Monday, February 23, 2015

Reel Life Drama

Eddie Redmayne is a hot Oscars 2015 favorite for his role as Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything". In one crucial scene, a doctor asks his onscreen wife Jane (Felicity Jones) for permission to disconnect the life support system. A tracheotomy to bring him round from the anesthetic - a hole in the neck, bypassing the throat - could mean the brilliant scientist would never speak again. Fortunately for Stephen, and the rest of the world, Walter Woltosz's "Equalizer" speech synthesiser would allow him to communicate at a rate of 15 words per minute.

The hot news in town is that Lee Kuan Yew has been warded at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Intensive Care Unit since 5 February, and still dependent on mechanical ventilation in the ICU. A Dr Lee Yeow Hian (no relation), respiratory physicist and and internist in private practice, said that as long as the patient remains on life support, the condition is considered critical, as "things can change very fast".

In his book "One Man's View of the World", Lee had the prescience to write the following:
"Some time back, I had an Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) done which says that if I have to be fed by a tube, and it is unlikely that I would ever be able to recover and walk about, my doctors are to remove the tube and allow me to make a quick exit."

In his case, there's no Jane to consult, and it is unlikely any of the doctors at SGH would have the cojones to pull the plug. Maybe the Law Society will be sticking their noses in here. Of late, they seem to be so fond of playing doctor.

17 comments:

  1. Knowing the PAPigs;
    Do you think any one will stand up and take charge?
    Sigh.
    Does it look like more paralysis and inaction until the inevitable?
    Generals everywhere but not a leader in sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No one wants to pull the plug because their livelihoods depend on this man being alive!

      Delete
  2. Many are asking - why the two weeks' delay before the announcement? LKY is not a private citizen. He is an MP and is still the senior advisor to GIC. He is given an office with a full complement of expensive staff even though he holds no official position under the Constitution .He still has Gurkha guards outside his house and his stay at SGH is paid for from the public purse. Pulling the plug will put a stop to all this. Would anyone dare?

    ReplyDelete
  3. A real giant like Stephen Hawking would never have made it here. How could he be deemed to be fit if a fully functioning bipolar lawyer like Ravi is already bracketed as unfit to practice? Even ex-President Ong Teng Cheong has the knowing to step down from his post in 1999 due to health reasons, but didn't pass till 2002.

    Only a twice-cancer stricken PM and an aged one that is in ICU fed by tubes would still be fit to run the affairs of a 5m nation, plus seats on the board of a hundred trillions of reserves.

    If anyone who still think we have a democracy, ought indeed to have their heads checked by IMH and their conscience scanned by Psychiatrist to see if they are still in order.

    ReplyDelete
  4. All the Glories of the Past
    shall
    end whence the tube is removed.
    However, so long as he breathes, his MP and other Remunerations shall be in force and that's quite of money.
    Will his family want to stop the flow of wealth?

    patriot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'and that's quite 'a lot of money'.

      For correction to my above comment.

      My apology.

      patriot

      Delete
  5. His end is not coming very quick leh according to Patient's will.

    https://www.facebook.com/thecartoonpress/photos/pb.202852383081090.-2207520000.1424657804./761873830512273/?type=3&theater

    ReplyDelete
  6. His son is diagnosed with Prostate in Jan 2015.
    His father is in ICU since Feb 5 2015.
    He probably has gone into hell to negotiate for his son's life and in exchange for his.

    So the entire lapse in making the announcement for PM LHL is almost 1 month. The lapse in making LKY announcement is 2 weeks. Does PMO or PAP have any good reasons why they deem it is fit or ok to withhold such critical information from its citizens?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not allowed to ask questions.

      This is the Year of Sheep, remember?

      Delete
  7. Soon the 50 celebration will change to one that celebrate the country from being threatened from the tyranny of one man.

    So fittingly everyone will be celebrating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GloLee GloLee Hallelujah.
      GloLee GloLee Hallelujah.
      GloLee GloLee Hallelujah.
      When the Blues go marching in.

      Delete
  8. Gardens by the Bay will be mausoleum
    Graced with a tall statue looking at Marina Bay
    Body will be embalmed and kept at constant temp
    There will be a bell tied to a cord and in turn, tied to his
    middle finger... when he decides to rise on the 3rd day.

    That is the word of the man.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Istana is likely to be the Mausoleum for the Only Father Of Sin.
    However, as he is known to be a loving spouse, will his partner in life be laid beside him? After all she was given a State Funeral, though no half mast and public mourning day.

    For the Father Of Sin, half mast for sure. As for public mourning, there are many looking for a public holiday.

    Holiday? Lolx.

    patriot

    ReplyDelete
  10. "Some time back, I had an Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) done which says that if I have to be fed by a tube, and it is unlikely that I would ever be able to recover and walk about, my doctors are to remove the tube and allow me to make a quick exit."

    Will Yew keep his promise?
    Is he a man of his word?
    I don't believe Yew will say one thing and do the opposite.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It all boils down to this uncanny saying, "Lightning never strikes the same spot twice." In the case of this family of politicians, it seemed to have struck both the father and son twice with the son having a second round of cancer (prostate cancer this time round) and the father being down with pneumonia after an alleged sickness in 2012/2013. All these goes to show that for man's alleged power to 'nanny' others around, if you are an irresponsible steward of that power, there are higher powers at work to thwart you from doing as you wish.

    The fact that the mainstream media only revealed this right after it has happened(or after it has transpired for a while) shows the lack of 'transparency' it suffers from. The 151st media or press indeed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reporters Without Borders' latest evaluation ranked Singapore at No. 153, a drop of three places from last year's ranking of 150, out of a total of 180 countries and territories.

      Delete
  12. I think the Law Society should show its colours and stand up to the occasion.

    Failing which would speak volumes about its courage and credibility.

    ReplyDelete