Zogby Poll: Americans Not in Favor of Starving Terri Schiavo (poll with fair questions)

LifeNews ^ | April 1, 2005 | Steven Ertelt

[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.

[TAdams8591]

Greer never gave any serious consideration to the facts that would have erred on the side of Terri's life. In fact he completely ignored them. That and the cast of characters involved, leads me to the conlusion, Terri's case was chosen to further the Euthanasia agenda, by establishing precedent in this case. Greer had his mind made up before hand.

I well understand what happens after a particular set of facts have been decided by a judge.

[FairOpinion]

What is so horrible, that the choices weren't that MS has to kill her or forever be "saddled by Terri" -- Terri's parents begged to be able to take Terri and take care of her, and MS and the judge denied this option.

As I occasionally say, even animal shelters that are about to destroy stray animals allow them to live, if there is someone willing to adopt them. Terri's life was considered to be worth less than that of a stray animal. She was deliberately, brutally put to death, instead of allowing to live out her natural life among her loving family.

You can't get any more cruel than this.

[hocndoc]

You need to understand that this is a diagnosis that is made in error 43% of the time. You should not call doctors with opposing opinions "quacks," and neither should have Crandon (in the NYT).

A Mayo clinic neurologist, such as Dr. William Cheshire, is not a quack.

[TAdams8591]

"Terri Schiavo was NOT terminally ill ..all she required for sustenance was nutrients and water. Terri Schiavo was sentenced to her terminal illness: the most shocking and reprehensible 13-day torture of agonizing death by starvation and dehydration I've ever observed. This despicable chapter will not be forgotten. Millions of us have deeply pierced hearts at the barbaric obscenity of the suffering and the court-sanctioned murder wrought in the last two weeks. God help us all"

Well put and fully agreed.

[TAdams8591]

"You can't get any more cruel than this."

No, you can't.

[STARWISE]

Even the most wise, educated and intelligent medical professionals don't have all the answers .. leaving God, support, perseverence and love out of any such crisis situation can leave you with a very incomplete view:

Ryan's Reach-Pat Boone's Grandson

"Ryan fell through a skylight located at the top of his three-story apartment building in Brentwood, California on June 19, 2001. He landed on concrete and was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. He was in extremely critical condition when he arrived with multiple internal injuries, severe internal bleeding, multiple brain injuries and was not able to breathe on his own. The doctors did not expect him to live.

Over the course of the first week in the Intensive Care Unit, it looked as if we would lose him. He was in a deep coma, his blood was not coagulating, he was on maximum ventilator support, he had to have his spleen removed, and he was unresponsive to outside stimulation. For our family, it was the toughest week of our lives.

For weeks, his blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature were very unstable. In addition to having his spleen removed, he had four surgeries performed while at UCLA Medical Center – a tracheostomy, a surgically implanted feeding tube, surgery on his sinus cavity, and surgery to repair his jaw which was fractured in two places and broken in two other places. He developed pneumonia and began “storming” – a result of his brain injury whereby he would sweat profusely, grind his teeth, have wild fluctuations in his body temperature, become very rigid in his upper extremities, and experience a very rapid heartbeat and respiratory rate. Each day tested our family’s faith in ways it had never been tested before.

But then, Ryan began making progress. His kidneys, once on the verge of needing dialysis, returned to normal. His liver, which took a severe impact from the fall, recovered quicker than anyone had hoped, He was successfully weaned off of the ventilator and began breathing on his own. His internal bleeding stopped and he recovered from his surgeries. In short, Ryan made enough progress at UCLA Medical Center to be discharged on July 31, 2001.

Ryan was moved to a “sub-acute” facility in Orange County, California that we believed, at the time, would be able to care for Ryan’s needs. Unfortunately, Ryan was not ready to be out of the hospital. On August 11, 2001, Ryan went into a very severe “storming” session where he became extremely dehydrated and his body temperature soared to 106.5. He was rushed in the middle of the night to a local hospital in Orange County where the doctors were able to successfully hydrate him and stabilize his body temperature. Their quick and appropriate actions very likely saved Ryan’s life a second time.

In total, Ryan has been treated in six different medical facilities since the accident. He has gone through specialized programs such as coma stimulation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, as well as an ongoing program of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Our family owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the following medical facilities and their staffs, who not only contributed to saving Ryan’s life, but has helped him grow and develop beyond anyone’s highest expectations. We wish to thank:

• UCLA Medical Center
• Integrated Health Services
• St. Jude’s Medical Center
• Chapman General Hospital
• Mission Hospital
• Long Beach Memorial Hospital
• Care Meridian

Today, Ryan lives at home with his mom, Lindy, step dad, Mike, and brother, Tyler in Coto de Caza, California. He is alert and happy. He can talk, sing, and answer simple questions. He recognizes family and friends. He is eating very well and is beginning to feed himself. He continues to require 24 hour a day care and is not able to walk, although we have started to see movement in his legs recently. Ryan has come a long way but still has a long way to go.

As we move on through this journey of faith, it is important for you to know that your thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be, a tremendous source of comfort and support for us. God is doing a mighty work in Ryan. He has heard your prayers and those of thousands of others around the world. And though this journey is far from over, we have the confidence that our Lord will continue to work in Ryan’s life . . . day by day, moment by moment, until that day when Ryan can personally thank you for your love, faith and support. On behalf of our family, please continue to pray for Ryan and God bless you."

[skr]

The video that seems most difficult to discount for me is the one with Terri and her father. He talks to her about a funny memory and she laughs. Not grunts or moans but laughs. How can she not be cognitive on some level (and not all that low of one) to be able to laugh at a remembered family joke?

