The Forum: If Terri Dies, Who is Safe?

Catholic World News ^ | 3/28/05 | Phil Lawler

[Edgerunner]

Where did you hear that talking point? Felos? One of their paid doctor "witness"?

[devolve]

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[mjtobias]

Protester Jeff Asmussen, of Silver Bay, Minnesota, is all alone as he keeps a vigil outside the Woodside Hospice, where brain damaged Florida woman Terri Scghiavo is being cared for, in Pinellas Park, Florida, early March 27, 2005. A wrenching dispute over the fate of Schiavo neared its end Sunday as she moved closer to death and her parents gave up their long and bitter legal battle to prolong her life. REUTERS/Bob Jordan

In this undated photo released by the Schindler family, Terri Schiavo is shown before she suffered catastrophic brain damage. (AP Photo/Schindler Family Photo)

Protesters take part in an Easter mass outside the Woodside Hospice where Terri Schiavo is a patient on Sunday, March 27, 2005 in Pinellas Park, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Protesters prepare a sign that says, 'God will judge America' outside the Woodside Hospice where Terri Schiavo is a patient on Sunday, March 27, 2005 in Pinellas Park, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Bob Schindler, left, Mary Schindler, center, and Suzanne Vitadamo, right, Terri Schiavo's family, walk to visit Schiavo at the Woodside Hospice on Friday, March 25, 2005 in Pinellas Park, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

[mjtobias]

Terri Schiavo Before dehydration

God Bless you Terri in your hour of death

Let everyone who said your beautiful smile was fake be haunted by it for the rest of their days.

[RightWhale]

our government has shown that it lacks the will to save an innocent citizen from a court-approved killing.

One and the same. The courts are a branch of gov't. The balance between the branches of gov't may be out of whack. It could be a structural problem, or it may be that a handful of individuals have temporarily caused the imbalance.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

look guys this terri schiavo thing sucks,but i think after its all said n done,thats the last "mercy killing" we'll see cause next time around we'll twice as militant,twice as strong,

keep your head up and KEEP FIGHTING WE CANT EVER QUIT

[kpp_kpp]

>
> The Forum: If Terri Dies, Who is Safe?
>

everyone that writes a living will.

[SoothsayerToo]

I am getting very tired of you and your ilk who are comparing Bush and anyone else that opposes you to Pontius Pilate. Your arrogance and holier than thou attitudes sicken me.

[SoothsayerToo]

It is too bad you are anonymous so that the proper legal authorities are unable to come after you and put you away.

[ravingnutter]

It's open season on anyone on life support.

Doctors for Michael Schiavo have said that an MRI and PET are not necessary for Terri because PVS is primarily a “clinical” diagnosis, that is, one arrived at on the basis of examination of the patient, rather than by relying on tests. And the neurologists I have spoken to agree on the clinical nature of the diagnosis, while insisting that advanced tests nonetheless are a necessary part of it. But the star medical witness for Michael Schiavo, Dr. Ronald Cranford of the University of Minnesota, has repeatedly dismissed calls for MRI testing, and his opinion has prevailed.

Dr. Cranford was the principal medical witness brought in by Schiavo and Felos to support their position that Terri was PVS. Judge Greer was obviously impressed by Cranford’s résumé: Cranford travels throughout the country testifying in cases involving PVS and brain impairment. He is widely recognized by courts as an expert in these issues, and in some circles is considered “the” expert on PVS. His clinical judgment has carried the day in many cases, so it is relevant to examine the manner in which he arrived at his judgment in Terri’s case. But before that, one needs to know a little about Cranford’s background and perspective: Dr. Ronald Cranford is one of the most outspoken advocates of the “right to die” movement and of physician-assisted suicide in the U.S. today.

In published articles, including a 1997 op-ed in the Minneapolis–St. Paul Star Tribune, he has advocated the starvation of Alzheimer’s patients. He has described PVS patients as indistinguishable from other forms of animal life. He has said that PVS patients and others with brain impairment lack personhood and should have no constitutional rights. Perusing the case literature and articles surrounding the “right to die” and PVS, one will see Dr. Cranford’s name surface again and again. In almost every case, he is the one claiming PVS, and advocating the cessation of nutrition and hydration.

National Review

[billbears]

I feel a lot safer that the family, whether or not we necessarily like Michael, is making the decision versus the national government making the decision and enforcing their current view. Current law, however right or wrong it may be, allows the family to make the decision right now and it was upheld. If we allow this first case to be controlled either way by the national government you are starting down a very slippery slope.

I think that so many that have gotten emotional over this need to step back and think what may happen from a precedent standpoint and who you want making the decision for you at this time.

[dwilli]

Republicans have deserted the issue every since polls
showed up to 80% of citizens think they should keep
their pandering noses out of it Rats deserting a sinking ship.

The religeous right has lost mush of its sway it
held over the Congress Republicans.

Wait till the smoke clears and the bible thumpers will
be treated the same as any other annoyance to political
aspirations of Republicans

[inquest]

Either way, the family would be making the decision. In fact, the decision to keep her fed would be supported by people who are more "family" than the adulterous husband who wants her to die.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

That is patent nonsense.

You cannot speak for everyone concerned about the starvation of Terri Schiavo. You apparently believe you know the motives of millions of concerned people and can neatly organize them into one nasty smear.

A lot of us want an innocent woman to live. We will never apologize for that compassion for the helpless.

[RightWhale]

I am a registered Republican. It still looks like the best affiliation in these times. Maybe something better will come along in the course of time, and it could happen quickly or not at all.

[dwilli]

I am a conservative first, registered and usually vote
Republican. It's not in me to accept everything the Rep.
party does as my marching orders.

[UCANSEE2]

Your welcome. And I didn't mean leave the discussion.

[RightWhale]

We don't get marching orders. Maybe marching orders are issued, but they don't get out to the general membership. We are on our own, and that is the way it should be.