Posted on 03/24/2005 2:19:40 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Like it or not, there are huge big picture issues here regarding medical technology fast outpacing society's ability to pay.
There are all kinds of high tech artificial devices looming in the future that could keep millions going at a cost of millions for each.
That is a totally different argument.
We might even see the 'Schiavo Defense' used by someone accused of animal cruelty for starving a dog .
"Your honor, I was practicing euthanasia and have read that starving is painless and pleasant".
I have no doubt this will happen.
"But, but someone else would have been willing to care for your dog......"
One treatment for hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) is a combination of glucose and insulin. The glucose is given so the blood sugar does not fall too low, the insulin drives the extracellular potassium into the cells. Either hyper or hypo kalemia can cause cardiovascular problems.
"It's our obligation to make our wishes known - in writing."
The outcome of this case is that we are now obligated to make our wishes to LIVE known and documented legally. I can't imagine anything more insane than being required to document that I would wish to live!
From all this, hopefully, not only judges but lawsuits will be evaluated and then changes will soon follow.
What if she had said in another conversation 'If my husband cheats on me, I would want a divorce,' would the court grant her wishes with as much 'rabid' support and declare the marriage to Michael Schiavo dissolved?
I don't think he was a nurse at the time. I believe part of his testimony to get money for Terri's injuries was that he became a nurse in order to help her.
Ah yes. Thank you for making that clear.
CONTACT JEB BUSH HERE:
E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com
Telephone: 850/488-4441
Fax: 850/487-0801
"Has there been a good answer as to why, Terri's husband, a nurse, didn't try to resuscitate her?"
He became a nurse to help her according to news articles, after she went into the hospital.
"attorneys had turned down the couple, who had little money."
The atty's want more money, the insurance companies don't want to pay, most everybody wants health care at lower prices. This country is fast becoming a mess.
Supposedly she did confide in coworkers, about a week before her "accident", that she wanted to divorce Michael. Somehow, that hearsay hasn't been given as much credence as the hearsay Michael introduced --- you know, where she told him she wanted to be starved to death.
Three Warnings Hester Lynch Thrale [Piozzi]
So true. So true.
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