[hocndoc]

This probably the motivation behind some of the backers of Schiavo - to make euthanasia by lethal injection appear to be a "compassionate" measure.

Who paid all those lawyers, do you think? Felos had an army in his camp. The type that charges $500 an hour. Where did all of that money come from and why?

[supercat]

I wonder what statute Greer relied upon for that one.

Florida code, art. 666:

1. All rulings by George Greer are correct. Any law which would conflict with a ruling by George Greer is void.
2. In the event a ruling by Greer is found to be in error, the case should be evaluated in accordance with 666.1.
3. This section shall become law whether or not it is signed by the governor or even introduced to the legislature.
4. It is not necessary to reproduce this section in so-called 'official' copies of the Florida code. Its non-appearance therein shall not be construed as evidence of its non-veracity.

I would assume he probably relies upon 666, quoted above, for his authority. Would seem the most logical source.

[hocndoc]

The only legitimate purpose of the system is to protect the inalienable rights of the individuals who are within the system. The family is the basic unit of society, with more priority than government. However, when the family is causing death, the State has a legitimate interest in preserving life.

[Cincinna]

When I first read the ABC poll I knew the results would be unreliable. The questions were based on lies. But I figured the country was going to hell in a handbasket anyway, and it might be true that the culture of death had permeated throughout all levels of society.

Every real normal person I spoke to about this thought that denying food and water to Terri and starving her to death was murder. Not a single person would admit to wanting to die like that.

[AnnOutragedCitizen]

I agree. But I wonder if Greer ever looked forward to see the eventual impact of the case (as, surely, Felos did). Could have just been cronyism on his part assigning associates, chatting with friends, ruling with business partners of associates, etc. He may have just looked at Terri as an insignificant blob (actually, he did say something along those lines) and the Schindlers as nuisances. Best to keep all your cronies happy in your kingdom! It was probably really easy to get caught up in Felos' whirlwind and his political power and allies. Especially when all this money started pouring his way to help him generate one of the largest judicial campaign war chests seen in Pinellas County. Who knows what other "favors" poured his way. Of course he "listened" to the person he "trusted" more in court.

Felos is another story. He USED his contacts, doctors, political allies, etc. He needs an entire thread of his own. Major agenda going on, even shapes new laws, and he gets to be entirely obvious about it!

Greer also benefited by the Schindlers having poor legal representation and not presenting key information at the right time. Greer could decide that this was the moment that he would make some material decision and later rebuttal affadavits were tossed out. The Schindlers hoped for too many years that justice would prevail and if things went against them in court, they court appeal. They were SOOOOO out-lawyered and out-spent.

[hocndoc]

PVS is one form of disabled. Terri was not dead. She was not fully functional. Therefore she was "disabled."

Can I ask why this is so important to you?

And do you believe that it would have been "experimental" or a "medical evaluation" to give her ice chips. Or that it would have harmed Terri in any way to allow Dr. Cheshire to examine her of for her to have a PET scan to determine the level of functioning of her brain in a way that was not possible in 1993?

[TAdams8591]

"This probably the motivation behind some of the backers of Schiavo - to make euthanasia by lethal injection appear to be a "compassionate" measure."

I've had the same thought and agree.

[Torie]

I went down this road long before this case emerged. I have rather firm views about how to manage my final exit. They are not some emotional reaction to watching a movie.

[TAdams8591]

"The Schindlers hoped for too many years that justice would prevail and if things went against them in court, they court appeal. They were SOOOOO out-lawyered and out-spent."

I know, it's so sad.

The court system couldn't have been more abusive, brutal or hostile. It chewed them up and spit them out, leaving them penniless and minus a member of their family. I've never seen anything like it.

[hocndoc]

No, this does not happen. The tube may not be used anymore. Or not placed. If it becomes clogged, or it may not be replaced. But, I have worked with hospice for years, no one I know would initiate a medical procedure to remove the tube. What would be the purpose?

Most certainly, no one I know would have cooperated with denying her ice chips or sips of water, as Schiavo did for years and as he did the last 2 weeks of her life. I cannot imagine having law enforcement threaten to arrest a mother who wished to place water in her "terminal" daughter's mouth. And I would consider it murder to do so in light of the fact that the patient did not need regular suctioning for her saliva and sinus secretions.

As a matter of fact, most often those secretions become a very real problem at the end of life, when the patient truly can't swallow or when the nausea and vomitting caused by them is non-stop. In those cases, we routinely administer scopoamine patches because of the side effect of dry mouth, which is a relief of the other symptoms.

[hocndoc]

Do you know that Cranford was part of the multidisciplinary panel that defined PVS as a distinct entity and reported on it in the New England Medical Journal in 1993? Why did Michael choose this doctor (the one with such wonderful restraint that he calls another neurologist names to the NYT).

This is a case of a hammer seeing a nail. And the hammer was carefully chosen for that propensity.

[Jaysun]

Zzzzz. He's right about the polls being slanted and misleading during the march to death. But......Zogby Schmogby.

[skr]

To kill her would be to administer the death blow. She died from her body shutting down on its own because it could no longer function. She could not chew or swallow on her own.

You're kidding, right? Or do you really believe you wouldn't be administering the death blow if you simply denied food and water to a baby because it required a bottle for successful feeding? Did you miss the part where Judge Greer denied Terri therapy for swallowing? Or the part where one nurse fed her Jell-O without Terri choking? Terri's stomach worked just fine, it was only her swallowing mechanism that was in question.