Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
March 24, 2005
Terri Schiavo Not Human?
Ok, I promised to weigh in on this so here I go. First, the more I watch the news and the more I hear about this woman’s situation the more it pains me.
First, in the beginning I think it should have been left to her husband. If it was a matter of life support and she didn't want machines to keep her alive then that should have been the end of it. The husband not the parents should have been able to make that call.
However, a feeding tube is not life support; we all need food and water. Life support is when a machine has to breathe for a person or when their blood has to be circulated by an outside source. The feeding tube would be necessary regardless of her mental state due to a prior tracheotomy.
Then there is the argument that she is in a completely vegetative state and will not recover, I tend to agree with this. She has been like this for 15 years. I'd say the odds are severely stacked against Mrs. Schiavo recovering. However, she is still a living being and she is not on life support. She breaths, her heart beats.
I can't imagine the pain that her parents are going through. I also can't understand how her husband can rationalize starving his wife to death. Even if she truly is in a vegetative state and will never recover how does a person justify starving another human being to death.
Just imagine if to save money all inmates sentenced to die were simply locked in a room without food or water on the day of their execution, left there to die of dehydration and starvation. Can you imagine all of the human rights groups that would crawl out of the woodwork? Hell, I think those protests would likely turn violent. And these people are violent offenders, how do we safeguard murderers, but let an innocent starve?
So what is my overall take on Mrs. Schiavo's situation? First her husband stood in a courtroom and told judge and jury that he is married to his wife for better or worse 'til death do they part. He laid it on thick at a medical malpractice suit and made himself a millionaire. I think he has suffered a tremendous trauma in his life, but now he, his money, and his girlfriends have clearly moved on. That said, he should simply divorce his wife and leave her to the care of the state, or better yet grant her parents custody. I can't understand how he can justify starving the woman to death when there are organizations and other families out there that are willing to assume responsibility for her.
It would be one thing if she were truly on life support and simply pulling the plug would put the end to a life that can truly never be lived, but she is not on life support.
I think stubbornness and greed are the only factors in this case.
Pulling the plug on my own daughter if it ever came to it would truly be the hardest thing I could imagine, but to starve her to death!?!?!?!?!?
SlagleRock Out!
I agree with your 100%. It seems to me what is important is making her comfortable and happy, as she does seem to be able to express joy and satisfaction at least some of the time. If she can, why take away her few momements of joy? Why not try and increase them? Is it just too much work?
This isn't a brain dead woman (though she probably won't make much if any recovery, still). Let her enjoy the life she has left.
I am so upset over all this. your other post on the prisoner starvation-execution was great.
Posted by: Rachel Ann at March 25, 2005 06:31 AMI strongly disagree.This is a clear case of our government once again sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong.The husband should have the final say in this matter.When she chose to leave her parents home to marry him,she chose to put her trust and faith in him.He chose to love her,provide for her and care for her.
Mrs.Schiavo has no quality of life.Her Doctors have stated that she is in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery.The thought of any physical support to keep this woman alive,after fifteen years,is just perverse.
I feel Mr.Schiavo's pain but I admire his strength to let go.
I can understand her parents not wanting to let go of their daughter but this is no longer their daughter.Sadly,it is just a shell.A cruel reminder of what she once was.
If my wife of twenty three years or my daughter,were ever in this condition,I would pray to God to give me the strength to let go.
Rob,I would beg you.If you ever see me in that condition and they tried to keep me alive in that manner,send me home yourself.I would not want to be the mental burden on my family,that it must be.
Mrs.Schiavo now has a matter of days,maybe hours.Let us stop stirring this hornets nest and allow her to slip away with what dignity she has left.
May God bless Mrs.Schiavo and all of her loved ones.
Posted by: PappaSlagle at March 25, 2005 01:34 PMA 1990 Supreme Court decision declared a feeding tube a medical intervention no different than placing a person on a vertilator. If she is unable to eat or drink it is obvious she is being kept alive by active means.
This is truly a sad situation. But we are only aware of it because she was "cable ready" and clearly plays to some folks political agenda--who might they be?!
I think the real agenda is to allow the Republicans to go play the nuclear card which they will justify by saying we have to have the right judges. whihc means we need judical activism of the right sort.
Posted by: edmond at March 30, 2005 04:17 PM