The decision whether to continue life support has always been traditionally left to the next of kin (spouses usurp parental roles)...do you want to relegate that decision to the government because of this one case?
This case will serve as fuel for right to life legislation, for that, I will be eternally grateful to Terri Schiavo.
We should work on getting laws enacted making damned sure that no one can ever again be legally denied food and water.
Well, as one of my neighbors said..."I'm making sure my wishes are in writing. I did my best in raising our five kids, but just in case one of them wants our money and property more than they want my wife and me, I want it in writing that we don't want life support cut off!"
That is false. The decision is the patient's alone. If the decisions could be left to Michale, he could have stopped feeding Terri 10 years ago. He didn't, because he needed court imprimatur for the proposition that Terri's wishes were/would be to commit suicide by starvation.
We should work on getting laws enacted making damned sure that no one can ever again be legally denied food and water.
I completely agree. I do not think food and water should be denied anyone as long as they are living. We can still decide to remove loved ones from life support (respirators), but for G-d's sake, this removal of a feeding tube and slowly dehyrating someone to death is barbaric.
We must change these laws.
feeding is not generally considered "life support"....
"life support" in a hospital is considerd ventilation....