2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Skip Holland gets a cold that quickly develops into pneumonia and becomes life threatening. Sam and Celia both have secret instructions on what to do in the event he becomes permanently incapacitated. What are your thoughts about the plan they have in place? Were you aware of the precarious nature of a quadriplegic’s health issues?

I knew about quadriplegic's health issues, mostly from Christopher Reeve's appearances on various shows after his injury, but I also read a few books with characters who deal with the many issues they face.

I can understand Skip's desire to have a backup plan instead of staying on life support. I have a living will myself.

Yes, I've seen a few documentaries and read books about people suffering from the after effects of paralyzing injuries. So, Skip's illness and desire to have a back up plan were realistic.

I do wonder why he doesn't have a living will stating that no extreme measures are to be taken to save his life. Neither of my parents wanted to be kept alive on life support and the doctors in the ICU were aware of this and acceded to their and the family's wishes.

I wonder why Sam didn't have a living will too. I guess it is build up to another story arc.

I also don't know why Skip doesn't have a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. It would seem that that would be something the family would have wanted him to have. It makes things so much easier and takes the need for Sam and Celia to make that decision off them.

My first thought was that if Sam or Celia carry through with his wishes and someone does an autopsy or questions the actual cause of his death (probably a long shot), then they will be charged with murder. I would think Skip would know this and not put either of them in this position. A living will could take care of this problem.

Robin that is one of the things that don't make sense to me. Skip is putting his daughter and wife in a position to be prosecuted. Wouldn't Stahl love that?

A living will doesn’t provide for situations where the person may be mentally incapacitated but still breathing on his or her own. I believe the plan they had was for exactly this scenario.

Since this is my professional area of expertise, a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, aka Living Will, is exactly what this situation calls for. If a person can no longer make their own decisions for their healthcare, in a coma, mentally incapacitated, then the person they had previously designated can make those decision for them.

But how would you end their life if they’re not on life support? That’s what I’m referencing.

I guess I thought that his medical issues would require a life support to breath and/or eat. You have a point though if he isn't on life support, he just exists.

Indeed, if he is breathing on his own but otherwise in a vegetative state, then a living will is irrelevant.

In these circumstances, I can understand Skip's desire for Sam to take extreme measures. However, it is still a crime, and for Skip to ask his daughter to kill him is cruel.

I have liked Skip since the beginning of the series but some of his actions are questionable.