Feeding tube removed from comatose woman at center of long-running legal battle

Associated Press ^ | 10-15-03

[amom]

Thanks for the update. Wish I were closer.

[spectre]

"Not much time left"...

For those who haven't sent an email yet, it's not too late yet.

But it will be..

sw

[freekitty]

"A recent writing in the New England Journal of Medicine says it is costing us between 1-7 billion yearly to support about 10,000 patients in PVS."

I am not sure I agree with this writing. I don't think it cost that much yearly for prisoners.

[MarMema]

That is exactly what I think will happen with universal "health care."

But they don't need universal health care. They are already successful without it. Next stop, the Boston ICU for children with neurological damage and some quick organ procurement.

[sweetliberty]

That may be, but GOD didn't give him that right, and it isn't man's to give.

[don-o]

Uh, in the replies there is a link that sends you back to the post replied to.

Mine was to yours about how many bazillion $$ spent keeping ceratin ones alive in a so-called state.

What is your point on that?

cordially,

don

[First Amendment]

I've posted about a couple of friends before on FR. One has a disabled child, who was supposed to die about 10 years ago (she is now around 25). The girl can't talk, feed herself, or use the toilet herself (has to have diapers). She can barely walk, and has to be totally cared for like a one year old. Does she relate to her family? YES. Does she experience and show love? YES. Has she gone through emotional and spiritual growth during her painful years on earth? YES.
Her parents could have put her in some institution - in fact, they were encouraged to. But they love her unconditionally, and kept her at home.

Another friend's husband was in a terrible car accident which left him brain damaged and legitimately comatose. The wife was asked permission to pull the life support. After much prayer, she decided God might give him another chance. She was told he wouldn't survive, then that he wouldn't come out of coma, then that he would be a "vegetable", then that he would be bedridden and totally incapable, etc. He now types, gardens, speaks - he is disabled, but his wife gave him a chance at life. He thanks God actually for the accident because the pain and disability gave him opportunities to face the fact that he hadn't been a faithful husband, and that his relationship with God needed repair.

People need love, and life. I can't express what I am thinking tonight - many people think "it" won't happen to them. When a loved aged parent, or disabled child is wheeled away to the killing chamber against one's protests - when the door is kicked in and a family member is taken away, having been judged unworthy to live - when a child doesn't return from school - not having a high enough IQ - maybe then these people will see that the bell tolls for them.

[MarMema]

Agree or not, they know the stats. Supporting people like Terri runs about 1-3% of our annual healthcare expenses. It is a drop in the bucket.

They know it is costing very little to support these people and Wesley Smith says this is all just a step in a direction toward bigger things.

[secretagent]

It seems as if this would be easily verifiable with the use of MRI and CT scans. I would think a rather elaborate conclusion could be drawn based on PET scan results, but I do not know to what extent the husband even allowed such testing to take place or if results of any of these tests have been offered into evidence.

Good point. I think I read somewhere that he severely restricted what doctors could have access and what kind of access.

I don't know what evidence the doctors based their opinions on, or what opinions they had, really, in detail.

Consider this: if we are known to use only 10% of our brains, don't you think that it is possible when there is damage to one part of the brain that there might be some natural, built-in way for another part to compensate to some extent?

Well if the whole cerebral cortex has disappeared, I think that ends meaningful rehab. Most of Terri's cerebral cortex has disappeared, according to one professor. He states that spinal fluid has filled the gap left by her missing cortex. But I don't know if he's seen than on a MRI or PET scan, or if he just infers that.

You bring up a good point. Perhaps people with similar severe damage have functioned at higher levels than Terri's current level. She might get to a higher level of function with rehab, even set the new standard.

But even if she never achieved a higher level of outward performance, we still have the possibility of the "prisoner within", unable to communicate, but still wishing to live.

Since we have volunteers willing to keep her going, at no expense to anyone else, I don't see a problem. Except for Florida's law, which seems to give overwhelming weight to the spouse's authority.

[Calpernia]

Email I just sent to:

