First and foremost - Terri is not living on life support. She is merely being fed and given water. She breathes on her own, for example, and is not unconscious. Thus, we do not have her opinion, even orally, as to what to do in this peculiar instance as it is NOT on life support. What is more, is that some of the medical experts cited on this forum do not agree with Persistent Vegetative State diagnosis.
Second, it's very cavalier of you to suggest the court is making the decision for the family in their own interests. Apparently the family does not agree.
Third, you are disqualifying the family's opinion based on consistency, as if Michael Schiavo continuing to call for her to die gains more weight merely because he hasn't shown any nuance or hesistancy in his position. This is sophistry - what's right is right, even if the family has contradicted at times.
All in all, it appears you are willing to tie the law into as many knots as so pleases you, so long as Terri dies. Nothing in the world will make it right, and your arguments are too feeble to shake anyone who remains rational. I am disgusted that you and your kind are going to such lengths to defend this horrific action of starving and dehydrating a woman to death who you cannot say with certainty wants to die. I reiterate - all you can do is reassert that the Florida court thinks she wants to die, but the evidence is too paltry to be certain, and furthermore the Florida courts are suspect because of Judge Greer and the generally dubious behaviour we saw exhibited since the 2000 election.
Even so, it looks like Terri is going to die. You won. You pro-murder folks have your pound of flesh. Enjoy it. But again, nothing, absolutely NOTHING will make it right.
Ivan
Terri is given food and water through tubes. Is disconnecting a feeding tube the same as ending life support? Yes it is, under Florida law, which governs the ability of each person to determine, or to appoint someone to determine, whether each of us should receive what the Legislature terms "life-prolonging medical procedures." The Legislature has explained:
The Legislature recognizes that for some the administration of life-prolonging medical procedures may result in only a precarious and burdensome existence. In order to ensure that the rights and intentions of a person may be respected even after he or she is no longer able to participate actively in decisions concerning himself or herself, and to encourage communication among such patient, his or her family, and his or her physician, the Legislature declares that the laws of this state recognize the right of a competent adult to make an advance directive instructing his or her physician to provide, withhold, or withdraw life-prolonging procedures, or to designate another to make the treatment decision for him or her in the event that such person should become incapacitated and unable to personally direct his or her medical care.
§ 765.102(3), Florida Statutes.
The Legislature has also defined what is a "life-prolonging procedure":
"Life-prolonging procedure" means any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention, including artificially provided sustenance and hydration, which sustains, restores, or supplants a spontaneous vital function. The term does not include the administration of medication or performance of medical procedure, when such medication or procedure is deemed necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain.
§ 765.101(10), Florida Statutes (italics added by me).
And you seem to have forgotten...this is not about what the Schindlers or Michael wanted...it is about what Terri would want. 15 years in a vegatative state being force fed by the state would be purgatory to me. I have no problem believing the husband over the selfishness of the statements that her parents have made.
According to Florida law, the way Terri is being fed and hydrated IS considered life support.