Should she be kept alive or allowed to die? (The Tennessean)

The Tennessean ^ | 10/29/03 | By HOLLY EDWARDS

[pnz1]

Nashville woman's wishes disputed by two who love her

In a Hermitage nursing home, 61-year-old Betty Haynie lies at the center of a complex, painful and controversial division between two men who love her.

One believes she could live if someone would simply feed her more; the other says she's simply too sick and doesn't want ''extraordinary measures'' to keep her alive.

[EllaMinnow]

I definitely do not want to be kept alive in a vegetative or severely debilitated state. And I definitely do not want lots of outsiders who never even knew me having a say in the matter.

Amen to that.

[NeoCaveman]

What is an "anti-death cultist"?

Must be the opposite of a "pro-death cultist"

[Normally a Lurker]

Untrue

Under Florida law, spoken words are enough. A verbal statement cannot be used to contradict an actual document, but can be used if no written statement exists.

Also, I've lived in a few other states, and the same applied in them.

Possibly some/many medical facilities require these to be written, but it's not a 'legal' requirement.

[FITZ]

Is one will only ones will if it is written down?

It certainly should be. Otherwise you can have people claiming 15 years later that they think they remember you saying something once about wanting to die if you had to have food --- or something similar.

[Prodigal Son]

Hmmm. This article isn't about Terri Schiavo. What has she to do with this situation? The legal guardian for this woman says she has a living will. I realize that one of the physicians involved isn't aware of the living will but so far as can be divined, there is no reason to believe the son is lying.

The article is also not about Ron Kuby.

My mind is the most cherished thing I have. If I reach a state where I no longer have my mind, I don't see any point in prolonging my stay here on the planet. I could do without the body- for example, I would be willing to have my mind uploaded onto a computer if that were possible. But once my mind degenerated to the point where I was no longer Me- why bother? I, as a person, am much more than this humble flesh. The flesh may be healthy but without the mind it is of no value to me.

But you can't speak for Terri or others in a similar condition.

Neither can you. If the woman in this article wants to die, this is none of your concern.

[Agnes Heep]

Your hubby is misunderstood and much maligned?
You are a good candidate for a Wesley Clark voter.

I once told a woman that I was going to commit suicide by jumping out a basement window. Her reply: "I don't think you'd get very far that way!" Then I said, "Allright, I'll slash my wrists--with an electric razor!" To which she replied with an utterly exasperated look "Duh! You can't slash your wrists with an electric razor!"

It's called irony.

[Agnes Heep]

A person has a right to die.

No one has a right to die. "Right to die" implies a property right vested in a human being; i.e., "it's my body, therefore I have a right to do with it as I will." If that's the case, you can transfer ownership of yourself to another person, and that person will then have a right to own you as his chattel. I dread the day when that concept is finally codified into law, but I'm fairy sure it won't be too much longer before we see it.

[ravingnutter]

For Texas residents, a Texas Medical Power of Attorney form, a Texas Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates(Living Will) form, an Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Order form and The Declaration for Mental Health Treatment form can be found at the following link.

Texas Partnership for End-of-Life Care

There is also a link at the bottom of the page for forms from other states.

[Normally a Lurker]

OTOH, my desires recently expressed to my spouse should not be ignored because they aren;t written down . . . or if the paper is misplaced (as was the case with one of my relatives a few years ago).

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I do support a person who has a terminal illness, the right to say they can't go on. I do support living wills when done properly and when the person has no chance of recovery , has been in tremendous pain ,or faces a a very long and painful death, when they say they want to die.

It is hard for me to accept, but I think everyone should have the right to justify their own death , with their families and their God, if they have one. I don't feel it is for me to say how people should die and under what circumstances.

I do not for a moment believe that Terri Schindler said what hubby is saying she said about dying. I do not think a young person with the ability to rehab themselves should be killed just because she is disabled. There is not proof of a living will, or Terri's feelings on the matter of her own death. That is why I fight for her. Disabled people do not have a terminal illness, and Terri isn't dying.

This case is Apples and Oranges.