[summer]

It should never happen -- it is murder. No different then assisted suicide at best.

What if a person is terminally ill, and wants only to be left at home with loved ones to die? A nd has that in writing?

Even if there are experimental treatments far away that might help?

Shoud the person be forced to travel and have painful treatments when all the person wants at this point is to die peacefully at home? It is the theory of hospice care that such a person's wishes should be honored. Do you disagree?

[bvw]

Minimal standards of care for a dependent must be met in any situation. Not to meet them is a crime of which only the level of severity depends on particular circumstances. Food, water, comfort.

The situation at hand -- Terri Schindler-Schiavo -- was a case of murder and even would have been so if the only difference was she DID (and she did not) have such a contract, such an "advance medical directive" or "living will" -- what an oxymoron that latter term!