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At least you're honest in asking what you are missing!!!!!

Why can't people use the real words that mean something, instead of vague (artificial means) phrases that mask the real meaning?
Artificial means= food/water via injections or tubes inserted in throat or a porthole in the skin.
Guranteed if the words "food and water" were used in all news reports or any discussions of this issue, threre would be way smaller numbers of pro euthanasia!!!!
Most people envision "tubes and wires" when they picture terminal days.
Another HUGE point, is that the living wills, or someone conveying their wishes to someone else, mean in a terminal condition.
No doctor has stated that Terri Shiavo is terminal, that is judged to DEFINITELY die within 6 months. (To be eligible for Hospice services).
I cannot understand why nobody is talking about this part of the issue. It is a known fact, yet nobody mentions it in any discussion, especially the media, they jsut keep repeating the "vegetable" mantra.

Where your thinking is clouded on this issue, is that separation between being possibly rehabilitative, like Terri, as documented by many doctors except the husband/court hired ones, or in a REAL terminal, dying condition. The decisions changes immensly between each scenario.
Also, I pray this awakens more people as to the definitions of the terms used in the living wills.
I don't say, (nor do many here) that you SHOULD NOT HAVE A LIVING WILL, just that care should be taken to make sure all parties UNDERSTAND what they are asking for.

Two things I have considered in making my living will in regards to the food/water issue, in my state separate checkboxes on each issue is this:
1. With this type of death, will I have to suffer a lot more than my condition may have already made me suffer, i.e. cancer, etc. Does the withdrawal of water/food really cause as long as 2 weeks of pain, thirst, and additoinal suffering?
2. Will it be a large extra, burden upon my family who must wait nearby for the final event? And watch the symptoms of lack of water.
3. Does the research show the effects while the dying process is happening, what to expect?

In the pioneer days, as the grandparents, or an injured family member lay dying in the family home on the prarie, there were no respirators to have the problem of unplugging, life support, to have to consider, but they always took a rag of water and squeezed it on their dry, cracked lips for comfort, which shows there must be quite a bit of drying and chapping.cracking of dry tissues that happen.Any nurses opinions?

Another HUGE point, is that the living wills, or someone conveying their wishes to someone else, mean in a terminal condition.

I did not know this. This should have decided things in Terri's favor. I simply assumed that I could have a binding, legal document stating that if I - because of _any_ incapacitation - am unable to feed myself, then no one else is to. Of course, this would ruin any chances of rehab for me, but that should be my business. I'm rather disturbed by this news.

1. With this type of death, will I have to suffer a lot more than my condition may have already made me suffer, i.e. cancer, etc. Does the withdrawal of water/food really cause as long as 2 weeks of pain, thirst, and additoinal suffering?

I seriously doubt this - as long as proper amounts of pain medication are used.