Althouse: "In those final seconds before his patients lose consciousness and die, the words they utter sound like Donald Duck..."

January 22, 2012

"In those final seconds before his patients lose consciousness and die, the words they utter sound like Donald Duck..."

"... he says, imitating the high-pitched, nasally squeak familiar to any child who has sucked a gulp from a helium balloon. So, this is how a human being can leave this Earth?"

31 comments:

cliff claven said...: Allow me to give a plug for a book by Albert Brooks, 2030. It deals w/ this subject w/ humor and poignantly, in that order.; 1/22/12, 4:48 PM
Mary Beth said...: Death with dignity.; 1/22/12, 4:49 PM
Phil 314 said...: who formerly served as a campus Unitarian Universalist minister

hmmmm; 1/22/12, 4:50 PM
edutcher said...: These Lefties are so quick to call anybody else baby killers and Hitler, but they're the ones who can't wait to push everybody else over the edge.; 1/22/12, 5:00 PM
David said...: I have been with two people for the hours up to and including their death--my wife and my mother (in that chronological order.) Dying was a struggle for breath, mercifully eased by morphine.

Neither sounded remotely like Donald Duck at any time of their dying.

My wife could do a spot on Bugs Bunny. Knowing her, she would have been delighted to give it one last shot, if only she had been able.; 1/22/12, 5:03 PM
traditionalguy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/22/12, 5:04 PM
Robert Cook said...: "Neither sounded remotely like Donald Duck at any time of their dying."

This man's--clients? patients?--sounded like Donald Duck because they were breathing in helium, not because they were dying or struggling for breath.; 1/22/12, 5:07 PM
ricpic said...: We come in a burden
And go out a joke
And in between bend
To else pathetic folk.; 1/22/12, 5:16 PM
madAsHell said...: All those helium balloons that I inhaled, and my mother was worried about the reefers!?!?; 1/22/12, 5:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Neocons are holding the keys to the medicine cabinet and holding terminal patients in unimaginable pain in the name of a senseless drug war. Contemplate for a moment the prospect of relentless severe pain that leaves you screaming until you die. Are you sweating yet? Your imagination is inadequate. Try again. Now consider that relief is in the hands of a doctor who is afraid of the police state. Angry yet? If you're not angry on behalf of people in this exact situation then you're dead inside and suicide holds no surprises for you. Finally, consider that final relief is not totally a matter out of your control but that you know where the exit is and can take it any time. Do you suppose you might be comforted by this last measure of self determination? In fact, people who have the option easily available choose suicide less often. May you never face such a choice, or even see anyone else facing it as I and countless others have seen it.; 1/22/12, 5:21 PM
tiger said...: Iuconnu?

You actually think this? That 'neocons' want to keep people in pain while they die?

What a close-minded, knee-jerk response.

If you're really this stupid someone needs to put you under observation before you hurt yourself and others.

FWIW: the Obama Justice Department is prosecuting doctors they accuse of 'over prescribing' pain meds to terminally ill people; there is a major case going on in Kansas.; 1/22/12, 5:30 PM
Charlie Eklund said...: Murdering the ill and infirm in the guise of compassion?

If only the Führer knew...; 1/22/12, 5:31 PM
ricpic said...: Neocons are holding the keys...

Those darn zionist neocons are responsible for all the pain and suffering in this world! What could the solution be? What could it be?....; 1/22/12, 5:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Not just neocons. The only thing neocons and their nominal opponents can agree on in this area is that spending trillions on prohibition in the last 40 years has been good for the country.

In my view there's little difference between the president and a neocon.

I'm not stupid. You are. Nya nya.; 1/22/12, 5:35 PM
Alex said...: Was there a "Death rattle" for those human beings who got incinerated on 9/11? There are a million different ways to die.; 1/22/12, 5:42 PM
Alex said...: Charlie - how is it murder if the dying person requested the "Death bag"? This is death with dignity man! We should all be so damn lucky.; 1/22/12, 5:43 PM
Chef Mojo said...: After watching my father die of pancreatic cancer, I'll not judge this man.; 1/22/12, 5:43 PM
ark said...: @Tiger: Prosecuting doctors over "overprescribing" narcotics is bipartisan insanity that has been going on for quite some time.; 1/22/12, 5:44 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Neocons: Is there anything they can't do?; 1/22/12, 5:47 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Why are people still talking right up to the end of the end of the end? Honestly, at that point could anything be worth saying?

In Donald Duck-speak the final words worth uttering, but not understood but not understood by anyone listening, are:

"I changed my mind."

"I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay _____"

"I thought this was a nitrous party."

"This is odd, before I always got a bib with the lobster."

"I forgot the puppies are in the trunk."; 1/22/12, 5:53 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: According to the article, he is also willing to "help" the chronically depressed.

Monstrous.; 1/22/12, 6:00 PM
ricpic said...: That's the way you'll go out Chip. But there are serious folk in this world....just give me a sec...I'm thinking I'm thinking...no...no one.; 1/22/12, 6:00 PM
ricpic said...: There are a million ways to die in the nekkid city,
A million ways to bite the dust;
So come and feast and drink for more's the pity,
You're either bust a gut or but a gust.; 1/22/12, 6:10 PM
Palladian said...: I'm with Freeman Hunt: this man is a murderer.

Depression is a treatable illness.; 1/22/12, 6:15 PM
edutcher said...: Charlie Eklund said...

Murdering the ill and infirm in the guise of compassion?

If only the Führer knew...

Who do you think that is, laughing in the background?

And, if you listen closely, you'll hear his buds, Heinrich and Reinhard, too.; 1/22/12, 6:43 PM
dandean said...: So why isn't this method used in prisons to execute prisoners? There's always some sort of hoopla about cruel and unusual methods that cause painful, protracted deaths. Well, what about helium hoods?; 1/22/12, 6:54 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/22/12, 7:11 PM
Greg Hlatky said...: I'm not stupid. You are. Nya nya.

Jeremy?; 1/22/12, 7:47 PM
Dante said...: From Wit;
"And Death, Capital D, shall be no more, semi-colon. Death, Capital D comma, thou shalt die, exclamation mark!"

Death, though shalt die!

The comma is meant to be the last breath, and as one dies, so to does death die.

That having been said, it seems to me buying some heroin might be a bit better. Too bad the doctors have made it illegal to run around with a lethal dose of Heroin. Instead, if I have a massive coronary, I will have to die in insufferable pain due to their greed.; 1/23/12, 2:52 AM
Rusty said...: Why are people still talking right up to the end of the end of the end? Honestly, at that point could anything be worth saying?

Take this fucking hood off?; 1/23/12, 8:37 AM
Amartel said...: Must these people be so fucking creepy? Kevordian and Replacement Kevordian, that is. I don't trust this guy to kill anyone with compassion much less dignity.; 1/23/12, 6:25 PM