Alfies/Charlie’s Army

splinter65

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-42948911

Is this going to be a more and more familiar scenario?
First of all little Charlie Gard and now this little boy Alfie.
Medical professionals have said he is in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery and is possibly in pain. They want to save him further suffering by withdrawing life support.
Very very young parents are totally understandably distraught and are determined that they and an “army” of mostly online supporters with no medical expertise at all are going to fight this literally to the death.
It’s horrendous for all involved including the medics who are accused of being money hungry murderers and suchlike.
What do you all think?

hatrickpatrick

Twice in my life - once regarding the cause of persistent, bed-binding headaches and one regarding a severe spinal cord injury - doctors have given me "absolutely definite" prognoses which turned out to be complete and total bullsh!t. I no longer believe that any diagnosis or prognosis can be 100%. Humans, alas, f*ck up all the time, and thus any human who says something with 100% certainty is in my view hopelessly naive or irritatingly arrogant. Take your pick, really.

GritBiscuit

According to that report scans show that he's lost over 70 percent of his brain matter. Which hospital he goes to is irrelevant, he isn't going to grow that back. Long term ventilation, tube feeding, immobility and so on create ever growing dangers to his health that are painful and cause unnecessary suffering with no hope of enjoying any quality of life.

My heart breaks for parents in these situations but you have to remember that unfortunately many more babies and children are diagnosed with complex and ultimately fatal conditions and accept their child's fate and work with the hospitals - two highly publicised cases out of those don't really say anything about anything...except maybe the different way people experience grief.

splinter65

I agree with you. Sadly, the poor parents are being buoyed up and encouraged by huge well meaning but extremely misguided online presence who are giving them false hope having had no medical training at all.
I hate to think of the little boy being in pain or discomfort just because his parents can’t face the unavoidable , and strangers having to go before a judge to defend him, in effect, from the blinkered devotion of his family.

Harry Palmr

What was the last stupid campaign that the internet ignorant and desperate "must believe in something/anything" nutters were backing. I think it was again a child and a right to die/courts issue.

splinter65

Harry Palmr wrote: »

What was the last stupid campaign that the internet ignorant and desperate "must believe in something/anything" nutters were backing. I think it was again a child and a right to die/courts issue.

I think it attracts a certain type of facebooker who can gorge 24 hours a day on the grief and heartbreak and can participate endlessly with supportive comments which will attract lots of likes.
And there’s also the potential of someone offering a lone dissenting voice, giving you the opportunity to tear them asunder for 6 hours or so.
Facebook campaigns. The gift that keeps on giving

pleas advice

does this one have a hashtag?

Capt'n Midnight

The problem with limited funding for the NHS and HSE etc is that you can't save everyone.

I remember hearing (on the radio?) a nurse in the UK wonder how many lives are lost because some infants are kept in life support for extended time are blocking access to those infants coming in via A&E.