Sarah+on+pulling+the+plug...


 * __PULLING THE PLUG__**: definition: to prevent from happening or continuing. In the case of Medical Jewish Ethics, this applies to people that want to terminate one's life, when they are in unbearable pain, don't have a chance of surviving (according to the doctors), etc...

1.)Does the answer change according to the circumstances? 2.) Meaning, does it vary if one is "brain-dead' compared to someone that has terminal cancer and has zero chance of healing? 3.)What is the Jewish halacha regarding pulling the plug? 4.)How far do patients’ rights extend? 5.)When should we let a patient die? 6.)In the Torah, it states that we, as Jews must do everything (except three specific things that are not relevant to this topic...) to save a life. So, when is one truly considered dead? Brain dead...A "vegetable"?...Or should we never be allowed to pull the plug? 7.) What can you stop, and what can you continue? 8.) If the patient is dependent on outside intervention to keep him alive, what elements can you stop administering, and which ones must you continue? 9.) Who is considered gone...who is considered finished?
 * QUESTIONS:**


 * In the Torah, life is valued above all. In fact,** Of all the six-hundred-thirteen mitzvot, only the prohibitions against murder, idolatry, and adultery are so important that they cannot be violated to save a life. A person who is extremely ill, or a woman that is in labor is not permitted to fast on Yom Kippur because it can endanger the person's life...So, with this information doesn't this mean that we should for almost EVERYTHING to save one's life? But, on the other hand, if one is a "vegetable" and has no chance of getting out of a coma and cannot pursue a life, or truly "live a life" then should we make them suffer through their "life" on life-support until they take their last breath? Something that has not crossed my mind until now, is that we know from the Torah to do anything (except those 3 averot) to save a life. But what does "save a life really mean?" Many people cannot and will not ever be able to live a life...

OVERALL, GREAT JOB. PLEASE SITE SPECIFIC SOURCES AS TO WHAT THE HALACHA IS. MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER ALL YOUR OWN QUESTIONS. WHAT IS CONSIDERED ACTUAL POINT OF DEATH?

__**Some additional websites for more information, specific cases, etc (before I go into depth discussing this...):**__ 1) this is a specific example of a family that was on "The Jewish Press." PLEASE SUMMARIZE THE CASE ON THE WIKI. http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/31879 2) another story and opinion (video)... (this also touches up on assisted suicides). []_


 * __"Biblical" Ideas:__**
 * __1)__** The Talmud notes that all people are descended from a single person, thus taking a single life is like destroying an entire world, and saving a single life is like saving an entire world...([]

__**Halachic Viewpoints:**__ 1.) You must continue providing the basic necessities to keep a person alive: food and water. ...this is universal. GREAT. 2.) It depends on certain medicines/conditions...different rabbis have different opinions as to what medicines are mandatory to continue, and which ones are not. GIVE TWO EXAMPLES. One is brain dead, and the doctors say that he has NO chance of getting better. He is now on life support, but the doctors say that it won't stand for much longer, even with all the medicines, etc... and he is just suffering. --According to many rabbis, in this case, since the patient is "gone...he is finished" it is okay to stop the medicines. Meaning, once the bag of medicine in the hospital that is giving medicine into the patient's body finished, you don't need to replace the bag. But, you must continue to provide food and water (through an i.v........), the BASIC necessities of life.
 * __Is it okay in this situation??__**

My art teacher in middle school had a mother who was very ill. The doctors said that she had an extremely low chance of ever getting better (getting out of the coma). Her daughter was seriously considering "pulling the plug" on her. She ended up deciding not to... the mother came out of the coma and lived :) GREAT STORY!!!!
 * __Personal Story:__**

__**My Opinion:**__ Every situation is different...IT DEPENDS ON THE the circumstances?