When everything we do fails

[Guest guest]

Sean,

 

When someone close has suffered and passed away the pain and guilt of that

person is enormous. " What could I have done differently? " " What if I knew then

what I know now? " Yet these questions are neither constructive nor empowering.

(Let me preface my remarks which follow by qualifying that what I present is my

own perspective and practice and shouldn't be construed as an agenda I am

imposing upon others!) I think that whenever we are faced with challenges and

tests, we need to consider this equation: Whatever we can change, we must, and

whatever we are unable to change, we must let go of and surrender to

G-d. We must view Him as a loving father who knows exactly what he is doing,

who wants the very best for us always, and treats us like His only child. Yet,

the gift of life is not my job to take away, and I will also do everything in my

power to promote its continuity. As long as there is life there is hope. A

human being is not a machine governed by clockwork mechanics. Furthermore, as

long as there is life, I will continue searching and researching, connecting and

praying for enlightenment, for understanding and for knowledge that can make a

difference. Once life is over, I accept that I have done what I had to and the

patient's time had come. Again, I sincerely apologize for those of you from

different orientations, who might be offended by my comments, but here I answer

only for myself as an Chasidic Jew, and do not intend in any way to have my

comments construed as an agenda of proselytization. Those of you from different

belief systems can surely adapt

these ideas to your beliefs.

 

Sean, may you be comforted by the wonderful memories of your father,

 

SIncerely,

 

Yehuda

 

Sean Doherty <sean wrote:

Yehuda,

 

I just lost my father two weeks ago to cancer at 71 years old. He had an

oligoglioblastoma that was diagnosed a year and a half ago. He lived in

California and came out to visit my family for a month visit when he passed.

He had been doing acupuncture, two hours of qi gong a day and a number of

different supplements, but in the end the tumor still grew to the point that

it compressed his right hemisphere enough to cause a stroke. In his case he

was kept on a pretty low dose of morphine over the week where he eventually

passed. I know you aren't looking to start a debate here (and neither am

I), but there was no chance of recovery for him so we had decided to pull

his IV fluids. He continued to eat a bit with some assistance for a short

time. I couldn't help but think that although he was comfortable, his death

was facilitated by starvation and dehydration. I think we treat our dogs

better than this, but I know a lot of this may hinge on ones religious

beliefs.

 

Respectfully,

 

Sean

 

_____

 

 

On Behalf Of yehuda frischman

Sunday, August 19, 2007 11:47 PM

 

Re: re: cancer patients and strong analgesics

 

Al Stone <al <al%40gancao.net> > wrote: Dear Al,

You may have no problem with it, but I have a big problem with it:

1. The decision is made by the western physician rather than the patient. My

patient had specifically told me that she wanted to live and was willing to

endure pain, as long as she had a chance to live. Then when she was sent

home, she was sent home with instruction to start the Morphine drip

immediately. That was the beginning of the end. And,BTW, it only made her

incoherent and spacey. There as terrrible groaning and pain, which never

ended until the end, from the onset of the IV, which began about 2 hours

after I left. Let the patient make an informed decision. If the CM physician

feels that a)quality of life can be improved and b)there is what to be done

to give the patient a chance (even though the Western docs had given up) ,

then certainly don't dogmatically automatically begin the drip!

Again, I see very little difference between this and euthanasia, which to

me, is unacceptable, though I don't believe this is an appropriate forum to

engage in debate as to its merits or not.

 

Yehuda

 

You can read up on Ying Su Ke for more info on how TCM sees the opium husk

and to a certain extent the effects of morphine.

 

" This unrooting of the spirit which slips loose and floats away. " That's a

lovely image. I got no problem with this sort of intervention at the end of

a painful disorder and intuitively see a bed-ridden death as this very

experience.

 

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yehuda,

 

Thank you for your words of consolation.

 

 

 

Best,

 

Sean