I am afraid, very afraid:
that the choice to refuse medical care will disappear if we begin to force individuals into unnecessary legal battles, unnecessary human tragedy, and unwarranted extreme burdens for people (emotional, physical, mental and financial) by unnaturally extended life and forcing people to accept feeding tubes for unlimited time periods, respirators and surgeries unwanted by a person or their immediate family.
Please produce proof that Terri wanted to have all food and water withdrawn from her, even by mouth, and die that way.
Ummmnnhh...NOBODY on this thread has suggested "...unwarranted extreme burdens..." or "...unnaturally extending life..."
So just exactly what are you trying to say?
Then get your ducks in a row - get your wishes down and notarized.
But you spell out just exactly what is so dangerous - the slide into killing many people who have no proven wish to be killed,...in many cases, people who could eventually recover - or, at least, improve, will be systematically killed.
Ever wonder why prisoners of war - WW11 Concentration Camp prisoners, for example - who went thru the tortures of the damed, hung onto life against all odds. Or what about Stephen Hawking, crippled, in a wheel chair, unable to use his body, on a breathing device, and feeding tube, - yet a brilliant scientist - preferred life...
The danger is that thinking of your kind - and we know there's a lot out there - will push for the decisions to be taken out of relatives altogether and put in the hands of dr.s and judges...using the false rationale of "to avoid the conflict ion of family members."
Get your papers filled out - but for others, should there be no written, clear wishes - err on the side of life." No one should decide death for someone else. Terri's case couldn't be a clearer testimony for that. Hers is a classical example of getting rid of the 'inconvenient." You cite God, (in your other post, below in italics) and what He'd want? Do you think he believes we have a right to kill his children for Him? Or the ability to keep them alive by any means if He doesn't wish it?
(Your first post) I disagree with the reasoning to keep a person alive via a feeding tube. If God has made the person's body unable to chew, eat or swallow, then feeding by tube is unnatural. I believe in life after death, eternal life. Why would a Christian value life on earth over the life he gains after death. Live as best you can, as long as you can while living. But when the brain function and the ability to chew and swallow has left the body, let the spirit go to the Father in Heaven. My opinion.