Replies

Exploiting tragedy

Since 1990, Terri Schiavo has lived in a Florida nursing home in what doctors describe as "a persistent vegetative state." Her name has become famous, thanks to the seven-year legal battle over whether she should be allowed to die.

Her husband long ago persuaded the Florida courts she wouldn't have wanted to exist this way. Her parents, however, appealed. They are devout, right-to-life Catholics who believe that, with the appropriate therapy, she will recover.

So they and political activists, many allied with anti-abortion causes, got Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida legislators to intervene. Lawmakers and Mr. Bush concocted a special law to override the legal decision that Ms. Schiavo's husband had made -- a law that was clearly unconstitutional, since it applied only to Ms. Schiavo.

Sure enough, the Florida Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, and this week the U.S. Supreme Court let that decision stand.

But the case isn't over. Ms. Schiavo's parents are appealing on other grounds. Their hopes for their daughter's recovery may be unrealistic, but they, at least, are motivated by love.

The motivations of the others who have glommed onto this case, however, are questionable. Religious zealots and conservative politicians have milked this family's suffering and disagreement to further their own causes.

"May God have mercy on all of us," one Florida lawmaker said in 2003 after the legislature intervened. Meanwhile, they have portrayed Ms. Schiavo's husband as a villain, first for seeking peace for his wife and later for developing a relationship with another woman.

But wanting peace for a spouse who is in a persistent vegetative state isn't villainous. Neither is wanting to move on in life. The villains in this case are the demagogues who have taken advantage of this family's agony for their own political purposes.

For 15 years, Terri Schiavo and her family have suffered. When those opportunists barged in, they made the situation worse.

The courts have rightly ruled that the politicians must butt out. So should everyone else.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050128/OPINION01/501280398

I took the liberty of editing this for the author. I hope no one minds.

>>Since 1990, Terri Schiavo has lived in a Florida nursing home

She was relocated to a Hospice without required court approval in 2000 and has been confined to a single room ever since.

>>in what doctors describe as "a persistent vegetative state."

In what 3 doctors call a persistent vegetative state and what 12 doctors say is a misdiagnosis.

>>Her name has become famous, thanks to the seven-year legal battle over whether she should be allowed to die.

Her name because famous when her husband entered into a $20 million dollar medical malpractice suit against her insurance provider for rehab benefits and two doctors - one of which has been cleared by the Florida Department of Health of any negligence or malpractice.

>>Her husband long ago persuaded the Florida courts she wouldn't have wanted to exist this way.

By the way of testimony that was inadmissible under Florida's 90 section of statutes that state a beneficiary may not give testimony as to an incapacitated or deceased person's oral declarations.

>>Her parents, however, appealed. They are devout, right-to-life Catholics who believe that, with the appropriate therapy, she will recover.

They have also been advised by doctors and neurologists that she can improve. It is not a belief - it is doctor recommendation.

>>So they and political activists, many allied with anti-abortion causes, got Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida legislators to intervene.

Disability advocacy groups upwards of 15 filed amicus curiae on behalf of Terri Schiavo, people from all walks of life supported her retained rights under Florida law.

>>Lawmakers and Mr. Bush concocted a special law to override the legal decision that Ms. Schiavo's husband had made -- a law that was clearly unconstitutional, since it applied only to Ms. Schiavo.

Mr. Bush concocted nothing. He has no law-making abilities. Terri's Bill was originally written by attorneys who specialize in statutory and constitutional law. It was then sponsered by members of the Senate.

>>But the case isn't over. Ms. Schiavo's parents are appealing on other grounds. Their hopes for their daughter's recovery may be unrealistic, but they, at least, are motivated by love.

And the law. It's illegal to starve and dehydrate a human being to death in the state of Florida. Only if an irreversible condition of permanent unconsciousness and a written directive or clear and convincing evidence of a declared directive can such an action take place. None of the above exist here.

>>Religious zealots and conservative politicians have milked this family's suffering and disagreement to further their own causes.

What causes? Protecting the life of a disabled person? Why no mention of the disability advocates who did the same things? Why no mention of the people from non-religious and non-political groups or the medical community who did the same things?

Talk about furthering your own causes.

>>Meanwhile, they have portrayed Ms. Schiavo's husband as a villain, first for seeking peace for his wife and later for developing a relationship with another woman.

HELLO YOU BLITHERING TART!!!!! He received a bankroll in January of 1993 and ordered that doctors not treat a UTI in August of 1993. Do you honestly find that behavior benign????

And, by the by, in Florida, being married to one woman and starting a family with another is grounds for a dissolution of marriage. I suppose this author reserves that right for able-bodied people only.

It doesn't take a great man to knock boots with someone else whilst he's married. It takes a great man to own up to his commitments or have spine enough to quit when he's hurting others.

>>But wanting peace for a spouse who is in a persistent vegetative state isn't villainous.

www.zimp.org/cycle.html will tell you just how peaceful death by dehydration is.

>>The villains in this case are the demagogues who have taken advantage of this family's agony for their own political purposes.

She must be referring to herself. The Florida lawmakers acted in an appropriate fashion.

>>For 15 years, Terri Schiavo and her family have suffered. When those opportunists barged in, they made the situation worse.

Right. They saved her life. Those rotten, rotten people!!!

>>The courts have rightly ruled that the politicians must butt out. So should everyone else.

Yourself included you uneducated, unenlightened, selfish and unethical attention ho. Talk truth or don't talk.

RE: Opinion-Journal.com---"Exploiting tragedy"

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050128/OPINION01/501280398

How about the following?:

===========================================

Dear Editor,

Your blatant ignorance about the Terri Schindler Schiavo case is INEXCUSABLE!

Contrary to your mistaken belief, Terri is NOT in a "persistent vegetative state." Indeed, Terri is not in ANY "vegetative" state!

Why have you completely FAILED to do your homework about such an important issue? This is NOT just about Terri! Her fate has ramifications for ALL Americans!

Is it not important to our judicial system to ensure that FRAUD is not perpetrated upon the courts in order to bring about the BRUTAL EXECUTION of an INNOCENT, DISABLED person, who may have become disabled as a DIRECT RESULT of a possible BOTCHED ATTEMPTED MURDER? Not even a cat or dog may starved and dehydrated!

Shouldn't suspicious circumstances surrounding a healthy young wife's sudden "collapse" be investigated, especially when top Doctors and EVIDENCE point to STRANGULATION??? Does Walker Railey ring a bell to you?

http://www.handwriting.org/archives/99may_03.html
http://www.wfn.org/1997/03/msg00025.html
http://www.wfn.org/1997/02/msg00027.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329447/posts?page=30#26
http://www.terrisfight.org

INVESTIGATE MICHAEL SCHIAVO, JUDGES GREER AND BAIRD, AND THE CAUSE OF TERRI'S CONDITION--NOW!!!

==================================================

Care to add your voice?

http://www.courier-journal.com/cjconnect/edletter.htm