Posted on 03/25/2005 5:40:55 AM PST by Zivasmate
THE SCHIAVO STAKES: WHAT THE FIGHT'S REALLY ABOUT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 25, 2005 -- THE looming death by starva tion of Terri Schiavo has ex posed yet again the key fault line in American culture. Those who have sided with her parents in seeking the reinsertion of her feeding tube have a view of life that is profoundly different from those who have sided with her husband's quest to have her die. Those who want her to live tend to view life as a gift — a treasure beyond value that has been bestowed upon us and that we therefore have no right to squander. The giver of the gift cannot be seen by the human eye, and the essence of the gift cannot be seen either. We usually call that essence the "soul." Our souls define us: They make us who we are in the deepest sense. And they transcend us as well: They are our connection to the divine, to all in the universe that is unseen and unknowable but is still there. Most religious people share this set of beliefs, which is why those who have pushed hardest to save Schiavo are devout Christians. Many of those who want her to die, by contrast, view life as a natural phenomenon — a collision of egg and sperm that gives rise 280 days later to a baby. That baby is the product of human interaction, deriving genetic information equally from mother and father and recombining it into a new human form. It's a wonder, but it's not a miracle. It's explicable within the laws of nature, and so there isn't anything necessarily transcendent about it. In some sense, then, the human body has a mechanical quality to it.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
"And what is all of your response to all of this, if you did not get your way; You threaten to take your marbles and go home, just like the immature kids we all knew growing up. My advice to all with these attitudes: Grow up, there is much more to being a conservative republican than just this one issue."
But it is the most important conservative issue. Everything else is secondary. And that is the sanctity of human life. And you don't have to be Evangelical to believe that. But you must believe that G-d plays the most major role in our lives.
Generally, in a hospital setting, few actual autopsies are performed unless there is a question as to the cause of death. In Terri's case the obvious cause of death will be kidney failure, and the ME will probably not feel compelled to perform an autopsy.
The ME will perfom an autopsy at the request of the family, but as her legal guradian is Mr. Schiavo I doubt that one will be requested.
One might conclude that Michael's desire to insult and hurt Terri's family goes far beyond simply causing her death.
It's been a brutal court battle where they've done their best to paint him as unfit to be Terri's guardian. I imagine that there are some very hard feelings all around.
Chapter 765, Florida Statutes 2004 <-- Link
It's in there. If I wasn't so exhausted over this, I'd point you to the details. Here are links to some posts where I quote and discuss clauses ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1370346/posts?page=96#96
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1369665/posts?page=818#818 <-- See 818, 829, 855
If they are giving her morphine, then they are giving her IM INJECTIONS. That means that this poor victim of judicial ignorance has to bear and endure a needle thrust into her hips, thighs or arms every three to four hours! Because she doesn't have an IV! Because they are dehydrating her to death! What these morons don't GET, is that the morphine won't circulate in a system that HAS NO VOLUME! SO the drug will sit in her sytem, she won't really die any sooner to meet THEIR needs for her to die, but she will have to endure this during the last days of the life that her former husband guaranteed would be full of pain and suffering.
As an ICU RN for 15 years, when I saw an order for IM morphine, I would call the Doctor for an order to start an IV to give IV morphine. It is simply more humane. But Greer has negated this simple common sense humanity.
What I can't get past is the fact that Michael wouldn't let her have a room with a window to see or sense the sun for all those years. It is too cruel. I've never witnessed such psychological cruelty in all my years of nursing. When we had a long term neuro patient like Terry in neuro ICU, many nurses along with the family family gave them a pleasant environment as possible. Balloons, TV, music. We all knew that stimulating (when appropriate) a patient gets them better, gets the brain going. Michael knew this too. Thus the rationale for NO INPUT of any kind. No subtle warmth from the window, no sense of a day or night. SO cruel, it breaks my heart.
If Michael thinks she has only a reptilian brain, then the reptiles in any zoo are given a much better life than Terri. When was the last time Terri was out in the sunshine? Before I die, I will have the answer to that question.
But the brain is more than a CAT scan and she obviously enjoys love in her life from the family and the hard working nurses. Have you read The Holographic Brain?
SO, because of Greer's order for no IV, Terri's last hours will be filled with the PAIN of intermittent SHARP STINGING in her arms and thighs. And because she is dehydrated, they will most probably HIT BONE, very painful.
Welcome to the brave new world of convenience killing.
Just like a certain religion that relishes and sacrifices their people to the Death God.
UP AGAIN.
The good news: It's working. Our church is growing.
When being unwanted is a capital crime G-d help us all.
Amen!!!
10) "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.
3) 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.
