Should Jett Travolta's death spur debate on parents who use alt. medicine to treat a child's major illness? ?First, my heart goes out to the family for their loss.
Second: Don't get me wrong, I use alt. meds on my kids but I draw the line for major illness.
Now, I've read statements by Travolta's family 2 attornies that were puzzling. Please don't take my comments as grim or critical, I love John Travolta's work. However, a child doesn't have a choice in these matters. And as a parent, I am wondering out loud as I tend to do about the choices ultra-rich parents make.
I wondered, that the lawyer said Jett's parents tried anti-seizure medication but stopped because it didn't work. (I imagine like most meds, it takes trial and error to find the right combo not just giving up-- especially when you can afford the cost to develop entirely new / custom-made drugs).
The lawyers/spokesmen also commented that the family's non-traditional med approach Jett's seizures, was to make sure Jett was never alone. He had 2full-time nannies, a baby monitor in the bedroom, and a bell on the bathroom door. This was because his disease impaired his communication abilitite as well. I know the death was a fluke and there are no guarantees in life. However, after reading that the main nanny Jeff Kathrein is a photographer with no real homecare qualifications-I wondered about that choice too. (The police already are looking at Jeff Kathrein closely for neglect). No information was released about the other nanny, Eli. (Also wondering why they seem to be issuing statements to defend their medical choices one day after Jett's death,) But since they made the statements, I have started wondering...
And, I'm wondering why with all that money (JT owns a heli, a 727 and other jets) he didn't just pay for two full-time nurses for his disabled child. Or better still, doctors? I am sure Travlota loves and puts his children's health before all else. However, I do think this death, with Scientology's reputed disdain of traditional medicine will make folks wonder if it should be a right of a parent to take this course of non-teratment.
I think it's hard for most parent's of sick children to understand why someone with access to the best medical care money can buy, doesn't buy it for their child.
http://news.bostonherald.com/track/celebrity/view/2009_01_04_John_Travolta_s_lawyers_deny_son_s_body_left_for_hours/srvc=home&position=also
Answer by larry h
we all make choices and second guess ourselves later so lets leave it at that ,,
Answer by Amy W
I am a 39 yr. old woman with epilepsy. I have been on seizure meds since birth. I take 8 pills a day for my seizures. Other than that my life is as close to normal as it can be. I work, I drive, I have 2 grown children and a grandchild. But i still have some seizures. No medication can get rid of them completely. However you have to take more precautions. Stress and exhaustion will bring them on. Sometimes they come without any warning. Do not bathe if I am home alone. Do not swim by yourself. I cannot imagine even trying to live life without seizure meds. I would be having seizures constantly. you never know where you are going to be when it happens. No. I do not understand why a parent would make it harder for someone to live with a sezure disorder.
Answer by Incognito
Tragic regardless of the circumstances but how much supervision could he have had when he was last seen entering the bathroom on Thursday and found unconscience on Friday at 10:00 a.m? He supposedly had two caregivers with him at all times...
It is said he had a history of seizures and should have been on medication but was he?
Answer by here_nor_there
Medicine is as much a dose of poison as it is a curative. My child's seizure medicine has very serious side effects. I remember when my child was 15 months old and I had to administer this seizure medicine knowing it could destroy her liver, cause pancreatitis, cause hair to fall out and other serious problems. It also blocks calcium and some people have osteoporosis by the time they are 20. It is a devil's choice, not as easy as you make it sound. It's tough pouring this medicine down your toddler's throat knowing all these things. My child sees the best doctor in the state and he only gives us a treatment plan (not a cure) and offers us statistics and choices. There is no guarantee seizure meds will even be fully effective. I follow the recommended treatment plan, but they base it on behavior of previous patients. It's not like you think, not a guarantee at all and not without cost. With my child taking meds, she could still have a breakthrough seizure and die in her sleep. Even our highly educated doctor who specializes in this field is humble and does not pretend to have all the answers. If an expert feels this way, I find it pretty amazing people have such strong opinions when they understand very little of the topic. It's a tough road for parents who deal with such significant issues and the judgement doesn't make it easier to bear. Would you do what you thought was best for your child or do what strangers told you to do with your child? Who has the most vested interest in your child other than you?
Answer by moanalisa
if jett had a seizure disorder why did the parents decide to stop the meds.it has to be a certain amount of medicine in the blood to control seizures.and under no circumstances should the meds be stopped abruptly.the patient must be weaned slowly off the drug.to do otherwise is very dangerous .the patient could suffer withdrawal,i.e. back to back seizures.
Orignal From: Heart Disease: Should Jett Travolta's death spur debate on parents who use alt. medicine to treat a child's major illness? ?
No comments:
Post a Comment