I looked in an old college Ethics book today out of curiosity. It was written between 1929 and 1931 as a series of lectures at Boston College. Long before bio-ethics became a word.
Even back then there was a clear argument against suicide and the destruction of "useless members of society." Both of these items were discussed together referring to the principle that our life on earth is not an end to itself but "for perfect happiness...to be attained in the future life."
"As for incurables and the feeble-minded, surely the example of heroic patience and fortitude manifested by the former, and the equally heroic patience and self-sacrifice and devotion of those who spend their lives in the care of the latter, are examples of virtues of which the effeminate society of the present time stands sorely in need"---Special Ethics, Joseph F Sullivan, SJ, page 36 [NB: Society was already being called "effeminate" in 1930
Poor Terri was both incurable and feeble-minded, but her death should not have come at the time of a judge's choosing, but of God's choosing.
Amen.
Your look back to the days when the Hippocratic Oath, the vow to 'do no harm', actually meant something to the medical community in America is very apt.
Poor Terry was both incurable and feeble-minded.
Terry was NOT poor. She was awarded money and her husband used it for his own purpose.
Incurable? Did she have a disease? She was disabled and could not improve, or NEITHER COULD YOU in you were in her situation, because she was denied therapy - physical and speech. Worse cases than Terri's have improved greatly with therapy. Why do you think they have intensive therapy for - the able or the disabled?? That was MS's plan, no therapy means no improvement. You don't need to be a rock scientist to know that - even a low life two-timer knows that.
Feeble-minded? How so? Who told you that?
So your poor Terri was neither poor, nor incurable, nor feeble-minded.