Kate Garraway's Husband.

[Sqad]

Is it time to turn off the ventilator?
Had he not been the husband of a TV presenter would life support have been terminated?

[wolf63]

I don't have any details nor understanding of his medical situation but humans are kept 'alive' in situations where it would be considered cruel to keep a companion animal going.

[Barsel]

I suppose the doctors would have to be able to prove that he has no chance of surviving if they were to stop his treatment, and because there may not be another case like this, it would be difficult to prove. Only a guess, I'm not a doctor so I don't know how these things are determined.

[Mamyalynne]

A decision to be taken by Kate and family and the doctors - I would not dream of advising them.

[MWG14]

None of our business.

[MargoTester]

Sqad, ask yourself if would you have treated a patient any differently because of who they were married to?

[andy-hughes]

Sqad - // Had he not been the husband of a TV presenter would life support have been terminated? //

As a doctor, I am sure you of all people know that the profession of a spouse is not a criteria for whether or not support to prolong life is provided or withdrawn!

What a very strange question!!!

[Ken4155]

I have a friend who is in an induced coma because of contacting Covid. The doctors were going to switch the machine off yesterday, but have decided to give him a little more time. It does not look good.
Another friend died yesterday morning of covid. Haven't got too many details yet but have heard (from a friend of a friend of the family?) that the doctors didn't put him on a ventilator because it would do more harm than good?

[andy-hughes]

Margo and I have cross-posted, but it's apparent that I am not the only one who wonders why Mr Draper's future should be governed by his wife's profession.

[Barsel]

I think the only reason we are getting regular updates about him is because he is married to a TV personality, but I'm pretty sure they are not keeping him alive because of that.

[Sqad]

/////As a doctor, I am sure you of all people know that the profession of a spouse is not a criteria for whether or not support to prolong life is provided or withdrawn!//////

It,s not the fact of the profession but the effect of being the spouse of a high profile media personality.

I just have the feeling, just a feeling that in certain cases, the "criteria" could be "gently manipulated".

Just a thought.

[bednobs]

he's recovering slowly isn't he?

[bednobs]

or has something happened? (I hardly ever watch ITV)

[Sqad]

bednobs
I don't know the medical details but have assumed from reports that he is on some sort of life support still..dialysis? or mechanical ventilation.

[andy-hughes]

Sqad - // It,s not the fact of the profession but the effect of being the spouse of a high profile media personality. //

Your Question clearly suggests that it is!

// I just have the feeling, just a feeling that in certain cases, the "criteria" could be "gently manipulated". //

And that confirms it!!

What a seriously negative, skewed and cynical attitude you have towards your former colleagues.

[bednobs]

"I don't know the medical details"
yet you are advocating he needs to have the ventilator turned off?

[barry1010]

John Prestwich spent 50 years in an iron lung and Delia McAteer has spent over 30 years on continuous kidney dialysis. Surely they are types of life support?

[andy-hughes]

bednobs - // "I don't know the medical details"
yet you are advocating he needs to have the ventilator turned off? //

What sqad appears to suggesting - well no, stating in fact, is that Ms Garraway's husband is being offered alternative treatment - i.e. keeping him alive - on the basis that his wife is a television presenter, rather than because as doctors, they are obliged to treat every patient to the best of their ability.

I can be cynical, but if I ever get to be as cynical as that, I hope someone tells me so I can make adjustments - and quickly.

[Sqad]

bednobs..no i haven't advocated that the ventilator be turned off :
I just asked "is it time to turn off the ventilator?

A-H that is one ofthe problems of a lifelong attachment to our profession.

[bednobs]

ok, sorry sqad!

[Sqad]

barry..indeed they are but in both cases are fully conscious.