Prince Friso in Critical Condition Following Skiing Accident: February 17, 2012

[Hendrik-Jan77]

At this exact moment, 6 months ago, the nightmare began for Prince Friso and the Royal Family. I am praying for them today. I hope this nightmare won't continue much longer...

[susan alicia]

it is a private matter, for all we know he might live for another 25 years like sunny von bulow

[COUNTESS]

What an awful thought.

[scooter]

Indeed. I cant imagine anything worse for either myself, my spouse or our child.

[nascarlucy]

Since nothing has been said about Prince Friso condition, one can assume that his condition is basically the same. If something dramatically changes, then there might be some news about his condition.

[tommy100]

As its been nearly six months since the terrible accident I was looking through some of the news reports of the accident at the time and found this from the British daily telegraph

Dr Andy Eynon, a consultant in neurosciences intensive care and the director of major trauma at Southampton Universities NHS Trust, said it was "routine" to transfer coma patients from an accident abroad back to their country of residence.
But he said it normally took months to determine how well a patient with a severe brain injury might recover.
"You can't say somebody is in a persistent vegetative state until six months after an injury involving lack of oxygen to the brain, or 12 months after a trauma injury to the brain.

Therefore maybe there will be some developments soon given we are now going over the 6 months mark. I imagine everyday still hurts for the royal family

[COUNTESS]

I, believe, the only thing that has been questioned, right or wrong is that he has been kept on a respirator, the entire time and is not in a viable form of life. When a patient is in a coma, but is able to breathe on their own, is quite different.

[NGalitzine]

I suppose the question, after discussion with the doctors, becomes who in the family will raise the subject of cutting off life support first. Does Beatrix go to Mabel and say the time has come or does Mabel go to Beatrix. Either way it has got to be incredibly difficult to be the one to act first.

[Lee27]

I am sure the treating doctors meet with the family on regular intervals. Maybe not daily but more than monthly.

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

I suppose the question, after discussion with the doctors, becomes who in the family will raise the subject of cutting off life support first. Does Beatrix go to Mabel and say the time has come or does Mabel go to Beatrix. Either way it has got to be incredibly difficult to be the one to act first.

I, believe, it is Mabel's decision, no one elses.

[MARG]

Were he in The Netherlands I think it would be a whole different story. No doctor is going to ignore the Queen and Mabel would be of secondary importance. In the UK I believe his wife would be his Next-of-kin but I understand the family are very close and if so, would never do anything to hurt Mabel as she is Friso's wife and he is a husband and father, not a small child (even if he will always be the Queen's child).

[Kataryn]

I don't believe Mabel would ever force anything against HMs wishes.

[Lee-Z]

Mabel and Queen Beatrix have always been fond of eachother and it's likely that they are of great support to eachother through this tragedy and will probably discuss decisions that need to be made... however, I'm not completely sure what Friso's situation is, but for christian people like the dutch royal family, there may not be any choice to be made here, as turning off artificial feeding might be perceived as a form of euthanasia...

[Hendrik-Jan77]

After 6 months people can not be in a coma, but they are in persistent vegetative state.
That could mean the Prince can open his eyes and react to stimuli.
I don't think the Prince is on a respirator, because he would be braindead in this situation. In that case, I am in no doubt that the Royal Family would have turned off the life support after consultation with the doctors.
That is what most families do in simular situations.
Whether their decision would have been made public is another thing. Most probably there would only be an announcement that the Prince had died and the public could only guess to how and what. That is the privacy the Royal Family is entitled to and they would not have to explain anything.
Several members on this forum are talking about turning off life support because mainly Luciën has said in this forum that the Prince is on life support, but this claim is based on nothing.
In a persistent vegetative state there is no question of turning off anything because the Prince can breath on his own and perhaps he can also swallow food.
In this case the family can only decide to have the Prince not treated when he is suffering from pneumonia for example.
That is why it is so awful for the Royal Family; they can't do anything, just sit and wait...

[COUNTESS]

Some how I trust Lucien, but you are right I have no idea if he is still on a respirator. If not, they are between a rock and a hard place. No one here has any real information.

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Some how I trust Lucien, but you are right I have no idea if he is still on a respirator. If not, they are between a rock and a hard place. No one here has any real information.

But we can perhaps assume that if the Prince had been getting better we would have been informed. That would have been such a relief to so many people so it most likely would have been shared.

[COESpiral]

Originally Posted by Lee-Z

Mabel and Queen Beatrix have always been fond of eachother and it's likely that they are of great support to eachother through this tragedy and will probably discuss decisions that need to be made... however, I'm not completely sure what Friso's situation is, but for christian people like the dutch royal family, there may not be any choice to be made here, as turning off artificial feeding might be perceived as a form of euthanasia...

Not necessarily. Religious beliefs might play a part, but my guess is that if the doctors see no change in his condition and are doubtful anything would change, the family would do what is most humane. They don't want to see him suffer and would want him to be at peace. Prolonging the situation just makes it that much worse for his wife, children, and parents.

[susan alicia]

In Holand it would be a team of doctors and hospital protocol would be followed.

I imagine that if the situation in London is hopeless the schedule of his children will be very important, nothing near birthdays, christmas, easter etc.

Originally Posted by MARG

Were he in The Netherlands I think it would be a whole different story.

No doctor is going to ignore the Queen

and Mabel would be of secondary importance. In the UK I believe his wife would be his Next-of-kin but I understand the family are very close and if so, would never do anything to hurt Mabel as she is Friso's wife and he is a husband and father, not a small child (even if he will always be the Queen's child).

[KittyAtlanta]

Originally Posted by COESpiral

Not necessarily. Religious beliefs might play a part, but my guess is that if the doctors see no change in his condition and are doubtful anything would change, the family would do what is most humane. They don't want to see him suffer and would want him to be at peace. Prolonging the situation just makes it that much worse for his wife, children, and parents.

We can't possibly know what the family is feeling, even if we've been in a similar situation.

[COUNTESS]

You are right, Kitty, no one can walk in another's shoes. No matter what anyone's thoughts are, it is their pain and their decision, and whatever they decide it is correct for them.