If you were on life support and the decision was being made whether to pull the plug. Would you rather a spouse make that decision, or your parents?

Whether or not you can recover is not important to this mental exercise, and neither is whether you'd want to die or not, it is simply about who you would trust to weigh the options and make the best decision.

And if you are not married - most of us are not - just imagine for a moment that you are.

i dont want my plug to be pulled .. as much as i might be screaming at that moment for it to be done.

I know right away that I'd rather my spouse make the decision. But of course, that's my personal case. Most people think family/blood relation is the most important group of people in their life, and would probably rather their parents to make the decision. Although I could be wrong.

Interesting question.

PEACE, Mike

Actually I think most people would tend to say spouse, because generally people have an overly romanticized vision of marriage.

Well, if not married well of course my parent, but while married my spouse would like to make that decision, but that could cost some problem with my family, so its really a hard choice to make

But if you are already married, then that is not in the equation. Also, if you're not married, you're likely young (although that's not always the case, so don't get me wrong) and more attached to your parents.

I think above all it really just depends what kind of relationship you have with your parents. Some grow up and are taught to be incredibly close with their parents, some are the opposite. And then again, your relationship with your spouse. If it's a distant, very closed relationship, or a healthy, loving relationship.

PEACE, Mike

My Wife

No one, unless, I tell them before that to do it incase I am on life support. Which I will do.

Sorry. Just to add to that. I did mention I never want that decision made. I was wrong. If taking me off life support or whatever can potentially save the life of another person who may require the equipment and I'm pretty much a gone case, then umm ... I dont want people to think twice. I want them to take me off. The decision is to be made by whosoever is aware of my feelings on these thigns.

PEACE, Mike

Agree on that.

And I wuld want to pull the plug in any case. Being on life support with no chance of ever waking up is worse than death. Much worse.

This question have anything to do with Terri going federal?

since i dont have a spouse - Parents

No but really; i think my mother knows whats best for me in that respect, she made me, and its her desicion if she wanted to end my life which i no longer had control over.

Should I be worried that my spouse practices this all the time? She's always pulling cords out, looking at me, and saying "that could be you some day" with a big smile.

Anyhow, I guess I'll let her make the decision.

Let me tell you something , guys, it's the toughest decision you would ever have to make in your life. I had to make the decision for my brother. It's something he and I had talked about , and we were both on the same page if the situation ever came up. I wasn't expecting it to come up as soon as it did. It's something that you should let somebody know your feelings on, because you never know when it could come up. My uncle (who's a year younger than I am) knows , that if the situation ever comes up with me, it's in his hands. I trust him to do what's right, but I can't even describe what it feels like to be the one who has to make that choice.

Whoever is closest. I don't think this has to do with glorifying marriage, I think that when people live together, they tend to be the closest due to daily conversations etc. If anyone is married here (pr seriously dating for years, etc) and can tell me that they feel closer to their parents, and that their parents are more in touch with your up-to-date philosophy, than yeah, parents should do it. Otherwise I anticipate most people saying their significant other. I would probably. It could be none of the above though, since right now I'm closest to my siblings, and there is a good chance that if I left that decision with someone, it would be my twin sister.

Really, I wouldn't want to leave it with anyone, because it must be terrible on their part. I'd rather just say 2 years is the limit, from the date I first go on life-support. That way no one has to make the decision and feel responsible.

Spouse no doubt

The parents. They ALWAYS look out for your best interests, while the spouse, at some point, might look out for her interests first.

I wouldnt want to die of starvation like this the woman who had her tubed removed.Thats a cruel thing to do.Infact,if im ever a vegetable i wouldnt give anybody permition to pull my plug.

That's totally untrue. Not all parents always look out for their son/daughter's best interest. Unfortunately we don't live in a happy, magical fairy land where ALL parents are good to their children and ALWAYS look out for their best interests. And if a spouse truly loves their husband/wife, they will look out for their lovers best interests. I'm sorry, but it's not as cut and paste as you say it is.

PEACE, Mike

I think in the end the decision made today was the right one. While generally I am in favor of life, I believe in some cases people have a right to die with dignity. Schiavo has been kept alive for over a decade now, and she is obviously not going to recover. Once the brain has been in a vegetative state for a long period of time it cannot recover. I think that the excessive government intervention is wrong, and I am saddened that our governement would interfere in the lives of private citizens to this extent. Mr. Schiavo is obviously not in it for the money, as he has steadily kept up his fight and spent a great deal on lawyers/legal council. I just think that Mrs. Schiavo should be allowed to die. It sounds horrible, but that is how I feel.

And not all spouses love their signioficant others either. In the end, I'd trust the parents to look out for my interests more than I would trust my spouse. To simplify my point, 50% of births don't end up in adoptions.

I would want the plug pulled weither is husband or my folks they better pull the damn plug.

I would want my family to pull the plug. Not my father. I would prefer my mother make the decision. I don't know if I could ever trust my spouse enough to let them make that decision.

If you are married though, you have to give them that trust. The trust that they will do what is best for you. It is part of your vows.

Sorry, maybe I'm a helpless romantic.