born with a rare bowel disease (Hirschsprungs). They didn't know about it, my parents were told to get me baptised as they didnt expect me to live very long. I was in hospital from 6 weeks old till my 5th birthday. And still having operations till 2012 for same thing. they wanted to do the same thing to me, and stop the treatment, but the courts weren't involved then thank god. Hope they dont let the poor little chap linger on.

[SolSigns]

I've been through something similar. I was born with a rare bowel disease (Hirschsprungs). They didn't know about it, my parents were told to get me baptised as they didnt expect me to live very long. I was in hospital from 6 weeks old till my 5th birthday. And still having operations till 2012 for same thing. they wanted to do the same thing to me, and stop the treatment, but the courts weren't involved then thank god. Hope they dont let the poor little chap linger on.

That sounds horrible, mate. Hope you're over the worst.

My brother had a bone disease, followed by broken bones, and was in QMC for about 5 years from age 7 or so - then in a wheelchair for a year after + all the time in different casts. It was hell for him I'm sure, but he's one of those that never stopped getting on with life and finding bright sides. Even now when he has to deal with bad arthritis, he's all about his wife and kids. I was lucky, and I still choose to get p'd off with small things and argue on the internet. Perspective.

Sometimes life presents completely innocent people such as these parents with indescribably tragic dilemmas and one can only feel the maximum possible sympathy for them.

Well put, completely agree.

[sidders]

As I sit here thinking about this story, I genuinely have a lump in my throat. Sometimes life presents completely innocent people such as these parents with indescribably tragic dilemmas and one can only feel the maximum possible sympathy for them.

The only slight parallel I could possibly draw any empathy from (having considered it myself) would be that of a dying parent. As one who saw my father's quality of life deteriorate almost back to that of being as dependent on others as a small baby due to Alzheimer's (which can be an utterly awful illness), myself and my family were beginning to discuss the question of when should family assist their loved ones to die. In the end, nature saved us having to answer the question. There is simply no absolute answer to such questions. Charlie's parents, faced with a child who would lack the ability to experience so much of what we call "quality" in life (and potentially suffering as well) would have to wrestle with the question of when is it the loving thing to end someone's life you love.

Excellent post, Alty. Been there. This is why, when people are still compos mentis, they need to tell friends and family what their feelings are about continuing their lives if anything awful should occur like Alzheimer's or being reduced to near-vegetable status.

Thrombolysis, applied after a severe stroke, has something like a 1 in 20 chance of bringing about brain death. My wife knew I would want to take the chance (I was in a coma at the time).
The Charlie Gard case touches on so many different human dilemmas