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The situation:
Someone is severely injured in an accident. Depressed skull fracture, compound fracture of the left femur (resulting in an above-the-knee amputation during surgery), fractured right arm, fractured right ankle, fractured C7 vertebrae, and a fractured eye socket.
She's on a ventilator (and unconscious) for over a week, as she's too weak to effectively breathe on her own. And a few days after the accident, she suffered a stroke which all but halted any movement on her right side.
It's now day 11 after the accident. She's breathing pretty much on her own, though occasionally needs help from the ventilator, and is on a feeding tube.
She's no longer on any kind of sedation and, while no longer technically unconscious, she's also not technically "awake." She will respond to voice and touch, and even open her eyes, but it's like there's no one there... the eyes never move, and stare off in a fixed position to the left. No response to commands, such as squeeze my hand, follow my finger, etc.
She has both a DNR (do not resuscitate) order and a living will. The DNR doesn't apply, as she never technically died. The living will states that she does not wish to be kept alive from an injury that would result in death, simply for the purpose of postponing that death.
Given the situation, while she is breathing on her own, it's looking more and more like she may never fully regain consciousness. And while her injuries technically did not kill her, there is a strong possibility that the feeding tube will be a permanent requirement to keep her alive; hence, she would likely die without at least some form of life support.
The question:
What would you do?
Someone is severely injured in an accident. Depressed skull fracture, compound fracture of the left femur (resulting in an above-the-knee amputation during surgery), fractured right arm, fractured right ankle, fractured C7 vertebrae, and a fractured eye socket.
She's on a ventilator (and unconscious) for over a week, as she's too weak to effectively breathe on her own. And a few days after the accident, she suffered a stroke which all but halted any movement on her right side.
It's now day 11 after the accident. She's breathing pretty much on her own, though occasionally needs help from the ventilator, and is on a feeding tube.
She's no longer on any kind of sedation and, while no longer technically unconscious, she's also not technically "awake." She will respond to voice and touch, and even open her eyes, but it's like there's no one there... the eyes never move, and stare off in a fixed position to the left. No response to commands, such as squeeze my hand, follow my finger, etc.
She has both a DNR (do not resuscitate) order and a living will. The DNR doesn't apply, as she never technically died. The living will states that she does not wish to be kept alive from an injury that would result in death, simply for the purpose of postponing that death.
Given the situation, while she is breathing on her own, it's looking more and more like she may never fully regain consciousness. And while her injuries technically did not kill her, there is a strong possibility that the feeding tube will be a permanent requirement to keep her alive; hence, she would likely die without at least some form of life support.
The question:
What would you do?
I am addicted to brake fluid...don't worry I can 
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