Posted on 03/22/2005 2:23:12 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
SCHWARZ DELIVERS FLOOR STATEMENT ON SCHIAVO CASE
"I shall not try to influence the opinion of anyone on this issue. I will simply share with you my opinion, the opinion of a physician of almost 41 years duration."
Following is the text of a speech given by Rep. Joe Schwarz in the House chamber on Sunday, March 20, regarding S. 686, "A Bill to Provide for the Relief of the Parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo."
Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I shall not try to influence the opinion of anyone on this issue. I will simply share with you my opinion, the opinion of a physician of almost 41 years duration.
I am a head and neck surgeon. I have done cancer surgery almost all of those years. I have done much maxillofacial trauma all of those years and dealt with situations like this on numerous occasions.
Terri Schiavo has spontaneous respiratory activities and respontaneous cardiac activity. She is not on life support, as we routinely define it. She is not intubated and she is not on a respirator.
And I give the gentleman from the State of Washington credit for his knowledge of the physiology of the brain stem. He is right, it is very robust, and that certainly is one of the things that is driving her now. But she does have some cognition and some cortical activity.
Removing her gastrostomy tube will ultimately cause her demise, a commissive act that will cause the death of a human being.
How many others in this country are now in long-term care facilities with feeding tubes, but able to breathe on their own, their hearts beating strongly? Should their feeding tubes be removed as well? I think not.
I believe it is wrong to remove a feeding tube from an individual whose cardiopulmonary function is stable and who has some remaining cognitive abilities. It is unfortunate in many ways that this venue is where this issue will be decided, but removal of this feeding tube under these very public circumstances is a slippery slope down which we and the United States should not tread.
This bill deserves our support.
That said, I have to give him strong kudos here however for not only doing the right thing, and giving an eloquent defense of it. This hits close to home for him as a doctor.
Will the bigamist Michael also get to arrange her funeral services? I wonder where his new commonlaw wife and children will sit during the service.
And how about all the people in nursing homes who cannot feed themselves without assistance? Nursing homes could save a ton of money by just not feeding them. Pretty soon, nursing homes will probably charge extra if they actually have to feed your aged loved one, because after all it's keeping that person alive.
Is that what's next?
Nice speech. BUT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO ACTUALLY DO NOW?!!
Is everyone going to go to dinner now and let Terri continue to starve to death? For God's sake, why doesn't someone DO SOMETHING?!!!!!!!!!
I've been trying to keep busy today and not scour the net for news. It didn't help. This thing is making me physically ill. I watched three loved ones on their death beds recently and this brings it all back.
I can't believe that our nation is doing this to an innocent person. We've turned into barbarians.
Re: "Will the bigamist Michael also get to arrange her funeral services? I wonder where his new commonlaw wife and children will sit during the service"
He is having Terri cremated (against Catholic teachings) IMMEDIATELY after her death!
Does that tell you something?
Why is he sooo anxious to have her cremated where no one will be able to do an any autopsy on her to find out what happened to her original collapse?
And why did he have her medical records sealed for so many years?
These are the things the courts - especially Judge Greer -refused to address!
You mean to tell me a pretty speech from a politician ain't enough?
I have to give credit where credit is due, and Schwarz's statement was right on point, and especially poignant coming from a physician who is pro-abortion.
What have the pro-life Dems Kildee and Stupak said about the Terri Schiavo situation? What about Dingell?
A brief history of the Democrats....
What funeral? Michael has already stated that she wanted to be cremated and her ashes taken to PA...Judge Greer ordered that done immediately upon her death.
Re: "I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!"
You mean the Party of DEATH and Destruction! Democrats: Pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, pro-infanticide
Ping
I agree.
We are a barbaric nation.
put him in one with his scum lawyers and these two fool judges and let them knaw each other to death
Whoa. I didn't know that.
If not in this life, it may be in the next.
How true! Got a question. WHY the heck did we go into Iraq? To get rid of Sadamm Hussein???? And to show those people over there how "civilized" people live?? What a joke. We're sure doing a good job, huh? THE WORLD IS WATCHING!!! What a "great, civilized" nation we are! Don't we set a good example?
Great idea for Michael Schiavo. Honestly, where is the clarity? This is so simple. You kill someone because they can't TALK? You protect the most innocent among you? Gee, I don't know ....
Yours is a very good question.
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