This defination of "Life-prolonging procedure" does not grant any judge the ability to order someone cannot recieve food and water by mouth since it is obviously not "artificially" provided. Neither is it an "intervention" any more than feeding a baby is an "intervention." Was there some other part of Florida statutes that would make Greer's order legal or have I missed something?
I'm tired, and don't want to make Greer's and the court's argument for you. The legal connections are fully fleshed out in appelate decisions. If you can find an error of law in one of those, then you win.
I don't like the outocme. I think it is abhorrent. You asked what statute Greer's authority came from, and now you have it.
You are right, and I was wrong to express myself that way. I meant to convey that we all need to work to correct this sad situation, and keep at it until we make a difference.
Terri Schiavo is being killed to cover up Medicaid fraud by Sunshine Hospice. Dept. of HHS is prosecuting them now. The system protected Schiavo from abuse allegations and he provided a body to the hospice to defraud Medicaid. Criss-Cross.
The Mental Patient
My apologies too, I am probably acting overly sensitive. I have to admit that it did happen here in FL, so it's useless to pretend it won't be taken as another reflection on the state. I love FL, but it's true that weird stuff never stops happening here.
The implications of the decisions on Terri are ominous for us all, I think.
He is now on God's Death Row. Sentence to be carried out when he least expects it.
A nurse fired for not following Michael's orders? She deemed them abusive to Terri's care.
Allegations surface. Nurses afraid of his "bullying". Family pictures turned to face the wall. Misuse of insulin by her husband? Needle marks all over her body? Vile in the waste receptacle hidden from view?
No rehab though the court awarded over a million for Terri's care?
How did this alleged chain of improper care and abuse continue to be of no major public interest til now?
Neglect all around.
Neglect in reporting improprieties of her care to superiors and family?
Neglect to inform the proper authorities of alleged past spousal abuse?
Neglect to ferociously fight to strip Michael of his role as sole guardian?
Where was this doctor from the Mayo clinic months, years ago?
Why not until now do we read an ex-girlfriend and stalking victim of Michael's, claim he admitted to ne'er a discussion of a "living will" as "They were only 25..Why would they discuss that then"?
Claims Michael referred to Terri as "bitch"?
Little national attention was given this story til Terri's last days. We now witness a torturous, barbaric death of a woman who was never allowed due process.
The Judicial fighting the Executive Branch -vise versa.
The "Bible thumping" Republicans battle the newly named "Deathocrats".
The family grieves. The country grieves.
Interviews continue between politicians, as if we care what they think?
Do they not only think of the next election?
Other politicians unusually silent.
Mayor Koch's lackadaisical smile perched on his elf-like face made me scowl; as he describes Terri as finally experiencing "dignity" in this manner of death.
Michael Jackson adorned with distinguished service medals as he slowly makes his way to court.
Interviews ongoing with grieving Schrivo family members.
Death Reality TV.
Where will all the flowers go?
I hope with Terri's passing.
Hi, zero -- As we look at motivation on both sides, one side comes off looking better than the other.
The most damning evidence I see is the fact that Terri has not been allowed out of her room, out and about in her wheelchair for at least 5 years. In the early 90's she was. What's with that? That's not the humane, ordinary care any other patient in Terri's condition would have received! I know, I used to care for patients like that, and have also heard that from others. And that's just the tip of that iceberg.
Similarly, if it is so crucial to kill Terri, why would MS not let her family have her body, even if he needs to have it cremated for some reason? I stand by my assessment.
I know you are tired but I really would like to understand why you think the legality of the order to not feed her by mouth has already been challenged and settled as separate from the feeding tube removal appeal. There has been nothing in the media about this and nothing in the threads you provided explained this either.
You did not hear them because the media ignored their affidavits and their witness until now. The physicians reports have also been out for years -- incl. that of a local physician I got to talk with in Oct '03.
Recently I was at a press conference where the Schindlers and others talked about Terri's responsiveness and the details of her care -- for example, no swallowing test since early '90s, and that her wheelchair has been broken for many years, Michael has not had if fixed or replaced, and he has refused new ones offered. Bob Schindler confirmed a funny story that had been posted to the internet, incl. here on FR of visiting a very responsive Terri (she ignored her dad and fixed her attention on atty. David Gibbs).
There were no questions from the media (I did), and no connecting the dots. As a freeper, I kick myself now for not pressing that (hello!) obvious discrepancy in stories -- as in, "What!! I thought she couldn't respond to anything! But you say. . .". I don't want the media to report it as fact, but I DO expect them to take advantage of the opportunity to clarify the issue, the various sides, for themselves.
I recommend the spelling "Floridicide."
flor RID ih side.
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