Imagine being the family of a person in a vegetative state, could you make the decision whether to continue or withdraw care? In America, we have a broken health care system whether it be due to funds, or improper planning of end of life wishes. Most times families are left to decide on whether to try to continue saving their loved one’s life or find the best outcome for the family member, even if that means stopping life saving measures. I chose to evaluate the article “The Complicated Legacy of Terry Wallis and His Brain Injury” because end of life decisions are difficult, but it is necessary to not only advocate for that individual and when possible, to allow rare events to become educational opportunities. This article is moving as it talks
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Terry had shown incredible breakthroughs at the time of the discovery, as one day he was able to say “Mom” and “Pepsi”, his favorite drink (Fins 41). Terry unfortunately succumbed to his pneumonia and pulmonary complications as he was transferred to a skilled nursing home to try to rehab his strength so he could be transferred somewhere else that could care for his specific needs (Fins 44). The medical system in the United States failed Terry’s family as they asked for him to be re-evaluated as he was showing signs of glimmers of awareness, but neuroscientists stated to his family that it was “too expensive and wouldn’t matter.” (Fins 41). This article dating back two years shows that this information is current and relatively up to date on the medical breakthroughs that we are seeing in the neuroscience department. The author talks about “Bryan Jennett” (Neurosurgeon) and “Fred Plum” (Neurologist) having a conversation and studies on the vegetative state in 1972. (Fins 44). Fins goes into detail about how their research is still being used and built on to this …show more content…
Fins is the E. Williams Davis Jr. MD professor of Medical Ethics and a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College (Fins 47). I believe Fins has the knowledge and experience that he has that his research is not only valid, but credible. He also lists numerous different sources within his article, some being: A New England Journal of Medicine report (Fins 45), An essay from 1894 “The Leaven of Science” (Fins 46), and another book that he wrote “Rights Come to Mind” (Fins 41). I believe that Fins wrote this article to reach a general audience, college students, and other professionals in the field. He is trying to spread his knowledge on being in a vegetative state and how, with the right advancements in medicine, it will decrease those hard times of having to decide for someone who may be unable to make that decision themselves. The difficulty in making this type of decision was made apparent in the article when he states, “Furthermore, he couldn’t fully articulate his feelings with a tracheostomy in his airway. The family felt that because they couldn’t clearly understand his wishes, it would be wrong to withdraw life support.” (Fins 44). In conclusion, this periodical helped broaden the spectrum of my thinking regarding end-of-life
Terry had shown incredible breakthroughs at the time of the discovery, as one day he was able to say “Mom” and “Pepsi”, his favorite drink (Fins 41). Terry unfortunately succumbed to his pneumonia and pulmonary complications as he was transferred to a skilled nursing home to try to rehab his strength so he could be transferred somewhere else that could care for his specific needs (Fins 44). The medical system in the United States failed Terry’s family as they asked for him to be re-evaluated as he was showing signs of glimmers of awareness, but neuroscientists stated to his family that it was “too expensive and wouldn’t matter.” (Fins 41). This article dating back two years shows that this information is current and relatively up to date on the medical breakthroughs that we are seeing in the neuroscience department. The author talks about “Bryan Jennett” (Neurosurgeon) and “Fred Plum” (Neurologist) having a conversation and studies on the vegetative state in 1972. (Fins 44). Fins goes into detail about how their research is still being used and built on to this …show more content…
Fins is the E. Williams Davis Jr. MD professor of Medical Ethics and a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College (Fins 47). I believe Fins has the knowledge and experience that he has that his research is not only valid, but credible. He also lists numerous different sources within his article, some being: A New England Journal of Medicine report (Fins 45), An essay from 1894 “The Leaven of Science” (Fins 46), and another book that he wrote “Rights Come to Mind” (Fins 41). I believe that Fins wrote this article to reach a general audience, college students, and other professionals in the field. He is trying to spread his knowledge on being in a vegetative state and how, with the right advancements in medicine, it will decrease those hard times of having to decide for someone who may be unable to make that decision themselves. The difficulty in making this type of decision was made apparent in the article when he states, “Furthermore, he couldn’t fully articulate his feelings with a tracheostomy in his airway. The family felt that because they couldn’t clearly understand his wishes, it would be wrong to withdraw life support.” (Fins 44). In conclusion, this periodical helped broaden the spectrum of my thinking regarding end-of-life