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.
good morning bump
A real poll? Or a poll slanted the way you like it?
"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 (Zogby) poll asked."
What's with the "not this" and "not that"? I'm sure that Terri's "not" a lot of things. And the inflammatory "If a disabled person" -- oh, c'mon!
Most importantly, though, is the "no written directive". Why not add the truth, "but a verbal directive". Would it hurt to add that?
How about, "If a brain damaged patient, with no hope of rehabilitation to conscious life, being kept alive solely by a surgically implanted feeding tube, having found by a court of law to have previously expressed a verbal (but not written) desire not to live in such a state -- should that wish be granted?"
Tell me how that isn't closer to the real truth than that biased Zogby question.
It's quite interesting to read the court testimony from the medical malpractice lawsuits -- how he said he wanted to become a nurse so that he could take care of Terri forever, because he loved her no matter what.
I understand if he later decided he wanted to move on with his life. In fact, the Schindlers encouraged him to do that so they could take care of Terri. But I do not understand -- or forgive -- his "DOH! Silly me! How could I forget? She told me she never wanted to live like this! . . . now stop giving her antibiotics, and oh yeah, stop feeding her."
His recent actions just underscore what I'd seen in his earlier actions.
I agree, I think ordering that she cannot be fed orally is illegal. I think if she was allowed to try to feed orally maybe giving her a baby bottle she would have sucked on it and proven to us all that she could eat through her mouth. Judge Greer is a murderer!
Americans sat on two sides due to the lack of info by the MSM.
If you are in a rural area - or one of those people who only watch the local news and the national nightly news - your opinion is swayed greatly by the lack of reporting.
And of course, if you are on the other side - you are getting your news from biased sources anyway. JK
here are the real numbers we knew were out there, but hidden while she was alive so the "Death Press" could push her murder
Felos tounge disgust me as well! I notice how it flicks out of his mouth as well. Almost like a serpant, a snake. Evil!
I know, isn't that sad. If only the Zogby poll came out while Terri was still alive it might have pushed our leaders to do something about it. They live and die by the polls, damned politicians!
Just ping!!!!!!!!!
As a lawyer there are two things that have totally horrified me about this case, and they're entirely valid whether someone's religous or not:
1) Terri was judicially murdered without ever evidencing any serious, written intention that it be done. This is totally at variance with the way the law requires people to act regarding less serious maters, like selling real property and bequeathing their property, where written contracts and written wills are required. The Federal courts could and should have said due process requires a similarly serious consent before a helpless woman could be deemed to have authorized her own judiciao killing by dehydration and starvation.
2) As detailed at other points in this thread, the multiple conflicts of interest of Schiavo, Felos, and Greer mandated that Greer recuse himslef and Schiavo be removed as Terri's guardian. That neither removal occurred meant that Terri was judicially murdered.
That is why I believe that ABC must be investigated and fined millions for their capricious, malicious and willful act against a defenseless handicapped woman.
My hopes are as you stated so beautifully, that people will begin to resent that they have been made into fools by ABC and once again realize that the MSM treats the public like a bunch of blithering yokels.
It's all about how you ask the question.
Destro, I am ashamed to see one of my fellow Orthodox siding with the death merchants.
The other poster (I forget his name) was right to rebuke you for sophistry.
Your defense of Greer's order is based on two claims
1. Terri was in a PVS.
2. Florida law contains a definition of PVS which includes inability to swallow.
The problem is, that Terri could swallow as evidenced by the fact that she did not need to have her saliva aspirated.
If indeed Florida law contains such a definition of PVS, then Judge Greer's order provably violated Florida law, and your argument simply localizes its illegality in the misapplication of the Florida legal definition of PVS to Terri.
And by what stretch of moral or legal sensibilities can any Christian argue for a court order which forbids a mother from giving her dying daughter a sip of water. "In as much as ye did it not to the least of these. . ."
Fear the Righteous Judge on the throne of glory more then the unrighteous ones we have in this country, and get your moral sensibilities straightened out.
This place is a hoot."
Few will dispute Zogby has an agenda and he tilts decidedly left. That said the argument is easily made that were Zogby to play it "straight", the results would have been even more in favor of letting this poor woman live. As they say, Leopards never change their spots.
Thank you lib,
As one with no religious doctrine or legal expertise, I relied on common sense and instinct.
Funny thing, I came to those same 2 conclusions.
I don't feel better, just vindicated.
sp
I already followed your link to the "will to live" site from another thread. It's just a guideline, basically, to which I would make certain changes. For instance, I would put in there the fact that, under no circumstances, will I receive an organ transplant from a deceased donor, even if refusing such means I will die. But any other medical means of supporting my life, I want.
Our legal representative told me that there is a thing called a springing power of attorney that only goes into effect if something should happen.
Rush said that he has put into his living will a provision that anyone who decides to "pull the tube" on him will receive NONE of his estate. I've been trying to think of a way to word such a provision myself. One of the dangers of "assisted suicide" is that the kids/grandkids who are looking at their inheritance getting used up by their parent's/grandparent's care will pressure dear Mom or Grandpa into "suiciding" as a means of getting that money. I think a provision that there is no inheritance in the case of any non-natural death would do a lot to reduce those pressures. There are plenty of charities that would love to be included in people's wills.
And that's what a lot of "conservatives" seem to desperately want. I don't get it. What kind of families do these people live in where they consider the right to kill each other fundamental?
they don't! The MSM is telling is lies about what Conservatives really want. It is such BS!! Zogby is not my favorits poll, but at least this time it seems a bit more accurate, IMO.
No, the Judge should have based his findings on the law (however much I may have problems with that law). But even the bad law requires "clear and convincing" evidence that she wanted to be killed, not flimsy and conveniently-recently-remembered evidence.
And now, we find ourselves comfortably cruising through that weird Clinton universe where polls mean more than laws.
Who's saying "polls mean more than laws"? Nice straw man. I think people are just saying "gee it's a relief if people really feel this way". Got a problem w/that?
I'm sorry, but you are wrong. [multiple times....]
Wow! Stellar argument.
The Florida State Constitution guarantees people the right to refuse medical treatment.
Food is not "medical treatment" and Terri Schiavo never "refused" anything.
Had it been God's will that she live, she'd be alive today.
Michael Schiavo is your god?
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