http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27665174/ Can you force someone to live a life they don't want to? Are these people bad parents? Should this little girl be allowed to make this large a decision when she isn't even old enough to drink, vote, or have sex? Discuss.
I don't know. I mean, this was a while back, and she's already died I think (do correct me if I'm wrong..), but the point she wanted to make was that she would die in dignity. About her parents, her parents were probably heart-broken with her decision, and I don't think she fully considered the feelings of everyone around her, and she was probably the only person who agreed with the decision. However, at the end of her day, regardless of her age, it's her body, and therefore that makes it her decision. If she thought it was right, then it would be wrong for her parents to stop her.
Wow, now there's a devisive issue. Usually I can hop on one side of a debate as soon as I hear all the details, but this is something else. Half of me wants to say "She's a child, she couldn't really understand the gravity of the situation because no one that isn't a medical proffessional could, she shouldn't be allowed to make this choice for herself. The medical industry revolves around people giving informed consent or making informed refusals for their proceedures - a 13 year old girl could not possibly give informed refusal because she couldn't possibly be well enough informed to make that choice. Heart transplant patients go on to make full recoveries all the time, and live very normal lives." And then, there's the other side which is basically and very simply "Her body, her choice". Both are exceptional reasons for any course of action.
Oh wow. In the United States this would probably just be an issue of compelling state interest, where the state just intervenes on behalf of the child...but if she understood the consequences and was OK with it... No, I don't think her parents were bad parents. They respected their child's decision, they let her make the choice. Her body, her choice, although in this case.....the lines start to blur.
That's the whole thing: she's too young to decide. When you were that age, did the realization come across your mind that death, contrary to religious belief, is a permanent state? With that in mind, it would be childish (please excuse the pun) to think that a girl that young, who isn't even allowed to vote, should be allowed to make such a large decision that will, obviously, affect her existence. Think of it this way: it's an adult decision. You wouldn't tell your 12 year old child that they have to go out, earn a living, pay taxes, vote, etc. Those are the jobs of adults that take development, molding, careful decision-making over time, and so on to overcome. In addition to this, one of her main reasons was that it wasn't guaranteed to make her well again - and she could even die during the surgery, so what's the point? This would be a good argument, but the operation has a success rate of over 90%. With such a good success rate, any sane person would choose surgery to improve their life, and possibly have a normal life, over death. And that's why they think she shouldn't be allowed to make the decision - she hasn't evolved into the world of adult decision-making, and hence a decision of such magnitude shouldn't be left with someone that young and naive. But that's just, y'know, logic talking.
Wow, i think she should be able to make the choice, maybe not by her own, talk about it with her parents, but come to a desision that would be good for both of them. Although, shes young and not able to vote, drink, have sex etc, its still her life and body, she can choose what she does with it.
But that's the whole thing: she didn't talk it over with her parents. They let her make the decision by herself.
I think she'll only be able to regret the decision later on. So if she dies, then she obviously won't have an oppourtunity to regret things. The only people who will be regretful are her surrounding people and relatives.
I think she should be allowed to make the choice, but it depends on her maturity level, not her age. I think it's honestly her choice if she wants the transplant. Because her body could easily reject the heart and she could die anyway, but on the other side, her body could accept the heart and she could live; although on the other side once more, the heart could fail somewhere in the future.
im a mother (young mother being 22) and 13 is too young to decide, even if her maturity level is higher then the average person her age she is still a child with a chance to a longer life. The fact that her parents just let her decided I think was wrong if there was no discussion about it. Though im not or nor would I want to be in that situation right at this moment I would disagree with her parents and feel that the child shouldn't be allowed to make a life saving decision on her own life. Once again im not in there shoes so I really can't say what would really happen in that situation.
no one can force someone to live a certain way. If they do congrats, they accomplished becoming a scumbag :/ its morally wrong to make someone live a life full of lies... if anyone does this, i feel sorry for the victom
i think that it depend on what the deccisions is, like if its what school would you prefer to go to, or if the parents are devorce which one she would want to live with then they should be her own choice because she has the right to learn from her mistakes and with things like that they are involed i her life more then yours.
She was also in and out of a hospital throughout her life. The prospect of a heart transplant probably means more hospital time. I think her specific situation it is ok to let her decide.
I think it is very wrong to force the girl to live on when she doesn't want to. She must feel trapped - with no choice.
More than just trapped. How about physically hurting at all times? I spent a few hours at the dentist office and I just wanted to die. I couldn't imagine being a young girl in a situation like that.
I dont think its wrong, i think its wrong that people feel that they have to force their ideals onto other individuals
There are alot of good opinions on this topic, but really. It doesn't matter if she is or is not old enough to vote, drink, etc. In the end it's up to her. I mean she's been fighting cancer for a few years now and after all that pain and hopelessness she has probably gone through I would myself personaly would want to end that suffering and go to a better place. Which in the end she decided on. But that is just my opinion on the matter.
My brother had a heart transplant when he was 11 months old and it knocked the crap out of him. He spent nearly a year in the hospital. He had to go for bloodwork twice a week and had to have many scans and stuff. He is also on 5 different medications for the rest of his life. It sucks. Really. So I can see where she was coming from.
Personally, I think, if she refuses the surgery and wants to die, let her. It's her life, her choice - if she wants to choose stupidly, let her die.
DK +X They should undersntand her decision but its hard for parents to do that. Maybe she should go to a physic analist and help her about it.