Judge Greer, ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us

cc: waters.leslie@myfloridahouse.com, vana.shelley@myfloridahouse.com, troutman.baxter@myfloridahouse.com, stargel.john@myfloridahouse.com, stansel.dwight@myfloridahouse.com, spratt.joseph@myfloridahouse.com, sorensen.ken@myfloridahouse.com, sobel.eleanor@myfloridahouse.com, smith.chris@myfloridahouse.com, slosberg.irving@myfloridahouse.com, simmons.david@myfloridahouse.com, seiler.jack@myfloridahouse.com, sansom.ray@myfloridahouse.com, ryan.tim@myfloridahouse.com, russell.dave@myfloridahouse.com, rubio.marco@myfloridahouse.com, ross.dennis@myfloridahouse.com, roberson.yolly@myfloridahouse.com, robaina.julio@myfloridahouse.com, rivera.david@myfloridahouse.com, richardson.curtis@myfloridahouse.com, zapata.juan@myfloridahouse.com, wishner.roger@myfloridahouse.com, wiles.doug@myfloridahouse.com, rschindlersr@yahoo.com, bobby@terrisfight.org, suzanne@terrisfight.org, phenn@zimp.org, fran@terrisfight.org, dave@terrisfight.org, Oreilly@foxnews.com, news@worldnetdaily.com, levesque@sptimes.com, letters@sptimes.com, dsommer@tampatrib.com, tribletters@tampatrib.com, news@970wfla.com, jeb@jeb.org, ag@oag.state.fl.us, bob_graham@graham.senate.gov, comdosp@aol.com, SHELTONJ@dosp.org, viewer@ewtn.com, accreditamenti@pressva.va, - jeb.bush@myflorida.com, comdosp@aol.com, VI@dosp.org, information@miamiarch.org, miaarch@miaarch.org, tomwenski@catholiccharitiesadm.org, cbrinati@orlandodiocese.org, info@diocesepb.org, wolfc@ptdiocese.org, chancellor@ptdiocese.org, nmadden@dosafl.com, vgaleone@dosafl.com, information@dioceseofvenice.org, blackwaterincorp@sbcglobal.net, ddemers@co.pinellas.fl.us

To the Honorable Judge Greer,

With regard's to the fate of Terri Schiavo, I simply ask that you explain it to me.

The laws that were used against Terri were originally passed so that terminally ill people in great pain and suffering or brain dead people could be allowed to die.

If I decided to starve my pet to death, no matter how justified I might imagine it to be, the authorities would arrest me for cruelty to animals. How is it then that my cat enjoys more protections than Terri Schiavo does? How can you allow her to die of thirst? You would show greater mercy to a convicted murderer and keep him/her safe from "cruel and unusual punishment." How is it that a convicted killer could be afforded greater protections and a more humane end than the victim of an accident?

Terri Schiavo has not been able to make a conscious decision. She never decided to bring an end to her own suffering. A comment made to her brother, after watching a loved one die, does not place her in the context she faces today. If she were able, as Dr. Kevorkian’s patients were, to know her fate, her medical situation, and her chances for recovery, perhaps she would make a different choice. Perhaps she wouldn’t.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian went to prison for 10-25 years for assisting with suicide. The logic of this conviction seemed sensible at the time. But now, with the Schiavo case, this logic is turned upside down. Dr. Kevorkian’s patients sought out his services. They each made a conscious decision, no matter how ill conceived, to end their lives.

I ask you all to explain to me why it is morally and logically necessary to end Mrs. Schiavo’s life, and how this manner of death is your definition of "death with dignity." I don’t get it. I want to know how the laws of this country could be so twisted as to allow Dr. Kevorkian to get jail time, while sentencing Mrs. Schiavo to death for the crime of being inconvenient. Would it not be more dignified to allow her to live out her life in the comfort of her own home, and then die quietly with her family at her side?

Signed,
My Name
My Phone @

copies to:
FL Legislature
Schiavo Family
Media
And anyone else I can think of...

[sweetliberty]

"my overriding thought was - "Why do people think it won't happen again?"

Mine is, "why can't people see that this is exactly what IS happening?"

[dixiegrrl]

Here is another Florida statute that I find they have ignored
765.309 Mercy killing or euthanasia not authorized; suicide distinguished.--
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying.

[MarMema]

Most of Terri's cerebral cortex has disappeared, according to one professor. He states that spinal fluid has filled the gap left by her missing cortex.

Only thing is they said pretty much the same thing about Karen Ann Quinlan and at autopsy found out they were dead wrong. So I don't know if I buy this stuff or not.

[texasbluebell]

Good lord!

So what's being done is completely against some of the laws.

How is this being condoned, even legally?

[secretagent]

Glad to pass along some fragments. Feel free to ping me as you learn more about the conflicting doctor's opinions, especially the evidence they base them on.

[First Amendment]

They don't think it is happening because they are intoxicated/inebriated with the next sense flash or indulgence. When there are so many channels on TV, so much crap on the internet, so many microbrews -- who has time to worry about "serious" stuff? There's a whole sneering kind of fashionable cynicism, people concerned with what is cool, hip, and hard hearted. People who immerse themselves in popular culture, TV, movies, rap crap, and live for shallow pleasure. Their hearts and souls become covered and calloused.

And then there are the professional atheists - the ones who have dedicated their lives to making the earth a hell.

[texasbluebell]

You bet, will do.

[MarMema]

What is your point on that?

It's a drop in the bucket and this is not being done to save money.

This is being done to set precedent, gain acceptance and court rulings, and to dehumanize. All necessary for the next steps in the process.

Read the book. Culture of Death. Wesley is my friend and I believe him.

[Conservative til I die]

I don't think God put an alternative feeding port in us, did he?

What you're saying could be applied to almost any form of medical treatment.

God created cancer. He didn't create the treatments. I had cancer last year. Would the answer have been to just sit back and die, because it's natural??????

[MarMema]

Just FYI, I was with Pram. See my FR page for Terri's predecessors.