I have two sisters. I am the oldest of the three. This is about the middle sister.
She was diagnosed with an astrocytoma in 1986. She was given six months to live. That was 28 years ago. Her spouse took her to a different physician at a world renowned teaching hospital after receiving her prognosis. The neurosurgeon there stated 20 years. According to that diagnosis/prognosis she should have died eight years ago.
Two years ago she underwent 5 gamma knife (gamma radiation) treatments for five separate tumors in her head. Today and since her initial diagnosis, she lives on her own terms and conducts all her own activities except her financial life which she lost control over seven years ago.
She still carries a conversation, ambulates with a walker due to balance issues, is still a fashion bug, attends church and smiles. Now, you tell me.
The United States of America is cutting edge for many medical achievements. This path of patient determined suicide is a very slippery slope. If patients decide the burden of living is too great or become entrenched in self-pity then what happens to the achievement gap that drives medical discoveries. I think this is a very dangerous slippery slope in the USA.
She was diagnosed with an astrocytoma in 1986. She was given six months to live. That was 28 years ago. Her spouse took her to a different physician at a world renowned teaching hospital after receiving her prognosis. The neurosurgeon there stated 20 years. According to that diagnosis/prognosis she should have died eight years ago.
Two years ago she underwent 5 gamma knife (gamma radiation) treatments for five separate tumors in her head. Today and since her initial diagnosis, she lives on her own terms and conducts all her own activities except her financial life which she lost control over seven years ago.
She still carries a conversation, ambulates with a walker due to balance issues, is still a fashion bug, attends church and smiles. Now, you tell me.
The United States of America is cutting edge for many medical achievements. This path of patient determined suicide is a very slippery slope. If patients decide the burden of living is too great or become entrenched in self-pity then what happens to the achievement gap that drives medical discoveries. I think this is a very dangerous slippery slope in the USA.
