13 Year old gir declared brain dead has now officially died

[PaulaSB12]

This was online today

Jahi McMathx

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...iac-arrest-family-continues-insist-alive.html

 

[Disney Doll]

That poor child, if she is still hooked up to machines.

 

[Domo]

Talk about a tricky debate! I dunno what to say!

 

[Domo]

what if the girl's soul is trapped in her body? Is there a religious argument to be made here both ways?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Her body can't be in good shape.

 

[SLP958]

Gross.

 

[North of Mouse]

How sad to keep a heart mechanically 'beating' to insist there is 'life'!!

Would not want any of those 'so called' doctors anywhere near me!
Money will buy most anything (even unscrupulous doctors). Just makes me wonder where it's coming from.

 

[ReneeA]

I hate to use this as a platform for my soapbox, but this isn't unusual in the US to keep brain dead, comatose, patients on life support alive for years. Most figures estimate that 17-21% of Medicare spending is used keeping patients alive on ventilators in ltacs (long term extended care facilities). No other country in the world does this, and physicians don't offer the trach/peg/vent/possible dialysis combos as options as they do here. They offer comfort care & end of life support, which is normally more realistic and kind. Many doctors have entire practices that revolve around these types of patients and running ltacs...they'll never embrace the "comfort" approach.

 

[mnrose]

I hate to use this as a platform for my soapbox, but this isn't unusual in the US to keep brain dead, comatose, patients on life support alive for years. Most figures estimate that 17-21% of Medicare spending is used keeping patients alive on ventilators in ltacs (long term extended care facilities). No other country in the world does this, and physicians don't offer the trach/peg/vent/possible dialysis combos as options as they do here. They offer comfort care & end of life support, which is normally more realistic and kind. Many doctors have entire practices that revolve around these types of patients and running ltacs...they'll never embrace the "comfort" approach.

And, yet we wonder why our medical expenses are so high. Sorry, but this is a complete and utter waste of money.

We need to learn to accept DEATH as an inevitable part of life. Culturally, we just aren't where we need to be on this.

But, you can't bet your bottom dollar someone will be along to tell me I want "death panels." Insert eye roll.

I do not want "death panels", but we need SOMETHING to stop this insane expenditure of money for no reason. Unfortunately, there are some family members who will not be reasonable. Since this mainly happens to elderly patients, they adopt a "devil may care" attitude about the expenditure....it's medicare or medicaid paying for it, so they go blithely on for long periods of time.

My husband and I had this conversation for the thousandth time this morning....if he EVER lets this happen to me, I will haunt him for an eternity. I do not wish to "live" on a ventilator or feeding tube. If there is some meaningful chance of recovery, sure....but not simply to prolong the inevitable. Comfort care...absolutely. But, this? No. No, I do not wish this for me, just as he does not wish it for himself. I urge everyone to think hard about this, and make sure all your immediate family members understand your wishes. AND, put it in a living will. If you haven't done so, DO IT. We are all going to die. Each and every one of us. There is no escaping it, and we all need to think about how we want the end of our life to look.

 

[lsyorke]

I hate to use this as a platform for my soapbox, but this isn't unusual in the US to keep brain dead, comatose, patients on life support alive for years. Most figures estimate that 17-21% of Medicare spending is used keeping patients alive on ventilators in ltacs (long term extended care facilities). No other country in the world does this, and physicians don't offer the trach/peg/vent/possible dialysis combos as options as they do here. They offer comfort care & end of life support, which is normally more realistic and kind. Many doctors have entire practices that revolve around these types of patients and running ltacs...they'll never embrace the "comfort" approach.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[ericstac]

wow.. I never heard about this until now. And after reading through some of the pages here and then clicking on the recent link of her and seeing her pic I am just shocked.

Jahi didn't need surgery, she needed to lose a lot of weight.

If the parents couldn't see this then the Dr's should have told them this and denied the surgery.. poor girl.

 

[John VN]

Many are expecting a MIRACLE.

Turn everything off, provide no more medical assistance, and maybe, if one really believes, one will happen.

Sad that in some instances medical advancements are extending life for profit not quality.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Jahi didn't need surgery, she needed to lose a lot of weight.

