Comatose Woman's Feeding Tube Removed (Fox news repeats AP's lie)

AP via Fox News ^ | October 15, 2003 | AP

[Dialup Llama]

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. ? Doctors Wednesday removed the feeding tube that has been keeping alive a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of an epic legal battle between her parents, who want her to live, and her husband, who said she would rather die.

[Dialup Llama]

She is not in a coma and not is a vegetative state. (And what kind of medical term is vegetable state? That's real scientific.)

[Support Free Republic]

Thanks for your support!

[Sabatier]

"Terri Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since her heart stopped in 1990 due to a potassium imbalance."

They're repeating this as fact, too, but what about her neck injuries?

I agree, "vegetative state" is a horrible term. But in fact, we treat plants better in this country, giving them water at least.

[joesnuffy]

If they keep her without nutrition are they going to let her have water?
Why?
Thats too cruel but starvation isnt...
Even a condemned murderer...like Timmy McVeigh at least was allowed a humane death...
This is sickening...

[Kirkwood]

It's an old (some might say antiquated) term for the autonomic nervous system. We all have a vegetative state, which is that part of our nervous system that is not under our conscious control.

[SwinneySwitch]

This is insane! Prayers for Terri, family and friends.

[Kirkwood]

A vegetative state has nothing to do with vegetables, but I think you already know that. It is not a horrible term, but is a frequently misunderstood term and is not as commonly used in medicine as in the past.

[Aggie Mama]

Quite frankly, I thought it always referred to the statement, "living life as if a vegetable." Gosh, I feel silly for misunderstanding the term.

[flixxx]

The poor woman has been in this state for 13 years (since the episode in 1990). The 'easy' option would be to just leave her as is with the feeding tube in place. Her husband, however, is trying to honor her previously stated wishes to not live as she is...in a vegetative state. This is the much more difficult decision, to remove care, than to just leave her be in a condition she never wanted to be in. I support the husband's difficult decision by not abdicating his responsibility to his wife by 'turning over' the responsibilty to his wife's parents. No good way to resolve this issue with everyone being pleased, but again, he came back to his wife's (the patient's) wishes.

[prairiebreeze]

Does anybody think there would be a different outcome if the tables were turned and it was the husband who had been "disabled" (probably not the best term but all I can think of for now), who was having his feeding tube removed? Is gender at play at all in this story?

I'm asking as a sincere question. the issue just occured to me and I was wondering what others who have followed this story more closely than I thought about it.

Thanks, Prairie

[Campion]

You have only Schiavo's word on that, not Terri's. He, meanwhile, stands to make over a million dollars by killing Terri, and also to be free to marry his shack-up honey.

Can you say "ulterior motives"? Can you say "patient's best interest not at heart"? I knew you could.

Meanwhile, her bone scan indicated multiple old traumas. Her injuries were consistent with strangulation, and Schiavo has ordered her to be immediately cremated after death. Think maybe he has something to hide?

[Arpege92]

Did you know that Terri's husband sued and won a very large amount of money that is supposed to be used for Terri's rehabilitation. This man stood in court and lied....he never intended to use a penny getting his wife better. Once the money came, this a$$hole changes his mind and now Terri is going to lose her life.

Her family offered to hand over all of the money if he would just hand over guardianship of Terri. He said no, and a person has to wonder why he is so intent on allowing Terri to die. Did he put Terri in this situation? Was it he who harmed Terri and is now afraid of her getting better so she can't tell anyone what he had done.

I smell a rat big time and my heart aches for Terri and her family....excluding her rat husband!

[tbpiper]

Her husband, however, is trying to honor her previously stated wishes to not live as she is...in a vegetative state.

BullSh*t!! Under her husbands 'care' for the last 13 years, she has, at his orders been denied any kind of decent care. From teeth cleaning to any attempt at therapy. These items are what the insurance amd malpractice monies were for.

If he really loved her, he would have spent the money trying to help her. Now that His Fecalness, Judge Greer is allowing the murder to proceed, Mikey can marry his pregnant girl friend ( a man has 'needs' you know).

Terri's 'wishes' are what Mikey says they are. It would not be in his benefit if she were able to tell the story herself. Compared to Mikey, Scott Peterson is a saint.

[ladyinred]

Saw video of her last night on Hannity. This woman is not in a coma! This is socialist medicine at it's worst!