Posted on 04/01/2005 8:05:46 PM PST by FairOpinion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Polls leading up to the death of Terri Schiavo made it appear Americans had formed a consensus in favor of ending her life. However, a new Zogby poll with fairer questions shows the nation clearly supporting Terri and her parents and wanting to protect the lives of other disabled patients.
The Zogby poll found that, if a person becomes incapacitated and has not expressed their preference for medical treatment, as in Terri's case, 43 percent say "the law presume that the person wants to live, even if the person is receiving food and water through a tube" while just 30 percent disagree.
Another Zogby question his directly on Terri's circumstances.
"If a disabled person is not terminally ill, not in a coma, and not being kept alive on life support, and they have no written directive, should or should they not be denied food and water," the poll asked.
A whopping 79 percent said the patient should not have food and water taken away while just 9 percent said yes.
"From the very start of this debate, Americans have sat on one of two sides," Concerned Women for America's Lanier Swann said in response to the poll. One side "believes Terri's life has worth and purpose, and the side who saw Michael Schiavo's actions as merciful, and appropriate."
More than three-fourths of Americans agreed, Swann said, "because a person is disabled, that patient should never be denied food and water."
The poll also lent support to members of Congress to who passed legislation seeking to prevent Terri's starvation death and help her parents take their lawsuit to federal courts.
"When there is conflicting evidence on whether or not a patient would want to be on a feeding tube, should elected officials order that a feeding tube be removed or should they order that it remain in place," respondents were asked.
Some 18 percent said the feeding tube should be removed and 42 percent said it should remain in place.
Swann said her group would encourage Congress to adopt legislation that would federal courts to review cases when the medical treatment desire of individuals is not known and the patient's family has a dispute over the care.
"According to these poll results, many Americans do in fact agree with what we're trying to accomplish," she said.
The poll found that 49 percent of Americans believe there should be exceptions to the right of a spouse to act as a guardian for an incapacitated spouse. Only 39 percent disagreed.
When asked directly about Terri's case and told the her estranged husband Michael "has had a girlfriend for 10 years and has two children with her" 56 percent of Americans believed guardianship should have been turned over to Terri's parents while 37 percent disagreed.
Phoney rigged MSM push-polls favoring Shiavo-Felos-Greer
......and we will never let them forget it
John Zogby now asks "Who wants to enjoy starving to death folks!"
The 2006 & 2008 elections will destroy the demcrat party for decades
Attorney George Felos = http://angelfire.com/un/zap/Dracula.html
I PING you to my post 32 -- an excerpt from the article I mention:
"Then Eleanor Smith, a self-described liberal agnostic lesbian, whose childhood bout with polio left her confined to a wheelchair, argued that "At this point I would rather have a right-wing Christian decide my fate than an ACLU member." Ms Smith protested last week outside the hospice where Mrs Schiavo lay dehydrating and starving. "
Anyone have a link to this poll?
Not that I think "life News" would garnish the truth or anything like that.
You did a really, REALLY good job of summing it up.
Hmmmmm. Zogby got the result you wanted to hear, so he's a good guy. When he gives you results you don't want to hear, he's using "special sauce."
This place is a hoot.
I think they should ask parents "If your child was injured, resulting in permanent brain-damage, but still able to breath without asistance, would you consent to having ALL food and water stopped so that he could die?"
If I remember correctly, the ABC poll did not release the question that was asked, rather, the question only came out through people who were polled.
Whereas at least Zogby is releasing the actual question that was asked.
What is startling, though, is how many people are willing to allow someone to starve to death, even though the question is quite broad, as someone pointed out.
Quite chilling. The MSM is the voice of the ACLU.
This poll is highly influenced by how the questions were phrased.
We saw how the MSM asked the questions -- by giving false premises as facts.
Like Zogby or not, but you can read the question and see for yourself. He did give the true information to the people he polled.
so? What's wrong with including dead people when polling the public?
Maybe but I personally think he has a bit more to go before he overtakes OJ and Peterson in the 'Most Hated' competition. My favorite for the title if Schiavo's Enabler in Chief, Felos. IMO His appearance and general creepiness push him right to the top of that list not to mention how hard he worked for all of the hate.
i was at a well known orlando sports bar.
the crowd was making fun of felos.
his rant about terri looking great was
being mocked by the crowd and staff !
bet that pricked all those liberal balloons -
They must be hovering tonight in a "NOW what do we do!" session. They were absolutely giddy when they thought most people were on their DeathCrat side - and have already started their rhetoric against Congress, "W" etc...and now, OOPS...
they majority not only ain't with them but probably took note of their rants. I can hear the "AARRRGHHHH" ala Dean after he lost what he was sure he'd won
Too late now.
When people are dieing, they don't ask for their bank account records, or pictures of their car, or their favorite shoes to be with them when they go. They want those who love them and those they love to be by their side. In Terri's case, during her last few moments, she was forced to be with a man she grew to hate hovering over her suffering, starving body. He was so cruel, even denied her peace and love during her last few moments.
Michael has got to be the most hated man in America today. The more the truth comes out, the more hated he will be.
Yep, he is right up there with o.j.simpson and scott peterson........wife killers all!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, whether they were in favor of it or not it happened.
The deed has been done.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "The Fatal Attraction of the Inside Straight"
Truth is, I don't think they care since the percentage of their audience that falls in that "informed citizens" category is pretty small.
This is wonderful! And it is what I would have expected if fairer questions were asked.
The fact is under the law NOBODY has to accept ANY medical treatment if they don't want it, ESPECIALLY when it comes to end of life situations.
Who cares what a polls says?
The courts found that Terri's husband spoke for her when it came to her desire NOT to be kept alive in a vegatative state. PERIOD.
Do you want the law demanding Doctors shove tubes down your throat, hook you up to machines or shock you back to life multiple times each day to keep you alive, REGARDLESS of your wishes?
I don't !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.