Would you play God???? - Page 2

LancYorkYankee · 25-09-2006, 18:14

I agree with those above that I too would not hope to play god. Also, must agree with Ian, hard to know for sure. Thinking about war time situations, ya buddy's lying there all blown up, bleedin to death, screaming in agony, no medic, no rescue. I believe, out of love, I'd do to him what I'd want done to me in that case.

As for with meself, I'd more apt to "play" god. I would not want to live by any kind of machine. Is that "playing god?" My dad has always said the indians had old age right. They would go off into the woods in the winter and fall asleep. Is that "playing god?"

Do I let me dad do that? Heck my mum once told me if they ever start losing their minds, it is my duty to take them into the woods and shoot them. Is that "playing god" or obeying oour mother and father? What a huge weight to lay on ya kid eh?

(Funny thing about that, my older brother who lives up near my parents said they've never said that to him cause he would of taken them out years ago!)

shillelagh · 25-09-2006, 19:10

I couldnt do it. The doctors have already said many years ago that if i ever had kids i wouldnt just be under a midwife's care i would end up being under the care of a neurologist, doctor, midwife and my GP. I would also have to plan getting pregnant - no mistakes for me. Thats because of the tablets i'm on. If i did get pregnant by accident i still couldnt have an abortion i would hope that everything was ok and hope that the tablets hadnt affected the baby.

WillowTheWhisp · 25-09-2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by accymel

I got offered a termination when i was carrying my son after 1st scan because it showed he had a foot deformity - absolutely not considered a termination & went on to have a very lively lad with congential talipies several ops later. I was rather upset by the mere suggestion of terminating a baby for that - how vain!

Good grief to be offered a termination for something like that is scary! I almost said ' as trivial as that' but of course I'm sure it's not trivial to the poor child having to undergo several operations but it's certainly not something which I would have thought they'd suggest a termination for.

SPUGGIE J · 25-09-2006, 19:20

Doctors must enjoy in a somewhat morbid way playing god.

Margaret Pilkington · 25-09-2006, 19:27

I have worked in the area where women who opted for termination of pregnancy were cared for.......and in my 25 years experience I only know of one occasion where a Consultant played God....in all the rest of the many cases the women were given the information that was available at the time......and they were left to choose the decision for themselves. I have also cared for woemn who have terminated pregnancies for social reasons....and again in MOST circumstances the women did not take this decision lightly. Not one of us can judge the actions of another human being....only God...or the greater being can do that. I know that the care that was delivered for both classes of women was the best that we could give. I would not want to return to the bad old days when women paid with their lives for sexual indiscretions/contraceptive accidents/rape.

Margaret Pilkington · 25-09-2006, 19:30

No Spuggie....they don't...they like to scare the living wits out of junior nurses....but they do not enjoy giving a mother the heartbreaking news that the baby she planned is damaged to such an extent that its little life would be punctuated with pain and suffering. I have seen Doctors in tears after such consultations....nurses too.

SPUGGIE J · 25-09-2006, 20:07

My appologies for that Margaret I just type without thinking.

accymel · 25-09-2006, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Good grief to be offered a termination for something like that is scary! I almost said ' as trivial as that' but of course I'm sure it's not trivial to the poor child having to undergo several operations but it's certainly not something which I would have thought they'd suggest a termination for.

yep i was very shocked like i would terminate any way im sure thats my son on scan 16wks stuck 2 fingers up at the doctor hehehehe

Yeh he has the severe form of it but luckily in only one foot, he will have last op soon then thats all they can do.

Margaret Pilkington · 25-09-2006, 20:16

No problem Spuggie......it is a very emotive subject, and without first hand experience of such situations I may have jumped to the same conclusions.
Believe me a whole lot of thought goes into the offer of a termination for abnormal babies......and I am not talking about the babies who have minor deformities......I am talking life limiting conditions. I have supported women, their partners and families through such events so I have first hand experience.

Margaret Pilkington · 25-09-2006, 20:21

Accymel you are to be applauded....many women who are told of ANY abnormality will opt for temination if it is offered...however, in my experience the positive aspects of the situation are usually fully explained.....like what are the available treatments etc.....how limiting will the condition be to the child...what help will be available to help the parent s to cope.....all these avenues are explored before any decision is taken....and in many cases the woman nad her family are given time to think, and consider their options.

I think that society has conditioned many women to expect to have a perfect baby......and it seems like everything is disposable these days.....life relationships etcetera. Sometimes women will take the termination and see it as the 'easier' way out...but I know that many of these women will live with the decision for the rest of their lives...and who knows what goes through their minds in the still small hours of the night?

Ianto.W. · 25-09-2006, 21:02

I'll bet there's one or two on this site that would gladly put me down, 'don't all shout at once', lovely chap really.

accymel · 25-09-2006, 21:08

Thanks Margaret

i like my life complicated hehehehehe

just that wasn't the option i went thro the pain of losing a baby at 16weeks before him so keeping a little life no matter was is important i couldnt see another option.

cashman · 25-09-2006, 23:03

we all know what happened when Hitler played god! its a very emotive subject and not a decision i would care to make.

slinky · 25-09-2006, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by accymel

I got offered a termination when i was carrying my son after 1st scan because it showed he had a foot deformity - absolutely not considered a termination & went on to have a very lively lad with congential talipies several ops later. I was rather upset by the mere suggestion of terminating a baby for that - how vain!

Funny you should say that........ when my eldest was born, his foot turned inwards. All the staff at the hospital made such a fuss about it, and eventually got even GINGER panicking about it, but not once did I panic. I don't know why but I didn't. He was a perfectly healthly 8lb 8oz baby that was born to me a very slender 8 stone women. No-wonder the little mite didn't have enough room. The doctors and nurses made such a big issue, any normal woman would have been scared senseless. But I have grown up to know that perfect is only in the eye of the beholder........what's perfect?? NOTHING. After 2 weeks of my beautiful baby being at home, midwife came round and said " oh look his foot is absolutly normal" just thankgod I did'nt let them SO CALLED proffessionals turn my first few VITAL days with my baby into a nightmare

garinda · 25-09-2006, 23:41

With the advances in modern medicine more and more genetic diseases are going to be diagnosed pre-natally. I find the whole idea that non-perfect babies, whatever that means, will not be allowed to be born. I myself am waiting to see if the Parkinson's I have is genetic...just in case I decide to have any children when I grow up.

All that said, as far as abortion is concerned I'm pro choice.

As for playing God, or as an atheist, as I see it cheating nature, I'm in favour of assisted suicides if properly legislated for. Indeed I have planned my own, in the event that in the future I have no independence, and am sat in a wheel chair, unable to speak, and am no longer shaking in time to the music in a nightclub somewhere.