Reference the post about medical costs eating up any savings the couple had:
The wife was left with all that the husband had previous to his accident. Her children were prepared to make sure she wanted for nothing. She would have been in cigarettes and bingo chips til death.
There are a few things that were not divulged prior to now. For instance, the family had a meeting less than a week after Jimmy Chambers was hurt and it was agreed by everyone involved, including the 'grieving widow' that he should be able to make his own calls. As long as he was alert and coherent the decisions would be his to make. The very next day the 'greiving widow' was overheard telling a distant relative that "the kids do not want to let him go and I will have to decide when to pull the plug".
At one point while Mr. Chambers was laying on his bed his son was feeding him ice cubes, one at a time, to slake his thirst. The 'grieving widow' grabbed the container of ice cubes and threw them into the sink in order to stop the hydration. Another time she stuck her finger in her husband's ear to disallow her son from whispering that he loved him.
I don't think this sounds like a woman that is willing to play the game straight and let the man have his wishes respected. This woman also let Mr. Chambers lay on his bed suffering from pneumonia and congestive heart failure, two diseases that are not fatal if treated, for an extended time without treatment.
Her motives are clear to anyone that knows her. She did not want to be saddled with a husband that needed care. She had bingo to play and cigarettes to smoke. A woman has to have her priorities and she had hers. Now she is free to pursue them without anyone nagging her about smoking in the house and going to bingo when they couldn't afford it. She will not be tied down to a useless husband that would have required care on a daily basis.
In regards to the gentleman arguing whether this falls under states rights or federal begs the point. If he is so tied up in that knot that he cannot see that to kill a man for the convenience of another is just wrong, I pity him. He has become so engrossed in minutia that he cannot appreciate the bigger picture. If it can happen to Mr. Chambers it can also happen to him and he will be the one justifying himself into a grave.
Welcome to FR both of you. I hope that this isn't over and won't be over because this is worth fighting for. Mr. Chambers is one who life was snatched away from him against his wishes, and lest anyone think otherwise, it is to the detriment of us all as caring human beings that this has happened. It needn't have. I don't understand how some people live with themselves for the destruction they bring about. I guess I must pray for them (and for all of us). What kind of society allows its vulnerable to be treated this way?
Where was the nursing home staff? I work in a nursing home an if the wife's behavior was as described she would have been removed from the "first contact" position. the Living Will is only in effect if the resident cannot "speak" for himself. As for the wife ordering the removal of the call light..that is a load of crap because even residents who have no way of ringing the light MUST have one within reach whenever they are in thier rooms...State law!!!