Playing God [Robert Schindler Yanks Plug on Own Mother]

Guardian Unlimited (The Guardian Online) ^ | Tuesday November 4, 2003 | Suzanne Goldenberg

[Gondring]

If his mother couldn't get air herself, doesn't she have the right to have it provided, if we go with the logic that Mrs. Schiavo must be force-fed through a tube if she doesn't get food herself?

[monkeywrench]

Sheesh, the guardian.... Sad.

[WBurgVACon]

If his mother couldn't get air herself

Did you see the part about her kidneys failing??? Life support is entirely different than nutrition.

It was also his 79 year old MOTHER...not his daughter.

[Servant of the 9]

But, given the vehemence with which he has been fighting to prolong Terri's life, it is a little surprising to learn that Robert decided to turn off the life-support system for his mother. She was 79 at the time, and had been ill with pneumonia for a week, when her kidneys gave out. "I can remember like yesterday the doctors said she had a good life. I asked, 'If you put her on a ventilator does she have a chance of surviving, of coming out of this thing?'" Robert says. "I was very angry with God because I didn't want to make those decisions."

How typically hypocritical.

So9

[sittnick]

Okay, one more time: failed kidneys and a respirator call for EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES. A 50 cent feeding tube is not extraordinary. My infant daughter doesn't feed herself either. Terri doesn't need help grabbing the air. A tube is not a machine. Food and water are not "Medical treatment," much less extraordinary.

You are on the side of the UK Guardian, LA Times and Arlen Specter. Those for Terri are on the side of Western Civilization on this issue.

[cripplecreek]

Newborn babies often don't breathe on their own.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

A 50 cent feeding tube is not extraordinary.

It is apparently considered so under Florida law, though...which, unfortunately, is the bottom line on that particular issue.

[Gondring]

How many newborn babies have reached the age of majority and expressed a desire not to be kept alive?

[Marie Antoinette]

This place has officially gone insane.

*sigh*

[marty60]

Well maybe you haven't seen people die once their kidneys fail. I have. The poison that is flushed through the kidneys is left in the body. Ugly. And death is imminent

[RichInOC]

They keep pressing apples and telling us it's orange juice...ugh.

[silverleaf]

No rational poster here would attempt to compare Robert Schindler's decisions concerning the future quality and quantity of life available to his 41 year mentally incapacitated daughter with that of his 79 year old mother in terminal renal failure.

This old slam piece you posted is full of derogatory aspersions regarding the "Christian Right". Which now has been joined by Ralph Nader and Alan Dershowitz, among others, in condemning the perpetrators of suspectly involuntary euthanasia on a non-terminally ill young woman whose only sin is to be dependent on others for her care. Care which the Schindlers were able and willing to provide for the rest of her GOD GIVEN days.

[marty60]

Well it has been infested with the Bush haters and the haters of life. but, this is to be expected.

[Canard]

"You are on the side of the UK Guardian, LA Times and Arlen Specter. Those for Terri are on the side of Western Civilization on this issue."

Ah ha ha. That actually made me laugh out loud.

[sinkspur]

Food and water are not "Medical treatment," much less extraordinary.

"Sustenance and hydration" are classified as medical treatments, according to Florida law.

[skr]

Renal failure, pneumonia and nearly 80 doesn't equate to Terri's situation. And the article doesn't mention whether or not his mother had left any instructions.

[Calvinist_and_Hobbs]

so Mr. Schindler is a hypocrite...as is Tom DeLay. That doesn't make killing Terri any more or less legitimate. Its a simple black and white issue. Either you are on the side of life or you are on the side of death. There is no gray middle ground.

[GeekDejure]

Some people can't differentiate between FreeRepoblic.com and

Guardian Unlimited (The Guardian Online) ^

*sigh*

[Gondring]

You are on the side of the UK Guardian, LA Times and Arlen Specter. Those for Terri are on the side of Western Civilization on this issue.

And you are on the side of the post-6th Century Church, while I'm on the side of the early Christians. I'm on the side of those with respect for people, and you're on the side of people who want "life at all costs".

Who cares.

The bottom line is what we believe and what's right, not associations with others.

Besides, I don't want, for example, to burn witches and heretics just because that's the side of "Western Civilization"...the Western Civ I believe in is one that has eschewed barbarism.

[sittnick]

Food and water are not "Medical treatment," much less extraordinary.

"Sustenance and hydration" are classified as medical treatments, according to Florida law.

They might be in Alice in Wonderland as well. It is no coincidence that half of the crazy court behaviours to hit the news in recent years comes from Florida. Only California's Ninth Circuit competes. That's pretty sad considering how pathetic the state law and the judiciary is nationwide.

I guess food stanmps, then are a form of medical insurance. Next, a kid will be suspended from school for sharing his candy bar (over the counter medicine) with a pal.