Posted on 03/20/2005 8:45:07 AM PST by ClintonBeGone
Though the legal wrangling in the Terri Schiavo case has been loud and contentious, the brain-damaged woman's physical response to having her feeding tube removed is likely to be very serene.
"The process of starving to death seems very barbaric but in actuality is very peaceful," said Dr. Fred Mirarchi, assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
"The patient's experience is really pretty benign," said Dr. Joanne Lynn, a hospice physician associated with Americans for Better Care of the Dying, a group working for improved end-of-life care. "Overwhelmingly, what will happen is nothing."
Lynn, who has worked with numerous families facing end-of-life situations, said most patients who are removed from life support will die within a matter of a few days or weeks.
"Some people can last four or five days — some people can last 20 days," she said.
Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Friday afternoon following a contentious battle between her husband, who said his wife would not want to live in a vegetative state, and her parents, who wanted her kept on live support.
Schiavo's feeding tube was removed twice before, in 2001 and 2003. The second time, the tube was replaced after six days when Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed a hastily passed law allowing him to intervene in the case. "Terri's Law" was later ruled unconstitutional.
The Body Begins Shutting Down
The physical process of dying after life support is removed follows a pattern familiar to hospice workers. And the fact that Schiavo is in a vegetative state will likely make her death faster and less painful, Lynn said.
"It depends on whether she has the ability to swallow anything — and if that anything is offered," she said. "If she's unable to swallow anything, the course toward dying, so far as anyone can tell, is fairly comfortable."
Most patients who cannot eat or drink will enter a physical state known as ketosis. During ketosis the body begins to use fat and muscle as a fuel source.
In advanced cases of ketosis, the nervous system response is dulled, and patients rarely feel pain, hunger or thirst. There is also some evidence that ketosis can produce a state of well-being or mild euphoria.
Family members and friends are often surprised to find that a terminal patient's eyes will open and they will appear to glance around the room. "It's very confusing on an emotional level," said Lynn.
But Lynn explained that the part of the brain-controlling eye movement is actually very primitive and can remain active even after other parts of the brain appear to have stopped functioning.
Patients are also likely to experience irregular breathing.
"Cyclical breathing is very typical," Lynn said, adding that in some cases the patient will breathe very rapidly, then take just one or two breaths per minute.
Over time, the patient will become more and more dehydrated and will eventually develop kidney failure, Mirarchi explained.
"Patients at this point are uremic — filled with bodily toxins — and are unaware of their surroundings," Mirarchi said. "They develop electrolyte imbalances that eventually cause an abnormal beating of the heart."
In the final moments of life, the abnormalities in the patient's heart rate known as arrhythmia are common.
"The heart will then stop and the patient will die," said Mirarchi.
The efforts of caregivers may in some cases complicate the death of the patient. Giving a patient water, for example, may prolong the process. "Going without water makes it more gentle," Lynn said. "Allowing chemicals [in the blood] to cause arrhythmia is more merciful."
How ironic that the starving goes on during Holy Week.
I wonder what judge Greer is eating tonight?
Such hypocrites.
BTTT for evidence of media lunacy (as if we needed more).
Given your screen name, you strike me as old enough to appreciate that certain professions tend to have certain agendas. The Florida judiciary is notoriously liberal. (yes, the governor appoints, but only from a list of people provided by the state bar). So it appears the agenda you and your friends in the Florida judiciary support has been stopped cold!
"So it appears the agenda you and your friends in the Florida judiciary "
The only agenda I have is keeping the federal govt out of state issues. I could care less if Terri lives or dies frankly but there is a system in place and that system should prevail. I would feel the same way if the decisions were reversed and in her favor. Clear enough? If anyone has an agenda, it is you.
"As if on queue from the same talking points, many MSM outlets are carrying the outlandish lie that death by holding off all food ans water from a normally healthy person (i.e. not dying of cancer) is not painful."
Well that does it - I'm not going to ever again care a rat's behind the next time I hear sob stories about starvation in Africa, post-Tsunami, etc.
I'll just hand this article to anyone soliciting donations and tell them I'm heading to McDonald for two #5 meals - super-sized.
I know - it's a cheapshot but one cheapshot about pain involved in a starvation process begats another.
"The only deceptions here are being perpetrated by you. Terri's husband was just on TV stating others had stated they had heard the same thing."
Anyone that states what Terri's supposedly said when the defendant cannot cross-examine is hearsay evidence. Of course noone testified to such during the malpractice trial where the award's size was based on health care NEEDS. No only after the dough was in hand did we hear this tripe from Schiavo and cohorts. The Schiavo takes the health care money and proceeds to use it to eliminate a defenseless woman.
Again the bottomline: any statement to the effect that she had made her wishes known are HEARSAY! Got it in writing - fine. If not - err on the side of life.
"got it in writing - fine. If not - err on the side of life."
I guess the entire lineup of judges who have reviewed this case over a decade seem not to agree with your courtroom experience.
Some of us value life over an agenda of death.
Because this is a civil case hearsay is allowed. It is my opinion that the rules should change when it comes to a determination that induces death. As you posted, you don't care if she lives or dies. I highly suggest that you move to the dark DNC side and embrace their culture of death - actually, with a statement like that you should be offered a free charter membership.
I would even hope it applied to you.
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