Last week, Pat Robertson, the sanctimonious, judgmental TV witch doctor, made news in which he condoned the right of a husband or wife to leave a spouse who is afflicted Alzheimer’s disease. His comments instigated an angry backlash, especially among other evangelical Christians. As Rene Lynch reported in the Los Angeles Times:
“The controversy stems from comments Robertson made recently on the “700 Club” program on Christian Broadcast Network. His comments came in response to a caller who said that a friend had begun dating other women while his wife lies seriously ill with Alzheimer’s, and justifies it by saying that “his wife, as he knows her, is gone.” Robertson said he agrees with the man: “What he says basically is correct. I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her.” His co-host pressed Robertson about whether that violates the marriage vows. Robertson responded that Alzheimer’s “is a kind of death” and added, “I certainly wouldn’t put a guilt trip on you” for choosing divorce in such a scenario.”
Just asking, but doesn’t this constitute a foray by Robertson into the death panel game, spiritually-wise? I mean, Pat may think it’s okay for a man to withhold further affection from his Alzheimer’s-afflicted wife, provided she continues to receive custodial care, but if a doctor decides to withhold life-prolonging treatments from the woman, provided she continue to receive custodial care, we’ve got ourselves a death panel!
Looks like dementia could be the new abortion–a medical issue, fraught with emotion and moral content, and in this case, as the Boomers age, capable of bankrupting the country. Somebody better figure out how to make it go away.