Absolutely amazing that from looking at a photo of the girl, you can tell exactly what was going on inside her throat, and the correct course of medical treatment.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I hate to use this as a platform for my soapbox, but this isn't unusual in the US to keep brain dead, comatose, patients on life support alive for years. Most figures estimate that 17-21% of Medicare spending is used keeping patients alive on ventilators in ltacs (long term extended care facilities). No other country in the world does this, and physicians don't offer the trach/peg/vent/possible dialysis combos as options as they do here. They offer comfort care & end of life support, which is normally more realistic and kind. Many doctors have entire practices that revolve around these types of patients and running ltacs...they'll never embrace the "comfort" approach.

Jahi is dead, and keeping her body "alive" serves no purpose. But there are absolutely individuals who have some or many of the interventions you describe trach, peg, vent, and dialysis, who are alive and interactive. There are people who live for years, and have meaningful lives with these interventions.

I'm not going to get into a discussion about end of life, because I don't want the points and it is a political and religious/moral issue. But I think it's important to note that the issue with Jahi is that she is dead. Choosing to remove life sustaining support from someone who is alive is a different decision than the one that Jahi's family has faced.

 

[ReneeA]

Jahi is dead, and keeping her body "alive" serves no purpose. But there are absolutely individuals who have some or many of the interventions you describe trach, peg, vent, and dialysis, who are alive and interactive. There are people who live for years, and have meaningful lives with these interventions.

I'm not going to get into a discussion about end of life, because I don't want the points and it is a political and religious/moral issue. But I think it's important to note that the issue with Jahi is that she is dead. Choosing to remove life sustaining support from someone who is alive is a different decision than the one that Jahi's family has faced.

q

Which is why I specified comatose. For every one interactive t/p/v patient I see with *any* quality of life, there are 12 more similar to them only comatose or very close to it. Many have families that aren't involved, only to tell us, "Do everything to sustain life!" Yet we never, ever see these caring individuals at the bedside, or even get phone calls inquiring about their condition. I've had many begging to die over their trach...and all we can do is medicated & sedate. I currently have one literally rotting from the inside out -t/p/v/d - no legs & bedsores to the bone from his mid back to upper thighs. We got him in that shape from the ltac, and we gotta keep him alive so his family that doesn't work can collect his pension check (which they freely admit to everyone). His bill alone is costing taxpayers over 2 million a year...and there are thousands more like him.

 

[marmalade]

q

Which is why I specified comatose. For every one interactive t/p/v patient I see with *any* quality of life, there are 12 more similar to them only comatose or very close to it. Many have families that aren't involved, only to tell us, "Do everything to sustain life!" Yet we never, ever see these caring individuals at the bedside, or even get phone calls inquiring about their condition. I've had many begging to die over their trach...and all we can do is medicated & sedate. I currently have one literally rotting from the inside out -t/p/v/d - no legs & bedsores to the bone from his mid back to upper thighs. We got him in that shape from the ltac, and we gotta keep him alive so his family that doesn't work can collect his pension check (which they freely admit to everyone). His bill alone is costing taxpayers over 2 million a year...and there are thousands more like him.

This is absolutely disgusting!!

 

[SLP958]

This is absolutely disgusting!!

But it is so true.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

q

Which is why I specified comatose. For every one interactive t/p/v patient I see with *any* quality of life, there are 12 more similar to them only comatose or very close to it. Many have families that aren't involved, only to tell us, "Do everything to sustain life!" Yet we never, ever see these caring individuals at the bedside, or even get phone calls inquiring about their condition. I've had many begging to die over their trach...and all we can do is medicated & sedate. I currently have one literally rotting from the inside out -t/p/v/d - no legs & bedsores to the bone from his mid back to upper thighs. We got him in that shape from the ltac, and we gotta keep him alive so his family that doesn't work can collect his pension check (which they freely admit to everyone). His bill alone is costing taxpayers over 2 million a year...and there are thousands more like him.

Your comatose patients beg?

 

[ReneeA]

Your comatose patients beg?

I wasn't speaking of the comatose in that instance. Do you have anything further to add or are you just picking my post apart? I acknowledged your point that there are some t/p/v patients have quality of life. I guess you've never been witness to the rotting bodies kept "alive".

 

[hereyago]

It is close to Christmas and the donations have dried up again.

On her FB page, her mom aka momma nails has posted about the year anniversary of the surgery,etc with a pic of her with a donation box with a pic of Jahi with the thanks for saving my life.