I’ve never met Eluana and unfortunately I never will. But for the last 17 years I’ve been following her story, suffering and worrying for her and for her family together with most of my Italian country people.
Eluana is an Italian woman who entered persistent vegetative state in January 1992 (when she was just 22 years old) suffering irreversible brain damage after a car accident. For years, her father has fought to have her feeding tube removed, saying it would be a dignified end to his daughter's life. He says that before the crash, his daughter visited a friend who was in a coma and told him she didn't want the same thing to happen to her should she ever be in the same state.
Butt the authorities have delayed his request. The case has sparked controversy because of the current debate on euthanasia which is illegal in Italy, a Catholic country still very influenced by the Vatican.
A long series of legal battles finally ended in November 2008, when Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, confirmed a lower court decision allowing Eluana’s father to suspend his daughter's treatment. This court's decision sparked a new fight to find a hospital or clinic that would take out Eluana's feeding tube. Several clinics initially came forward to say they could do it, but the Italian health minister then issued a decree to remind them of their duty of care. Under pressure to adhere to this decree, the clinics backed off. Finally, a private clinic in Udine, in the North-East of Italy, agreed to assist in Eluana's case. She was transferred last Monday night whilst a handful of protesters tried to block the ambulance carrying her from leaving the clinic, one of them holding a banner reading, "Only thieves and assassins act at night."
Last Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims that "euthanasia is a false solution to suffering." Tuesday morning, a top Vatican official was quoted in the Italian media saying, "Stop the killer hands."
As a last act of this very distressing saga, yesterday the Italian Government approved a decree that would have forced the hospital to continue the treatment of Eluana, but the President of the Republic refused to sign the decree.
The Udine clinic says the removal of Eluana's tube will begin in about three days, and the process of allowing her to die will take about 20 days.
I let you draw your own conclusions. I respect life but I also respect the right to decide on our own life, on our own future. Eluana cannot choose herself, that’s right. But what do you think she would choose if she could?
Eluana is an Italian woman who entered persistent vegetative state in January 1992 (when she was just 22 years old) suffering irreversible brain damage after a car accident. For years, her father has fought to have her feeding tube removed, saying it would be a dignified end to his daughter's life. He says that before the crash, his daughter visited a friend who was in a coma and told him she didn't want the same thing to happen to her should she ever be in the same state.
Butt the authorities have delayed his request. The case has sparked controversy because of the current debate on euthanasia which is illegal in Italy, a Catholic country still very influenced by the Vatican.
A long series of legal battles finally ended in November 2008, when Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, confirmed a lower court decision allowing Eluana’s father to suspend his daughter's treatment. This court's decision sparked a new fight to find a hospital or clinic that would take out Eluana's feeding tube. Several clinics initially came forward to say they could do it, but the Italian health minister then issued a decree to remind them of their duty of care. Under pressure to adhere to this decree, the clinics backed off. Finally, a private clinic in Udine, in the North-East of Italy, agreed to assist in Eluana's case. She was transferred last Monday night whilst a handful of protesters tried to block the ambulance carrying her from leaving the clinic, one of them holding a banner reading, "Only thieves and assassins act at night."
Last Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims that "euthanasia is a false solution to suffering." Tuesday morning, a top Vatican official was quoted in the Italian media saying, "Stop the killer hands."
As a last act of this very distressing saga, yesterday the Italian Government approved a decree that would have forced the hospital to continue the treatment of Eluana, but the President of the Republic refused to sign the decree.
The Udine clinic says the removal of Eluana's tube will begin in about three days, and the process of allowing her to die will take about 20 days.
I let you draw your own conclusions. I respect life but I also respect the right to decide on our own life, on our own future. Eluana cannot choose herself, that’s right. But what do you think she would choose if she could?
20 comments:
I would NOT want to live like that... that is not living.. my opinion.
ENJOY your weekend!
