Actually, within minutes he issued the EO. It took hours to implement it because that bastard Mikey's lawyer spewed intimidation everywhere.
"without first undertaking rehabilitation therapy to ascertain her ability to swallow and digest nourishment" constitutes "depriving her of life without due process of law,"
About the above, though, I take issue. Not good enough, I say! Doesn't matter if rehab is or is not successful, and they should be saying this. It remains a cruel death and is still killing of the disabled.
Schiavo, who maintains his wife is in a persistent vegetative state and would want to be allowed to die with dignity, has been locked in a 13-year legal battle with Terri's parents and siblings who argue Terri is alert, wants to live and, given appropriate therapy, can be rehabilitated. Terri left no written directive.
No wonder people are so misinformed on this case if this is all the background info we get on MS from this article! You'd think there would be a couple more details that would explain some of the acrimony between him and the parents...
And I don't see how a feeding tube is such a big deal. They can be dealt with at home relatively easily. My Cousin-in-law had two babies fed by tube at home until they were about three. And she had 5 other children the same age. She managed it.
Very true...my dad, who suffered from a Parkinson's-like disease called PSP, made the conscious decision to die this way 2 years ago after his body rejected the feeding tube and the doctors said IV feeding would only prolong his death a few weeks at best. They kept him on pain medication to keep him from suffering, but it 10 days of pure agony for him and the whole family. I still have not recovered from the trauma of watching him die in that manner, we could not give him any food or water, we could only swab his mouth with a special solution. I normally stay away from these threads because I cannot bear to relive it, this just breaks my heart.
"It is unconscionable that the state ordered removal of her feeding tube in the first place – it's nothing less than state-sponsored euthanasia," maintains Orient. "She is not dependent on advanced medical interventions. Nothing is mechanically pumping her blood, or forcing oxygen into her lungs. She is simply being fed through a gastrostomy tube."
Thank goodness, someone with some brains actually speaks up...this is exactly what I told my hubby last night about this situation. A feeding tube is NOT life support, it is merely sustenance.
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The only thing I see here that is a persistent vegetative state is Schiavo's conscience.
"And the ethical question for all of us is whether we will allow the state to obstruct the efforts of people who want to provide medical care to a patient who wants to receive it," said Orient. "If we go down that path, who's to say what treatment the state will prevent you from getting?"
I could not agree more with the AAPS statement. I am someone who could be persuaded that euthanasia might be the kindest and most humane thing to do in some cases, given strict laws and monitoring. But what was happening in the Schiavo case prior to Jeb Bush stepping in was nothing short of state-sponsored murder. The method of withholding food and water is also a gutless, cowardly way to perform euthanasia. We are more humane to murderous thugs who get the death penalty, for heaven's sake!
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) issued this statement from Jane M. Orient, M.D., in response to the emergency action of the Florida legislature to reinstate feeding and hydration of Terri Schindler-Schiavo:
"Terri Schindler-Schiavo has won a temporary stay from execution by a method too cruel to be used for convicted criminals. And yet her husband's attorney is trying to spin it into a 'death with dignity issue' with his comments on Tuesday.
"He says it's cruel to begin rehydration. The opposite is true -- dehydration is a cruel, painful death. It is unconscionable that the state ordered removal of her feeding tube in the first place -- it's nothing less than state-sponsored euthanasia.
"She is not dependent on advanced medical interventions. Nothing is mechanically pumping her blood, or forcing oxygen into her lungs. She is simply being fed through a gastrostomy tube. Would we allow a retarded child to be starved to death?
"Some physicians believe that Terri could be rehabilitated to some extent, at least so that she could swallow oral feedings and eliminate the need for the tube. She should be allowed to try, but so far her husband has blocked every attempt to see whether she can swallow. Doctors have offered pro bono treatment, if money is the barrier for her husband.
"Although severely disabled, some believe that she does have the capacity to communicate a desire to live. The husband has obstructed efforts at rehabilitation or independent assessments of his wife's true state.
"Where are the 'compassionate end-of-life' groups such as the Robert Wood Johnson 'Last Acts' initiative, and why aren't they weighing in on this?
"The ethical question for her nurses and physicians is whether they will cooperate in carrying out a death warrant.
"And the ethical question for all of us is whether we will allow the state to obstruct the efforts of people who want to provide medical care to a patient who wants to receive it.
"If we go down that path, who's to say what treatment the state will prevent you from getting?"
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=125-10222003
Florida Cruelty to Animals Statutes
FLORIDA STATUTES
TITLE XLVI. CRIMES
CHAPTER 828. ANIMALS: CRUELTY; SALES; ANIMAL ENTERPRISE PROTECTION
828.12. Cruelty to animals
(1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(translated from the Greek)
(excerpted for posting purposes)
"I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgement.
"I will keep the sick from harm and INJUSTICE.
"Whatever house I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional INJUSTICE and all mischief.
"In purity and holiness, I will guard my life and my art.
"If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy my life and my art, being honored with fame among men for all time to come.
"If I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot".
Of course, many physicians and surgeons now use the "Modern Hippocrates Oath" which is a mealy-mouthed, washed-down version making a lot of sound and fury, and signifying little.
Leni
You're right, George. The citizens should be alarmed by what's happening. You're grossly and illegally intruding into Terri's liberty to live. This isn't supposed to be like the Societ Bloc where you didn't have the liberty to keep alive your own body.
Ok...since when is food fed by tube , keeping alive artifically??
Let me get this straight!!!!
Child is born paralyzed.Cannot feed herself. Mother has to feed her. She is fed, " artifically" since she is not doing it herself.All those who cannot feed themselves must die eventually?? ......nuts!!! Also they have NOT ATTEMPTED to TRY and feed her or teach her to eat.GRrrrrrrrrrrrr getting mad again here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there anything we can learn from this?
When they came for the Catholics?
When they came for the Baptists?
When they came for the fundamentalists?
When they came for the agnostics?
When they came for the physically disabled?
When they came for the mentally disabled?
Just something for all of us to think about -- is this picture larger than we currently see it?