[nickcarraway]

Blockbuster article by Diane Alden about Terri Schiavo AND the big picture. Long, but a must read.

[nickcarraway]

Blockbuster article by Diane Alden about Terri Schiavo AND the big picture. Long, but a must read.

[Republic]

I am against anarchy.

But I also suffer bouts of hypocrisy.

Because if Terri is not fed and given drink tomorrow-then I stand with any citizens in Florida willing to take this matter into the people's hands.

This case is so devoid of human compassion and common sense it makes even the hardest of hearts crack.

I hope the people in the Hospice Ctr., willing to do wrong under the guise of a court order, reconsider and do the right thing.

The doctor or nurse or perhaps Mike, Terri's monstrous hsb., removed the tube that gave Terri food and drink is monster. A coward. A death monger.

Food and drink was the ONLY CARE SHE RECEIVED other than perhaps clean bedding and clothes.

Her hsb does not love her. He lives with another and is building a family. Terri must be a terrible inconvenience.

Her father says that Mike even DISALLOWED ANYONE to brush Terri's teeth for a TEN YEAR PERIOD!

What a hateful, disgusting, vile human being mike is..

[dandelion]

A bump for a powerful article. We must stop this madness. It is time to go down and take action.

I have been trying all month to scrape the money together to get to Florida. There is not enough money to get me there. It is maddening as hell to know that there are people in Florida who have not yet shown up and put themselves in the vigil. I nearly went to the hospital this week due to illness, but I am still trying to find a way to get to Florida. If you are in Florida, get to the vigil. Show up now. Do something to stop this. The time has come, and WE - not the Governor, not the Judges, not the attorneys - will be judged.

God give us strength to stand and protest, to make ourselves heard, to put our bodies in the way for you.

[candeee]

I feel confident that if Jeb Bush wanted to save her life, he would - as would his so called Christian brother, the President. Have they no shame allowing this cruelty, especially with the whole world watching? Either of them could instigate an investigation that would at the very least halt this murder temporarily.

[OneTimeLurker]

Some will think this sounds ignorant but why doesn't the president order the Justice Dept. step in? Afterall, if they can go after doctors for prescribing medical marajuana and try to overturn the Oregon assisted suicide law, clearly principals of federalism don't concern them that much. Why not have the Justice Department file a lawsuit in federal court or something?

[windchime]

Bump!

[palmer]

Good article. I see a fairly clear difference between dying and being killed. People in terminal conditions may want to be left alone to die. In some cases their relatives may decline resuscitation measures. Some examples are terminal cancer cases, severe strokes, or fatal injuries. Killing, on the other hand, means taking the life of someone who has even a small chance of recovery or remaining in a state of existence that is at least somewhat meaningful. After watching the videos I think Terri's life clearly has some meaning. Although her chances for recovery may be small, she is not terminal and certainly not dying. She is not being "helped to die", she is being killed.

[Skooz]

The "right to die" will, INEVITABLTY, without question, soon become the OBLIGATION TO DIE.

"C'mon Mr. Phelps. You've become a burden on the system and your bed is costing your family a fortune. Your heirs are itching to get ahold of their inheritence, and your going to die eventually anyway. Why don't you do us all a favor and sign the form. After all, IT'S YOUR RIGHT."

In the Netherlands, the elderly are terrified of going to the hospital and will often avoid medical treatment because they are afraid of the "right" to die. The medical profession, ostensibly a healing profession, is now in the business of snuffing out inconvenient life.

Plus, we know these things never happen in a vacuum: The list of those with a "right" to die will expand to include those who cost the state too much for their care, or who have no means of supporting their healthcare costs.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

BUMP

[MarMema]

Best Terri article on the site. Good job, Nick.

Much love to you. +May God bless her in her agony+

[diamond6]

I'm going to have nightmares tonight.

[christie]

It's Terri today, any one of us tomorrow.

My very elderly mother-in-law had a massive stroke a couple of months ago. She was near comatose and her doctor said that she would be a vegetable. He went on to say that "it did not hurt to starved to death."

Her vein were too fragile to allow intravenous feeding past the first few days and they removed the needle. The nurses looked sullen as to say, you know she is going to die. I looked at the nurses and said, if she can swallow, she can eat. They didn't even want to try. We brought frozen Jell-O and fruit juices from home, and a squirt bottle. Drop by drop we gave her liquids, and indeed, she swallowed. Then a little Jell-O, a little apple juice. The frozen juice would melt on her tongue and didn't risk choking her.

She started to respond and become alert. Within two day I asked them to introduce pureed foods and she ate.

Now months later, she is doing much better.

She cannot talk. She cannot walk. She can move little more than her hands and her eyes. She is often non-responsive. But she is alive. Then one day, she smiled and nodded her head. And the other day, I asked her if she wanted Jell-O or apple sauce. She pointed to the Jell-O.

She probably won't get much better than she is now. They refuse to give her therapy. They consider her non-responsive and won't try. We do what we can.

We go three times a day to feed her. It is a slow process. She cannot hold a spoon much less bring it to her mouth. It can take up to an hour a meal to feed her. Sometimes less. The nursing staff does not have the time to spend a hour feeding one patient. Some would give up in two minutes and take the tray away, others would spill more food on her that they got in her. We taste the food to make sure it's okay, and give her tiny spoonfuls that she can swallow easily. We bring a special spoon from home that is small and easier to get in her mouth.

What I'm trying to say, if you think you can depend on a hospital or nursing home to take care of you, think again.

The frightening thing I discovered one day is that all family members have to do is instruct the staff to withhold food and they will do so. One of the nurses rather indifferently let us know that it was not that uncommon. I was shocked because, of course, I consider this murder. Apparently sanctioned murder today.

Her original doctor who has treated her for years,: instead of celebrating her recovery, called to say he was going away for a couple of day and disappeared, handing her over to a second doctor, who handed her over to a third. A couple of the hospital nurses looked dejected and refused to look us in the eyes--I suppose because they were wrong and she didn't die. They had no respect for her will to live. Those of us who know her, knew she wouldn't give up without a fight.

[ovrtaxt]

Just wrote this to Jeb:


Governor, I voted for you.

Terri Schiavo is an ominous indication of the direction our society has taken, and the cold attitude we have cultivated concerning the inconvenient among us.

The courts have betrayed justice. They have betrayed the people of Florida, and any of us could be next on the list of liabilities. They have endangered the next accident victim, the next stroke patient, the next baby born with a disability.

We are all potential inconveniences now. The judicial branch has shown that there is no protection to be had among their ranks.

Where is the executive and legislative? Are you hesitant to risk overstepping your authority? The judges don't hesitate.

An innocent woman's life is in danger. Can you at least make a speech? Go on Fox? Tell the nation what's happening?

These are the moments when good governors are separated from great men. Which class will you fall into?

Respectfully,
Thomas Bernardo
Tampa