[MHGinTN]

Where is this nation when judicial rubber stamping results in execution of a disabled woman, with Third Constitutional Amendment Congressional oversight of this woman's fourteenth amendment rights ignored by a Federal judge? In grave trouble, that's where ... judicial tyranny is the issue, whether by conservative or liberal judges; active oversight is the solution.

[Mr. Silverback]

Marvin kicks butt yet again.

ProLife Ping!

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[Salvation]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Euthanasia

2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Why bother with the Legislative Branch of Government at all? The representatives of We, the People can enact any laws their hearts desire, but they appear now to be trumped by a lone judge working on his own personal agenda.

[Calpernia]

bump

[John Lenin]

Wow, excellent article, the more you delve into this the more mysterious Judge Greer's actions look.

[MHGinTN]

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[gitmo]

Best write-up I've seen on this, MHGinTN.

Congress should send a squad of Marines after The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida for violating this law. Hold them in jail for contempt of Congress.

[MHGinTN]

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[Bernard]

The following was posted in the Chicago Tribune web-site today as a letter to the editor. I hope this posting does not violate any copyright rules.

In any event, here's the link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0503240108mar24,1,6718034.story?coll=chi-newsopinionvoice-hed

The letter has to do with a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Very interesting reading.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (LETTER)

Pick medical decision-maker to represent you

K. Michael Lipkin, MD

Published March 24, 2005

Highland Park -- This is regarding the legal impact of the Terri Schiavo case ("Schiavo case underscores importance of a living will," News, March 21).

Living will? No.

Power of attorney for health care? Yes!

A living will is a legal document indicating a person's wishes about medical treatments should they be incapacitated, e.g., "If I am terminally ill and incapacitated (unable to competently communicate my wishes), I do not want any attempt to restart my heart when it stops beating."

A power of attorney for health care (known as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, or DPAHC) is a legal document appointing a person (known as your health-care agent or surrogate decision-maker) to make decisions about your medical treatments in case you are incapacitated.

Since both of these directives are considered "advance directives" (i.e., directions made in advance to apply under future circumstances), it is necessary to clarify the important differences between them and to emphasize advantages of a DPAHC.

A living will cannot "speak," whereas a health-care agent (DPAHC) is fully empowered by law to be the spokesperson for you when necessary. Living wills are not flexible; they cannot cover unforeseen problems and are subject to interpretation; they are not always available when needed; and even when available, living wills have sometimes been ignored by caregivers. In contrast, a health-care agent can speak and can engage in conversations with your doctors/caregivers that apply to your specific and unique situation. Your health-care agent has the right to be fully informed about your condition and your medical treatment. He or she has the flexibility to respond to the complex and ever-changing circumstances of life-threatening conditions. In many states--Illinois is one of them--a DPAHC authorizes your surrogate decision-maker to speak for you regarding care even after your death (e.g., organ donation, autopsy, etc.).You can provide your health-care agent with written instructions or guidelines that you want him or her to follow or you can empower her to make all decisions based on her judgment about your best interests and her knowledge of your values and beliefs.

Although having a living well is better than having no written record of your wishes about desired or unwanted medical treatments, it is much more likely that your wishes will be honored if you appoint a person who knows what you want, who knows your values and beliefs, and who could figure out what you would decide in unforeseen circumstances.

I believe that every adult person of sound mind should appoint a health-care agent--now! You cannot know ahead of time when you might be unable to speak for yourself. It could be tomorrow. You can change your mind about the person you want as your decision-maker (be sure to write down any change--dated, signed and witnessed). You can and should indicate a second and even a third person to act as your health-care agent, in case the first person you have chosen becomes unable to speak for you. (It is necessary to designate one person as your agent, so choose someone who will also take into consideration the ideas and opinions of anyone else who you feel should be consulted.)

Every hospital and medical clinic has forms for appointing a surrogate medical decision-maker. To make things simple, you can sit down right now and write a note indicating who you want as your substitute medical decision-maker/health-care agent (date it, sign it, have it witnessed). The person you choose must be willing to act as your agent, and he or she needs to know as much as possible about what you want and what you do not want in the way of medical treatment--especially your considerations about being kept alive in a condition that would have no purpose or meaning for you.

If Terri Schiavo had written down her wishes about such treatment or had simply written down who she wanted as her medical decision-maker (husband, parent or someone completely unrelated), a personal and family tragedy of a most private nature would not have been turned into a public spectacle and a divisive political struggle.

If you are unconscious or too sick to make or communicate decisions about medical treatment, someone else will make those decisions, and you may have no say about the care that could so profoundly impact your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Choose or lose.

[Utah Girl]

My question is why the US Congress ignoring the flouting of their rules by Judge Greer and Whitemore? If their rules are so strong and sacred, they should have made allowances for the flaunting of those rules and arrested the judges.

[MHGinTN]

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[JohnBDay]

What's with all the America-bashing on this board lately? Abortion has been legal for more than 30 years but no one's was saying that America's soul is dead before Terri's tube was removed. And why is no one insisting that Jeb use the National Guard to shut down Florida's abortion clinics?