Court approves force feeding.

CB19Kevo · 28-05-2014 05:01PM #1

I think in no circumstance should this be used,Mental disorder or otherwise i just cant agree with it.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0528/620211-court-anorexia/

SEPT 23 1989 · 28-05-2014 05:03PM

better force fed then dead

Alf. A. Male · 28-05-2014 05:04PM

The court also heard that she was capable of understanding information and communicating her wishes but was incapable of *weighing* up the information.

:pac:

Slicemeister · 28-05-2014 05:05PM

Why couldn't the family make this decision?

Valetta · 28-05-2014 05:08PM

I think it's fair enough.

Some people need to be protected from their own stupidity.

Alf. A. Male · 28-05-2014 05:22PM

Slicemeister wrote: »

Why couldn't the family make this decision?

How would it be their decision to make? She's 26

shopaholic01 · 28-05-2014 05:23PM

Valetta wrote: »

I think it's fair enough.

Some people need to be protected from their own stupidity.

I don't think a psychological disorder stems from stupidity.

Red Kev · 28-05-2014 05:37PM

The woman is essentially committing suicide over a long period of time, and the doctors and courts are trying to prevent this.

Anorexia and Bulmia are complicated psychological disorders, they can be cured/healed and in the meantime it's only right that the person is kept alive.

I know two people who suffered sever anorexia, both when they were in their late teens. One is now in her 40's and has been perfectly physically and mentally happy for 25 years, the other in 30, still suffers bouts of bulmia but is generally happy out. Both of these people were force fed at one point or another, both are alive and glad to be so.

The woman needs psychological counselling, it's a long, possibly life long process, but she can only start this if she is alive and healthy.

I think they are right to force feed her, no matter how bad it sounds on paper.

Sky King · 28-05-2014 05:40PM

Valetta wrote: »

I think it's fair enough.

Some people need to be protected from their own stupidity.

I hope you are never stupid enough to have a mental illness so.

whupdedo · 28-05-2014 05:43PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

better force fed then dead

Really ? Where does it stop,will she be force fed for the rest of her life, should she be allowed to die if that is what she wants, mentally capable or not

SEPT 23 1989 · 28-05-2014 05:45PM

whupdedo wrote: »

Really ? Where does it stop,will she be force fed for the rest of her life, should she be allowed to die if that is what she wants, mentally capable or not

her state of mind might improve

Custardpi · 28-05-2014 05:48PM

whupdedo wrote: »

Really ? Where does it stop,will she be force fed for the rest of her life, should she be allowed to die if that is what she wants, mentally capable or not

There's no evidence that she wants to die however, there usually isn't in these cases. Rather she believes that she needs to get slimmer and that the doctors are "overfeeding" her. She simply does not grasp the level of danger she is putting herself in, due to the nature of her mental illness.

P_1 · 28-05-2014 05:51PM

whupdedo wrote: »

Really ? Where does it stop,will she be force fed for the rest of her life, should she be allowed to die if that is what she wants, mentally capable or not

Trouble is that the Supreme Court recently found that the individual has no right to die in Ireland.

Hotale.com · 28-05-2014 05:54PM

P_1 wrote: »

Trouble is that the Supreme Court recently found that the individual has no right to die in Ireland.

That's a bit of a ridiculous judgment.

People shouldn't feel the need to exercise their right to die, but to suggest people don't have a right to die doesn't make much sense.

Custardpi · 28-05-2014 05:55PM

P_1 wrote: »

Trouble is that the Supreme Court recently found that the individual has no right to die in Ireland.

Sadly that's the current constitutional position yes, though I think there's a strong moral case for in some circumstances. Looks like it will take a constitutional amendment (which I assume would mean a referendum) to resolve the issue.

whupdedo · 28-05-2014 05:57PM

Hotale.com wrote: »

That's a bit of a ridiculous judgment.

People shouldn't feel the need to exercise their right to die, but to suggest people don't have a right to die doesn't make much sense.

That's just being pedantic, anyhow...

Reformed Character · 28-05-2014 05:58PM

CB19Kevo wrote: »

I think in no circumstance should this be used,Mental disorder or otherwise i just cant agree with it.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0528/620211-court-anorexia/

Well its not your loved one who is going to die without it.

