Characteristic in parkinson's disease

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject: Parkinson's Patients: Mercy Killing or Senseless Suicide?

I think some patients choose to suffering Mercy Killing or Senseless Suicide as He/She has no trust and believe on the doctors and prefer what he/she is? My friend who has parkinson's disease though he is wealthy but he does not believe and trust doctor he prefers to stay what he is. As the result he is in the late stage three Parkinson's disease. He pleads mercy killing. He believes he has other diseases rather the parkinson's. I feel sorry for his decision. This is his choice to plead mercy killing/Senselesss suicide rather the treatment.

Therefore Illiteracy by him towards the diseases are the main cause of parkinson's scenario.

Denial. Helplessness. Anger. Withdrawal from social circles. These are all forms of coping with Parkinson's Disease that may manifest themselves on diagnoses. It's not uncommon for patient's to begin avoiding doctor's appointments, or refusing to take their medication. All in the very human hope that the diagnosis is somehow not true. Ultimately it is important to confront the diagnosis as timely treatment and making changes to one's lifestyle can make a huge difference in living with Parkinson's Disease
http://www.gulfmd.com/rresponse/Euthanasia_wdyt.asp

http://www.parkinsons.org/parkinsons-living.html

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Apathy is a characteristic of Parkinson disease. Apathetic behavior is not something the patient can voluntarily control, and it is not laziness or the patient trying to be difficult — it is a symptom of Parkinson disease.”
Apathy : indifference, unconcern, lifelessness, uninterested, dullness, listless, uninquisitiveness, lack of emotions or feeling,etc

Dr. FernandezJoined: 20 Jan 2007Posts: 90
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject:

I am sorry to hear this, as PD, although not curable, can be treated. A lot of our patients live very meaningful lives. Each person has a right to his or her own beliefs, but I just hope that this decision is not a result of ignorance or lack of education/information. He should at least see a Movement Disorders specialist, even just once before he makes his decision. I wish I can do more. My thoughts are with your family. Yours,_________________Hubert H. Fernandez
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Anonymous
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: suicide

My meds were "off". Statue-like in my garage; I watched all of the neighbor ladies drive by in their golf carts. In the nick of time; my sinemet started kicking in. I grabbed my crutches and hobbled to my golf cart. I drove to the starter shack and schleppe up to the starter's window.. The starter didn't say the words. They were in his eyes. I responded with, "In 15 minutes; my meds will kick in and I'll have a hole in one. You just watch!" Big Mouth!! Several people watched as I landed my tee shot 12 inches from the cup. I hollered, "Better living through chemistry and my Gator docs!" My point is this...we can still achieve wonderful accomplishments. Get past your stubborn refusal to learn how to live better, despite PD. Now my bucket list does not include climbing Mount Everest. It never did. But, still, I would love a hole in one. Many wonderful people and achievements have come to me since PD. More will come. Suicide only hurts the people who love you the most. You wouldn't be there to feel their pain. More than one member of my family has gone the suicide route; so I know whereof I speak. GROW UP!! Suicide is for self-centered cowards. Sure; it takes courage to face this disease. But, we are not alone. We have a dedicated team in our corner. You know several of them...Drs. Fernandez, Foote, Hauser, Mandel, Nieves, Okun, Rodriguez and Skidmore. These bright young medical sleuths put in 80+ hours in clinic, teaching and research a week....then volunteer stuff like "ATD" and "hawgwildcure.com". They learn from us; we from them. Every coping strategy we implement is a small win. Every new med that buys another few hours of "on" time is another win. We will win the biggest jackpot of alll when a cure is foound..during our lifetime! We just need to keep living so we're still here when a cure is found. It will be found. Betcha!!!! And, I'm not on mirapex or requip! I know that few Parkies, actually, do commit suicide. Our docs will elaborate on that...please. Ths is no dress rehearsal, Judy
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Dr. FernandezJoined: 20 Jan 2007Posts: 90
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:12 am Post subject:

Thank you, Judy, as always! Your words can sometimes be tought to swallow, but they are real and they hit us right in the core. Yes, I believe in fighting and living life to the fullest. I believe in hope and I believe in contributing to that hope. Like you, and millions of others with PD, giving up is not in my vocabulary! Passive suicide due to ignorance is one thing, and active suicide as part of depression is another. I really believe knowledge is power. And I do hope that there will be less and less people in this world who are "giving up" simply because they do not know any better. They do not know that there are medications and strategies to make their lives better and more manageable. They do not know that PD is not a deadly disease that goes for the jugular in months. It is a slow process that can stick with you for years or even decades and ignoring it just makes your life more miserable. Depression however is common in PD. It occurs in up to 50% of PD patients. And suicidal thoughts can be part of it. In fact we featured this as our article of the month at the Movement Disorders Society Web Site (www.movementdisorders.org). The good news is that this can be treated. Our medications work! So, passive suicide from ignorance can be treated with education and active suicide from depression can be treated with medication and therapy. More power to you all! Take care,_________________Hubert H. Fernandez