[codercpc]

I think that Grandpa was not mentally capable of making this decision, and the doctor agreed, but my Grandmother heard her husband say that, and emotion took over. For the last three years my Grandmother has suffered great episodes of depression because of Grandpas last few months, but she thought she was doing what he wanted.

I beg people to think about this when they are making out living wills, and remember that every single situation is different. I also know that the Shindlers have admitted that they would do everything to keep Terri alive, and I have to believe (given my personal experience), that even if they heard Terri say "I don't want to live like this" they would continue down this road.

I don't blame the Shindlers, just as I don't blame my Grandmother for trying to preserve their daughters life, I am just saying that many times emotion overrules common sense and that people who are screaming "murder" should think what they are doing to each and every person who has ever been in this position.

I am now going off on a different tangent, but I feel that I have the right to speak my mind. I know that my husband has said many times this past week that I am to "remove the tube", if he ever gets in Terri's position, I also know that my Mother in Law would do every thing that the Shindlers are doing to keep him alive, even to the point of demonizing me and exploiting his life on national TV. I would refuse to divorce him and fight just like Michael Shiavo is doing to keep my promise to him, and I would have thousands on Free Republic questioning my motives (we both have very large life insurance policies).

These end of life decisions are each unique, and until we walk in the others shoes we have no right to speculate.

[thinkingman129]

My wife has demanded the same of me. Fortunately, for me, her mother knows this and agrees that she would desire the same. If her mother did not agree, I would stand for what my wife wanted, even if that meant I were demonized.

I have told my wife that I may not be willing to have dialysis (for a short period, if at all) if my kidneys were to fail (I am diabetic).

We can't figure out every answer for every situation, but we can discuss how we feel and believe regarding the basics. I don't think living wills are the complete answer, because we can and do change our minds. I would want for my guardian to make decisions based upon my best (and my future hope for heaven) rather than enabling me in a sudden fear of the unknown. We will all die at some point, won't we? I would want my family to LET ME GO when my life quality has become unbearable.

Sometimes that "LETTING GO" is as simple as TELLING the person that they are free to leave. They often do, more quickly then, for their bodies are terribly weary.

I agree with you 100%. But we are very (suprising to me, among conservatives and Christians at free republic) much in the minority here....although I think the numbers are very different nationally.