Fifi
What a sad story, and we've had similar things happen here in the States. That's why Ken and I have living wills, and have our wishes in writing and completely legal. Neither of us wants to linger in such a state.
Beth
Oh dear, that is such a tough decision and I will not even hazard an opinion on whether her feeding tube should be removed or not. I can't, not knowing the details of the case.
All I can say with any certainty is that I wouldn't want to survive in that state, especially if it will cause misery and suffering to the people I love.
I feel so bad for Eluana and her family.
It's a tough one and hope I am never faced with that decision.
It must have been a terrible time for her family since 1992 as she is all but dead to them anyway, but the agony has been prolonged. I think in this situation, god forbid, I think it is more humane to let the person die with dignity than keep them alive artificially. God bless Eluana and her family.
Given a choice I know I wouldn't want to live in a vegative state. I hope she passes peacefully. (Hugs)Indigo
I read about this in The Observer yesterday. The words of her father touched me most- if she couldn't be what she was before she wouldn't want to be here (or something like that).
Very sad. There's no way you can decide on a 'once for all' rule is situations like this. It's never either right or wrong, it's an enormous moral grey area. And in this case, I'm with the family. What right has anyone else (especially the Church) to say otherwise?
@Everybody: thanks for your comments. Unfortunately Eluana's saga is still going on. The Italian Government is rushing an emergency decree through parliament ordering the restoration of medical care for Eluana whilst the clinic in Udine that is treating her is ignoring appeals for a delay. Every time I see or hear her father my heart breaks and what's really despicable is that the Italian political parties and the Vatican are using this tragegy as a stick to beat one another. Awful. Take care of yourselves and your families. Ciao. A.
For me it's not about how you die but rather how you live. That is not living. it's all so sad. It's also another reason among my list of many for why I can't support the Catholic chuch or religion in general. May this poor woman soon rest in peace.
xoxo
Just read on the BBC website that she has died. Rest in eternal peace Eluana.
This is such a tragic story. I hope there is a resolution before the politicians can change things.
Just read the last comment. I am so glad for her and her father that she may now finally RIP.
I heard about this tragic story last week. As a Christian it makes me so sad how it is so often the church that seems so lacking in compassion.
May she rest in peace, and rise in glory.
It's such a terrible story... I think that ONLY her parents can tell what's best for Eluana. I respect their decision and suffer at the thought of what they have been through and will be going through now that she is dead. The right part of the Italian Government has been USING this case for their own purposes, in a way that should be condemned by human piety,..
@Valeria: Ciao, You're right, I cannot even dare to think what her parents have been going through all these years and how they feel now. As you well know, the matter has been manipulated by the Italian Government, the Church etc. in an appalling way! Now that she's gone, the processing of accusing and blaming one another has just started!
@Jackie: Lack of compassion and respect seem to be a leading thread in the Italian Government and media lately. Yesterday after Eluana died, one of our main tv broadcasters, Canale 5, chose to show Big Brother Live instedad of a special programme about Eluana! The Editorial director resigned for this reason.
@Mo, YM and notSupermum: Thanks for your thoughts and your kind comments!
I would never want to be kept alive when there was no hope of recovery. I am glad that Eluana is now at peace.
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxxx
A bit late as usual, my opinion about this -as elsewhere I wrote- is that I'm disgusted to live in this banana's Republic.
@Sandra: Yes, She's in peace now and I really hope that her family will be left alone to mourn finally.
@Fabrizio: I agree with you. I watch Italy from the outside and my heart bleeds.
Breadth of life vs. breathe of life.
Even here, in the US, there was a similar case and here it was a political battle. Unfortunately, what some of us see as a person's right to her own life--of a morality that one's own dignity and understanding of what life is is of the greatest importance can be countered by people who hold that what matters is life, regardless of quality.
There was an excellent play a while back, "Whose Life Is It Anyway," that addressed this. I assume that it the debate will continue as long as people's perceptions of life will be so different.
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