I can't convince my brother to let our mother, who's in the late stage of Alzheimer's, go peacefully.

The decision to prolong life is very personal. To me, it depends on the condition of the loved one. Hospitals and nursing homes will ALWAYS recommend a feeding tube because it is their job to keep the patient alive as long as possible. I refused a feeding tube for my father because he was bedridden, didn't know anyone or ANYTHING, he was in constant physical pain. The nursing home pushed hard for a feeding tube but I couldn't allow my father to suffer any longer. Even his doctor told me that he might not survive the procedure and that the tubes often caused infections that would likely kill him. I believe that allowing a person with zero life - not just quality of life but actually tormented by life - is wrong. It is a personal decision and I don't want anyone else (insurance, health, etc.) making that decision for me, but I want the right to make that decision for myself. It is not murder to allow a person to die naturally and with dignity.

IT IS HARD TO WATCH YOUR OWN MOTHER SUFFER.BUT DENYING A HUMAN BEING FOOD IS CRUEL.AND IN MY EYES IS MURDER.IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO SAY WHEN A PERSON DIES,IT IS GODS JOB.I AGREE WITH WITH YOUR BROTHER.MY MOM HAS A FEEDING TUBE,AND IT WAS THE HOSPITAL WHO SAID SHE NEEDED IT.NO ONE HAS A QUALITY OF LIFE IN A NURSING HOME,SO WHY DONT WE JUST KILL ALL OF THEM.IF YOU READ THE BIBLE,LIKE I DO IT CLEARLY STATES GOD WILL DECIDED WHEN ONE DIES,AND IT IS CONSIDERED MURDER.MERCY KILLING IS A SIN.

My mother who suffered from Alzheimers died this past December. She fell and broke her hip and needed a hip replacement. Her doctor determined she was too frail to make it through the surgery unless a feeding tube was put in. She said that even with a feeding tube her recovery would be nearly impossible and she would most likely be bedridden and have no quality of life. We made the difficult decision to let her die in peace. I would reccomend that you tell your brother that keeping her alive (with no quality of life) is the crime. My mother died in her own bed in her assisted living facility, with the aid of hospice. We were all with her and I can say as terrified as I was, she died very peacefully, without pain or tubes. It was honestly the first time since her Alzheimers began that she looked peaceful and unafraid. I will always love and miss her, but I feel we made the right decision for her. It is extremely hard to make the choice to let someone die, but the hospice team assured we were giving her a gift by letting her die without pain. She was on morphine and just died in her sleep, she did pass away fast, thankfully, in under two days. Good luck with your decision, is is very hard, but sometimes it's the only decision you can make. I believe that my mom is in heaven with loved ones around her instead of being a prisoner in her own body here on earth.

it is really hard to watch a loved one with alzims, i was with my grandmother and part of the care giving to help my mom out, grandma was so sad,i personally do not think that they should try to keep the person alive by tubes, it is jus 2 hard on the family and the person themselves, when grandma left this world she actually looked relived, but now i faced with my husband havin bone cancer, he has very much said NO CHEMO! even as much as i love him i will respect his wish, we all want the person we love 2 stay with us, but i dont want to watch the person i love suffer more than they have to, i have lost a few family memebers 2 cancer and alzimes, and 2 sons to S.I.D.S, so i no first hand that lasst breath and how much it hurts u inside,but it is something the family has to agree on so that no one ends up the bad person, but either way someone will be the wrong person, the way i deal is to tell myself that i was always there and have no regrets, but be careful about ur brothers wishes u could lose him as a brother my dad and his brother have not spoken in 23 years because of my grandfathers death, which was colon cancer, so good luck and pray that the family and u and ur brother can come to a agreement, some people need more time to say goodbye, god bless u

our life is too precious. but then again, given the consequences,it's about choice. as long as no guilt feelings afterwards, then go on. but let me compare animals to this situation, the burden is too much when we found out our pet is dying. and not even medical intervention could save it. same as humans, we tend to carry on. it's a gift, a life ...... ponder this

removal of a feeding tube under proper medical supervsion is not murder...the diease had consumed her to the point of not being able to substain the norishment the body needed to live..artifical feeding and hydration can also be cruel,and all factors need to be considered, patients wishes,quality of life etc..there are some very good articles on dying and artifical hydration to be found online. Hospice can also be very informative concerning this area..

Denying another person food is considered cruel, and, if it results in death, murder charges usually are pursued. It is troubling to me how this basic fact gets tossed out the window for the elderly and infirmed. What a tremendous lesson the brother is teaching to his family on the proper care of our loved ones. The disease will consume her...why must it be rushed?