My brother was kept alive with a feeding tube for years after he suffered a brain injury. He could not walk, talk, or hear. His short term memory was shot. He could read though and communicate somewhat by pointing at a letter board. One day he just died suddenly. I was deeply saddened that he died but was also relieved that he had finally passed. It was an up and down emotional experience. While I have told many, many people that I would prefer to die if in a similar state, I realized that without a formal, written and legal document expressing my preference to die, the verbal expression was worthless. Bottom line, in my opinion, unless the husband can produce a document proving that Terri wanted to die he has no right to force the issue. Also keep in mind that Terri is now going to die of dehydration. Death by dehydration is a horrible way to go and she will suffer. Again in my opinion, I think that her husband, the judge who ordered the removal of the tube, and anyone else who supports her death sentence should also be denied food and water while waiting for her heart to stop beating so they understand what it is like to die that way. It wouldn't take long before they would be begging for mercy.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TERRI SCHIAVO CASE?
by Mary 95 Replies latest jw friends
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pennycandy
I completely agree with the right to die with dignity. But starvation is such a horrible way to go. It's hard to think that there's no better way to handle the situation.
Even serial killers have the right to pass away painlessly by lethal injection. Why must the innocent and childlike have to suffer needlessly for one to two weeks "for their own good". The result in both killings is the same, and the intent is the same, to cause death. But one is peaceful, and one is cruel.
I understand the legal implications involved in the concept of deliberately administering a lethal drug to an incapacitated person to cause their death, and I have no solutions to offer. But, gee, in our age of technology, we have to resort to starving an already suffering person?
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rekless
Having lost a child I certainly can feel for the parents and with that said; I have also lost a wife of thirty five years so I can't feel for the dude that decert4ed his wife and now is trying to dispose of her as if she is trash. I would in a New York minute sign a release or a deviorce giving her parents the sole responcibility to care for her... by god, they brought her into the world and they want to take care of her and love her.
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JustMeNonJDub
This is a difficult one to weigh in on. I supported my father's decision to remove my mother from her life support (after a massive brain anurism (sp?)) However, the machines were keeping her heart beating and lungs breathing. In this case, Mrs. Sciavo WILL STARVE TO DEATH. I thought this type of atrocity ceased to exist after the Nazis?! I feel very badly for the parents and to a lesser exstent the husband (based on reports about him). I pray that God would strengthen them all, and that somehow someone with power will see this as what it is, the next step in Nazi-esqe genetic cleansing. Just my two cents.
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jeanniebeanz
I don't understand why this guy does not just divorce the lady and let her parents, who obviously want her, to take care of her.
It's not like she is on life support where machines are keeping her organs running, she just needs food and water.
He should just walk away, he's already got another woman and a bunch of kids. He should just leave her the hell alone.
J
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CoonDawg
To me, this is part of the complexity of the argument. Though removal of the feeding tube is brutal and you know that it will take up to two weeks for this lady to die. At the same time, the woman should be allowed to go in peace. In my mind, this brings up the issue of right to die. If there is no real chance for any kind of quality of life, i don't see why a person cannot make their wishes known and for some medical procedure be done to end the person's life. My wife, sitting right next to me, just informed me that if I ever let her suffer on like this woman has, she'll kill me...she doesn't know how...but she'd find a way.
I do, however, think that this is a total overstepping of the bounds of congress to try and butt their noses into private family affairs. This is what happens when you get christo-fascists zombies from the neo-con death cult in power.
Ern
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HappyDad
I completely agree with the right to die with dignity. But starvation is such a horrible way to go. It's hard to think that there's no better way to handle the situation.
This is a hard thing to deal with......since I watched my own wife die a horrible death from ovarian cancer in 1996.
It was in that era that Dr. Jack Kevorkian was being arrested for assisting suicides and my wife said in her agony that she now understood why these people wanted his help to end it.
Life is precious and a gift from God (my belief), but I am totally for not being kept on life support if there is no chance of recovering.
But, isn't there some huge insurance policy that Terri Schiavo's husband will get also?
HappyDad
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wednesday
This is indeed a tough one and a very good reason why everyone should fill out one of those things , the medical power of attorney.
I agree it appears she has little quality of life. But she is not in a coma. And she is not on any life support. All she has is a feeding tube. It is not legal to starve an animal to death, so why should it be legal to starve a human to death? If this is allowed to happen, it sets a dangerous precedent. I do not want the state deciding if I live or die.
Nursing homes are full of people in much worse condition than Terri, and it would be murder to take their feeding tube out (without a medical power of attorney) .
I have no idea about the husband, I don't buy into conspiracy theories. But legally he has the decision making responsibility. However, I don't see why he can't give it to her parents and walk away. It seems they have offered to take the responsibility. The bond between a parent and child is much stronger than husband an wife.
weds
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wednesday
The Senate is meeting today regarding the Schiavo situation.
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glitter
There are fates worse than death, but I would rather not starve to death. So if I'm ever in her very sad position, I hope someone just gives me an overdose... I don't understand why they can't do that for her.