It was a rerun and Illinois was beating Wisconsin, but I watched Law and Order anyway…How many of you remember the Terry Schaivo case that was debated a few years ago?
It wasn’t really the main point, but the show last night made a number of important points about end of life issues. (the husband had an alternative agenda which was unrelated to making the end of life decision in the Law and Order episode)
The husband of the dying patient wants to pull a feeding tube and her mother can’t let go and wants to keep the tube in her daughter. Let’s talk about this if you wish…Unfortunately, this is a decision that we often have to make in our lives with people about whom we care. We are filled with mixed emotions and similar to the episode on TV, there are often numerous agendas we are dealing with in these cases. If you want to ask me any questions about this complicated subject or wish to discuss it further, why don’t you either e-mail me or join me at Starbuck’s on campus next Monday night at 7:30pm? Judaism has much to say about this topic and I hope we can talk more about it…
Be safe in the snow…
Rabbi Bruce, baft@gmu.edu
Hillel Rabbinic Educator