P_1 · 28-05-2014 05:58PM

Custardpi wrote: »

Sadly that's the current constitutional position yes, though I think there's a strong moral case for in some circumstances. Looks like it will take a constitutional amendment (which I assume would mean a referendum) to resolve the issue.

That'll make the abortion debate look like somebody asking if you'd want one sugar or two IMO. Yes it is something that needs to be legeslated for though

Xeyn · 28-05-2014 06:01PM

P_1 wrote: »

Trouble is that the Supreme Court recently found that the individual has no right to die in Ireland.

That has nothing to do with this issue though. This has to do with capacity to consent and autonomy.
Someone suffering with anorexia nervosa does not have capacity to make rational decisions about their health.
It's very very different from someone suffering with a terminal illness and wishing to die.

Overheal · 28-05-2014 06:02PM

Similar problem/solution with the Florida Baker Act, allowing doctors to confine patients against their normal free will because of the risk of self or external harm.

Sadly doesn't apply to schizophrenia when the patient is out of their mind but has the lucid sense to act normal in front of medical staff. True story.

Custardpi · 28-05-2014 06:02PM

P_1 wrote: »

That'll make the abortion debate look like somebody asking if you'd want one sugar or two IMO. Yes it is something that needs to be legeslated for though

I honestly don't think it would be nearly as bad as the abortion bunfights. I think most people would see a big difference between "murdering an innocent baby ye heathen b@stards!" (as the anti-choice crowd would say) & allowing a mentally competent adult in agonising, incurable pain to end their suffering.

fran17 · 28-05-2014 06:10PM

america has been doing this for years so it has to be morally right...http://www.rt.com/usa/161100-guantanamo-rabbani-force-feeding/

Xeyn · 28-05-2014 06:26PM

fran17 wrote: »

america has been doing this for years so it has to be morally right...http://www.rt.com/usa/161100-guantanamo-rabbani-force-feeding/

To be fair that's a bit if a ridiculous comparison if you were being serious.

Valetta · 28-05-2014 06:46PM

shopaholic01 wrote: »

I don't think a psychological disorder stems from stupidity.

No, but it can lead to stupid actions. Hence my post.

P_1 · 28-05-2014 07:07PM

Xeyn wrote: »

That has nothing to do with this issue though. This has to do with capacity to consent and autonomy.
Someone suffering with anorexia nervosa does not have capacity to make rational decisions about their health.
It's very very different from someone suffering with a terminal illness and wishing to die.

Ah I well know that, was more in reply to this point. However even though it is being done with the patients best interests at heart it is a little big brotherish

whupdedo wrote: »

Really ? Where does it stop,will she be force fed for the rest of her life, should she be allowed to die if that is what she wants, mentally capable or not

P_1 · 28-05-2014 07:08PM

Custardpi wrote: »

I honestly don't think it would be nearly as bad as the abortion bunfights. I think most people would see a big difference between "murdering an innocent baby ye heathen b@stards!" (as the anti-choice crowd would say) & allowing a mentally competent adult in agonising, incurable pain to end their suffering.

Never discount the 'it's against god's will' brigade though.

shopaholic01 · 28-05-2014 07:17PM

Valetta wrote: »

No, but it can lead to stupid actions. Hence my post.

So stupidity is a symptom?

Barely There · 28-05-2014 07:20PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

better force fed then dead

A tube that will save beats a trip to the grave.

My name is URL · 28-05-2014 07:31PM

shopaholic01 wrote: »

So stupidity is a symptom?

It might be insensitive, but it's pretty much true is it not?

shopaholic01 · 28-05-2014 07:38PM

My name is URL wrote: »

It might be insensitive, but it's pretty much true is it not?

I would have thought that anorexia nervosa led to irrational thought processes rather than stupidity.

Putting your hand in the fire = stupid.

Deliberate starvation to the point of death due to a distorted body image = irrational.

EyeSight · 28-05-2014 07:38PM

fran17 wrote: »

america has been doing this for years so it has to be morally right...http://www.rt.com/usa/161100-guantanamo-rabbani-force-feeding/

Why do most threads here have stupid anti-america posts like this?
"Oh it's raining in Dublin? Well in america it's raining bullets and everyone is dying and the government is using it as an excuse to bomb Pakistan."

On topic, I think the woman in question will be thankful for this once she gets better. I believe in the right to die, but only if you're of sound mind to make that decision(I believe a terminally ill person to be of sound mind).

Court approves force feeding.

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