Ending Life Humanely (Ed Koch on Terri Schiavo)

Newsmax ^ | Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003 | Edward I. Koch

[nickcarraway]

ping

[concerned about politics]

In this case, the desires of Mrs. Schiavo are sufficiently murky to cause me to conclude she should not be put to death.

Agreed. Her parents wish to take her. Let them have her, love her, and care for her.
Her husband can move on with his new mistress.

[uvular]

I was ready to blow over Koch's article, but parts of his comments made sense. I wouldn't do to a dog what Michael has done to Terri. But I disagree with Koch that this has anything to do with doctor assisted suicide. This has everything to do with Terri's parents belatedly realizing that Michael had something to do with Terri's present state. If Michael truly loved her and could not cope with her, her parents are more than willing. If he is innocent of any wrongdoing, he should have given up guardianship to her parents and gone on his merry way with his girlfriend, child, and the child on the way.

[sarasmom]

Look in a mirror and tell yourself the same thing.
Terri Schiavo is a living human woman who is not dying from a terminal disease.
She needs help eating, and has a food tube inserted.
That is the extent of the current medical intervention allowed her, by her husband.
God knows, if some actual, positive, medical intervention was allowed her, she might not need even that to exsist.
Would you approve lethal injections to kill her if she still managed to stay alive,even then?
She certainly shows an incredible will to live.
I once met a small child with a feeding tube, and his mother, at a hotel swimming pool.He seemed perfectly normal,except for the G-tube.I was not rude enough to ask his mother for details, as it was none of my business.
Had she ripped that G-tube out of the child in front of me, well, that would most assuredly have involved me.
At what age/ability level do you think it appropriate to ignore forcibly removing food and hydration from a helpless human being?

This is the second time Judge Greer has sentenced her to death by starvation and dehydration at the request of her husband, and against the wishes of her family.
If the fact that both the executive and legislative branches of the government of the state of Florida felt a need to pass a special law to save Terri Schiavo from death, six days after the judicial branch allowed the medical community to murder her in public, does not make you pause and re-examine your original premise...duh.
Yup, we is just all dumb, backwards hicks here in Florida.Aint none of us smart enough to know what is happening in the real world!

[stands2reason]

Curious. Do you support President Bush's reelection?

[Graymatter]

>>What he should do is divorce her.

Because? Koch doesn't say. Let me try.

In what sense is this a marriage? Among the characteristics of the state of matrimony, companionship, exclusivity, cohabitation, actual or potential parenthood, and mutual interests and goals.
Hmmm...Nope. Michael and Terri don't have any of that.

In what sense does Michael Schiavo WANT to be Terri's husband? Does he want to live with her, be a companion to her, be faithful to her, have a family with her? NO. He just wants to be her husband in order to end her life (and possibly to benefit financially thereby).

That's why he should divorce her, and why he won't.

[stands2reason]

Wow. First liberal who sees the actual facts in this case. I agree wholeheartedly with his assessment.

[kayak]

Mrs. Schiavo’s parents should be given full custody and control over their daughter and her medical care.

Some of his facts are in error but at least he's reached the right conclusion.

[supercat]

If Florida law does not allow for divorce under these circumstances, the Legislature should amend the law forthwith.

Florida law does allow for divorces in such cases without the explicit consent of the incapacitated person provided the person has been incapacitated for at least three years (as is the case here).

[RLK]

If I were in a vegetative state, I would not want to continue to live or to be resuscitated.

--------------------

Dear Sir: You are in a vegetative state. What do we do now?

[RLK]

My mistake. He made more sense than I expected he would.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Tell Koch the sweetheart to go blank himself with a shikhaus kielbasa. How about that. And who gives a rat's rear end on what he has to say.

You know one reason why the pro-life movement has so much difficulty reaching majority status?

Its because too many of the overzealous among us insist on screaming and pissing on those who have disagreed with us on some issues, most especially at the times when they finally do take our side(protection of life). I am amazed and disgusted at your reaction to Koch's article, all it does is confirm the false stereotype many in the middle have of the social right, that we are hateful and condemning of anyone who isn't perfect.

Running up and trying to stone the woman at the well when she tells Jesus that he has a point is not the best way to proselytize, nor does such approach work on other issues. Do you want to convince the majority that the sanctity of life is sacred or not?

[Diddle E. Squat]

I should add, I realize that he is still advocating the right to suicide, but at least he is recognizing the potential murder aspect of this case, and the brutality of it.

It is a start, and common ground from which to further persuade. Note how his opinion has already shifted some based on persuasion.

[Future Useless Eater]

we can understand the husband’s concern for his wife and also his current relationship with another woman, the mother of his child. However, in view of these competing interests, he cannot be considered objective in this case on what his wife’s wishes were.

Thank you Mayor Koch.

The "other side of the story" you've never heard on CNN is shown here - Professor Appointed to Probe Schiavo Case

= = = = = = = = = == = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Recent interviews/excerpts:
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"Hannity and Colmes" - Tuesday 10-14-03 --> (Terri's father) Bob Schindler: "MONEY and FOUL PLAY"

"On the Record with Greta" - Friday 10-24-03 --> Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden: "Potassium imbalance UNLIKELY - HEALTHY heart - NECK TRAUMA"

"At Large with Geraldo Rivera" Sunday 10-26-03 --> Florida AG Christopher Darden and Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz: "You have eternity to be dead; You only have a limited amount of time to live"

"Hannity and Colmes" - Monday 10-27-03 --> (father) Bob Schindler and (neurologist) Dr. William Hammesfahr: "She absolutely CAN be rehabilitated -clearly NEVER had heart attack -Emergency room: damaged neck"

"On the Record with Greta" - Monday 10-27-03 --> (attorney) Pat Anderson: "BIG FIGHT -attempted STRANGULATION"

"On the Record with Greta" - Tuesday 10-28-03 --> (attorney) Pat Anderson and (brother) Bobby Schindler: "failing marriage -DIVORCE imminent -Potassium explained":

[kenth]

He just wants to be her husband in order to end her life

You know, it can't be said any plainer than that. This is a man who professes to love her, while bearing children and living with another. That contradiction of clintonian proportions alone should be enough to convince people that he is not sincere in his proclaimed committment to Terri. Since it is not, Graymatter's statement above should be a slap in the face of those who still suck up Michael Schiavo's lies.

He's only going to consider himself in a marriage to Terri just long enough to have her killed. He's planning on divorcing himself from Terri, but only after he's made sure she's dead. How much clearer do his motives need to be? How many ways can it be said?

Good to see even Ed finally realized this wasn't the right-to-die case the media is so desperately trying to make it seem.

[cyn]

early 90's (?prelawsuit $$?)

summer/fall '02

Terri is the same wonderful woman, daughter, sister she was in early '90's.
All that has changed is Michael.
And that Terri has become poster child for "right to die" folks.

[NautiNurse]

Good summary of the points.

The first thing I noted was that Koch indicated his brother's fate was agreed upon by all family members, both blood relatives and spouse. If that were the case with Terri, we would not be having these discussions.

[amdgmary]

coleus,

Ed Koch is in favor of allowing Terri to live with her family. For a change, he's on the right side. He wrote a good article on Terri's right.

amdgmary