ping!
I am listening to Sen. Martinez on Hannity right now and he says that even Sens. Harkin, and Lieberman are on board to help get Terri's bill passed and he is optomistic about it!!!
I would argue that this is NOT AT ALL about what Terri's wishes are or were-but about Michael's.
"She responds to voices, touch, and the presence of people. She can smile, cry, and establish eye contact. She can make facial expressions. And several of Terris caregivers and outside medical professionals feel that, with proper therapy, she may even be able to learn to eat without a feeding tube."
If this is the case, then someone must be able to communicate with her regarding her will to live.
Or, is it a legal issue, as if a caregiver or a family member is prohibited from asking her if she wants to live because her awareness of the question might affect her psychological state? Or that the caregiver might become personally liable for negative consequences? Or is her opinion not important because if she wants to die the caregivers are not allowed to assist her suicide?
Does she have an advance care directive? Has she been classified as being mentally incompetent to make decisions for her own health care?
I'm wondering how her case could affect similar cases in other states (I'm in CA), or how it might even affect DISsimilar cases...
I'm glad to see Mel Martinez has introduced this bill. Before he was elected there was some discussion here whether he would really be pro-life. This is a great sign that he's out front on this issue.
Child of God...
We pray those judicial sinners...
Do not cause the hour of thy death...
Amen !!!
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I have mixed feelings about this legislation. While it does offer a potential escape from state court control over Terri's situation, it's an intrusion into states' rights, ensures that lawyers stay employed, and potentially will have no practical benefit at all.
BUMP - contacted Dana Rohrbacher
What is seriously wrong with this is that it throws it right back into the Judicial arena. The very arena these situations should be removed from.!!