The Court-Ordered Death of Terri Schiavo

TownHall.com ^ | October 17, 2003 | William Federer

[OneTimeLurker]

Death with dignity generally refers to people who take their own life when they are terminal. That's obviously not the case here. No matter where you stand on "death with dignity," this is a whole other issue and far worse.

[Skooz]

The Nazis began the process which culminated in the Holocaust by devaluing human life and legalizing euthenasia. That is historical fact.

[AbsoluteJustice]

"I propose that in the event that Jeb Bush does not step forward and fulfill his obligation in this matter, that we organize a national grass-roots campaign to boot him from office. "

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. What, because Jeb does not take action on ONE ITEM of your agenda you propose recall? that is so narrow minded it is ridiculous!! So tell me are you willing to recall every govenor that supports abortion, republican or democrat? Not that this has anything at all with regards to abortion but for some they equate it. No man is perfect and if he does not pass the litmus test for some, those who wish to place themselves all on high on a soap box and espouse "PURE CONSERVATIVE" jargon is pure hogwash (not you neccessarily).

[maestro]

Thank you for this very important article!...............bookmarked.

The NSDAP issued it's 25 point 'program' 6 months before the Weimar Constitution......on February 24,1920.

Lawyers!!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Doesn't the term, "one issue voter" apply?

[KantianBurke]

[AbsoluteJustice]

"The Nazis began the process which culminated in the Holocaust by devaluing human life and legalizing euthenasia. That is historical fact."

Fact- U.S. justice system nowhere remotely = Nazi nation
Fact- They had their day in court and a decision was rendered.
Fact- The courts have not ordered an execution.

If you can equate one decision from a court to Nazism that my friend is fanatical and far reaching at best.

[AbsoluteJustice]

"Doesn't the term, "one issue voter" apply? "

That is why noone in the current day votes anymore because they hear people like this harping from afar about single issues and polarizing those that hold opposing views.

eg you support abortion YOU ARE A LIBERAL.
you are anti death penalty YOU ARE A LIBERAL
(neither apply to me)
But it does grow quite tiresome and rather boring.

[PeyersPatches]

Yet another judge turned down Terri's parents. The judges won't go against one-another, better Terri die, I suppose. Sigh

http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/10/17/163140.shtml

[sc2_ct]

So tell me are you willing to recall every govenor that supports abortion, republican or democrat?

Yes. I believe that it is murder, and I will not and have not ever voted for a single candidate who supported abortion.

Not that this has anything at all with regards to abortion but for some they equate it.

And how does this not relate to abortion? Euthanasia is the taking of a viable life for the sake of convenience. There is not difference, except that this way it can be performed on people after they're born. Both are anathema to me, and both are murder, pure and simple.

No man is perfect and if he does not pass the litmus test for some, those who wish to place themselves all on high on a soap box and espouse "PURE CONSERVATIVE" jargon is pure hogwash (not you neccessarily).

I would not advocate a recall other means of removing a person from office for raising taxes, or for many other reasons either. When it comes to allowing Euthanasia to go forward un-contested though, that is where I draw the line. You are entitled to your opinions, as am I. People will make up their own minds and make their own decisions based on the merits of their convictions.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Can they appeal to the circuit court?

[Calpernia]

>>>Fact- The courts have not ordered an execution.

Actually, I can interpret the case and state laws (link below) on this to murder/assisted suicide.

How do you interpret the meaning of the law about a court order and 3 state troopers to prevent Terri's parents from spoon feeding?


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1002652/posts

[spunkets]

"It's not a court-ordered death. The court is simply allowing the doctors to proceed with the wishes of the legally responsible party - her husband... The woman's family disagrees with the medical decision made by her husband - but - the law allows him to make that decision.

It is a court ordered death. The guardianship court assumed guardianship and ordered no treatment and that feeding be stopped. FL law states that the default action to be taken by a guardian, in the abscence of written will of the incapacitated is to protect the life. The court acknowledged that, but said no wizards were presented that could fix her, so she should have all aid removed and allowed to die.

"Maybe people should focus their energy on changing the law in this situation?"

What good is law if the courts acknowledge it, then turn around in the next paragraph, go Orwellian and ignore it?

[PeyersPatches]

I don't know what they can do now. :**( The article did say this:

"Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, said they would turn to the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee."

[AbsoluteJustice]

Although we disagree I still respect your opinion.

[Warren_Piece]

Consider this quote:

“If we present man with a concept of man which is not true, we may well corrupt him. When we present him as an automaton of reflexes, as a mind machine, as a bundle of instincts, as a pawn of drive and reactions, as a mere product of heredity and environment, we feed the nihilism to which modern man is, in any case, prone. I became acquainted with the last stage of corruption in my second concentration camp, Auschwitz. The gas chambers of Auschwitz were the ultimate consequence of the theory that man is nothing but the product of heredity and environment - or, as the Nazis liked to say, "of blood and soil." I am absolutely convinced that the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Maidanek were ultimately prepared not in some ministry or other in Berlin, but rather at the desks and in lecture halls of nihilistic scientists and philosophers.”

- Viktor Frankl

The slippery slope argument is valid. In my lifetime this agrument has gone from "should we pull the plug on the respirator of a brain-dead patient" to "Should we allow a man to starve his disabled wife because he says she would want him to?". IN MY SHORT LIFETIME!!!!

As a society becomes more nihilistic, it permits ever more inhuman acts of evil.

The comparison, by way of philosophy is valid.

[greccogirl]

This is a tragedy. The woman's family disagrees with the medical decision made by her husband - but - the law allows him to make that decision.

And that DOES NOT make it any less wrong or any less horrifying - nor does it take away any similarity to the Nazi's.

[Sabatier]

This bears repeating. Terri is not going to die because they have removed her feeding tube and are "allowing" her to die.

She will die because no one will be allowed to feed her. If you did that to an infant or a paraplegic it would be murder.
This is certainly a court-ordered death. It is not clear that it is what Terri wants. It is clear that it is what her husband wants.

Many of us would prefer to live in a society that in such cases gave the benefit of the doubt to life rather than to death. It is always fearsome when convenience hides behind mercy, human nature being what it is.

[sc2_ct]

eg you support abortion YOU ARE A LIBERAL.
you are anti death penalty YOU ARE A LIBERAL

No. I never once have, nor will I call him a liberal, nor a Nazi, or a Fascist. There is no need. I will vote my convictions and I will try to assist those with similar beliefs. To many people out there, abortion is an evil act. Should people with these beliefs vote for someone that supports what they consider murder, just because they have a good tax policy? That is absolutely rediculous. When someone believes something to be murder, and someone who wants their vote supports it, why would they vote for them based on an agreement in concept that is based on a lesser issue?

[NYer]

I stopped reading when I saw something trying to compare the Florida situation with Hitler and Nazi history.

That's unfortunate, because you missed the connection on how laws were used 70 years ago to eliminate the old, senile, handicapped, etc. History does have a way of repeating itself.