I am not going to address the Schiavo situation.
But suppose you have a living will and you direct that should you be in a persistent vegetative state you be allowed to die.
And you find yourself in such a situation, God forbid.
The law allows no choice but starvation and dehydration.
That is it.
I don't know if I could allow someone I care for to end his/her life in such a manner, no matter what the living will said. It would be a terrible ethical and human dilemma.
I have had to put down sick animals and the process is quick and seemingly painless.
I have problems with the legalization of euthanasia, but I also have problems having someone die of thirst.
No answers here, just questions.
Same questions here. In my case, hopefully I will be well enough to take one last throttle-wide-open run across the desert on my dirt bike. It will either be one heck of a successful ride - in which case I will have to take another run at it - or I won't have to worry about it anymore.
I lost my Mother to cancer in '52. She actually died
at home with my injecting morphine into her every three
hours...causing heart failure. A dear friend lost her
bout with cancer four years ago. The doctor again
prescribed hospice home care with morphine draughts
every few hours, causing heart cessation.
In 50 years, terminal patient care hasn't changed
one iota. I view the morphine draughts/drip as the best
way to end a sick-unto-death patient. Rightly or wrongly,
the courts decreed she MUST die. But Why the protracted
method? Why wasn't such a peaceful death prescribed for Ms. Schiavo?
Our vets do as much for our pets.
If it was a peaceful way to go then they'd not need to give her morphine. If I am to believe what Michael Schiavo's lawyers say then she doesn't need morphine.
I have a living will. When I was in the process of drawing it up, my lawyer strongly advised me not to allow the withholding of water. So mine permits withholding of food only. Given all the information I have now, I think I am going to revisit this with my doctors.
Here's another question, from Mark Steyn, found here:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn271.html
No compelling reason to kill Terri Schiavo
"Here's a thought: Where do you go to get a living-will kit saying that in the event of a hideous accident I don't want to be put to death by a Florida judge or the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals? And, if you had such a living will, would any U.S. court recognize it?"
8 - "I have problems with the legalization of euthanasia, but I also have problems having someone die of thirst. "
This is neither - this is cold blooded murder, by her husband and our politicians.