Perhaps you've heard of the sad tale of Terri Schiavo and pigeon-holed the information as a tidy, little right-to-die case. If so, take a gander at this article published in the National Review Online.
The facts presented here are stunning, particularly that Terri had NEVER been given an MRI. Her diagnosis of "Persistive Vegetative State" is therefore HIGHLY suspect. (The article cites board-certified neurologists on this point.)
(Anyone who has seen the video, the way she lights up when her parents came into the room, can see that PVS is bogus on its face.)
Right now the Florida legislature is working on a law that would prevent people who don't have a living will from being abused and neglected like Terri Schiavo has. Hopefully it will go into effect before she starves/dehydrates.
Starves.
Think of that for a moment. If we were withholding food and water from detainees at GTMO, the world would be up in arms. If deathrow inmates were starved to death, "CRUEL" and "UNUSUAL" would be all over the news, 24-7. Yet here is an innocent woman doomed to be starved, starting Friday afternoon. Perhaps she will be given a final meal? I'm not sure what the logic of these court rulings is. Maybe Judge Greer had a tee time or something? Yank the feeding tube--used because Terri is unable to swallow--then hit the links!
Would that Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer could be confined to that hospice room with Terri to watch the suffering they've demanded first-hand.
At any rate, if you truly believe in your heart of hearts that you wouldn't want to be fed via a feeding tube, put it in a Living Will!
Thursday, March 17, 2005
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2 comments:
Thanks for posting this. I don't recall seeing anything about this in the media. That doesn't really shock me, of course, but it's still sobering to read it.
I've got a living will, and yes, it does say to cut off food (not water, however). I'm going to have to talk to Tsar Charming about having him set one up after he's over his cold.
If there is no stay to this court order and it is carried out, I hope that she doesn't experience any pain and that she goes to a better place.
A Living Will certainly will take the guesswork and legal wrangling out of it. My prayer for anyone is that they not have to execute such a document.
I can't say whether starvation is a painful or painfree way to die. Considering I can't go even a single day without eating, I'm guessing it would be a particularly miserable way for me to die.
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