Danger Zone - (Haleigh Poutre)

National Review ^ | February 01, 2006 | Wesley J, Smith

[Ohioan from Florida]

In the court (and courts) of life and death, a little 11-year-old Massachusetts girl named Haleigh Poutre could be the next Terri Schiavo. For those who have not heard the tragic story, Haleigh was beaten nearly to death last September, allegedly by her adoptive mother and stepfather. The beating left her unconscious and barely clinging to life.

Within a week or so of the beating, her doctors had written her off. They apparently told Haleigh's court-appointed guardian, Harry Spence, that she was "virtually brain dead." Even though he had never visited her, Spence quickly went to court seeking permission to remove her respirator and feeding tube. The court agreed, a decision affirmed recently by the supreme court of Massachusetts.

And so, no doubt with the best of intentions, a little girl who had already suffered so much was stripped by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of even the chance to fight to stay alive. If she didn't stop breathing when the respirator was removed, which doctors expected, she would slowly dehydrate to death.

Close Call

Then came the unexpected:

[Lesforlife]

Thanks for this!

Just sent Haleigh my prayers.

Freepers are the best!

[8mmMauser]

Worth a repost from another thread....

Where are Tookie's supporters now?

8mm

[Sun]

Every case is somewhat different from every other case.

But starving the disabled is ALWAYS evil.

[T'wit]

Thanks for the addresses. I'll try to send a snail card tomorrow.

[PistolPaknMama]

There is a huge difference between this story and Schiavo. But you all know that.

What are the differences, in case I'm missing something. I don't see many. Helpless person at the mercy of government death squad. Maybe you know more about this case than I do(?), which is what I've read here on FR.

[cyn]

Unfortunately, death-lovers are in every state, and liberal / conservative seems to make little difference, sad to say.

I want to learn more about Ted Stith, who died under suspicious circumstances in Coral Gables, FL. A google search revealted a Ted Stith Auction House, which I take it is where his belongings were sold before he'd even died.

Story so far found in North Country Gazette, and from his friends:

1/31: http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/013106WantsToLive.html

1/30: http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/013006PlayingGod.html

[Mr. Silverback]

You're added!

[Mr. Silverback]

Man, Bobby schindler put that one right on the target!

[Hildy]

Keeping people's bodies alive when their soul is gone is evil to me. That being said, that wasn't the case here, obviously.

There is a huge difference between disabled and clinically dead.

[Wampus SC]

Well said.

[cgk]

Thank you for posting this... I had not seen Bobby's response to the article posted by the Boston Globe. Fantastic.

[Wampus SC]

"Did you see above my post wherein the hospice employee said Ted would have to speak to impress him. "

I saw it. Now lets see the image it conjures up to be our future. A jaded, self-centered, flunkie with a shrill, valley girl accent saying, "I'm like SO bored! Impress me or DIE! What? Nothing? That doesn't impress me. You're BOR-ing! DIE! DIE! DIE!"

[Wampus SC]

"I have read that they talked about giving Haleigh a year. A year for WHAT? to RECOVER? We should not kill the disabled."

Yeah, to do what? Tap dance? Do trigonometry? Sing an aria? Win a Nobel Prize? A year to *impress* a hospital employee, or else? People aren't to be treated like dogs that are required to do tricks before the judges or else be killed.

If dogs were treated like that at shows, the judges would be in jail.

[Wampus SC]

"Keeping people's bodies alive when their soul is gone is evil to me."

I'm asking this out of genuine curiosity. What religion and/or philosophy do you adhere to that teaches that the soul can be gone while the body is still alive?

[Hildy]

I don't "adhere" to any religion. I have my own spiritual and humane beliefs. I don't think keeping a "body" alive when the brain is dead is a noble thing. Sue me.

[Wampus SC]

"I don't "adhere" to any religion. I have my own spiritual and humane beliefs. I don't think keeping a "body" alive when the brain is dead is a noble thing. Sue me."

Thank you for answering.

Dunno why I'd want to sue you for explaining it to me, but I'm not gonna worry what your imaginings are.

Once again, thank you kindly for answering.

[Lancey Howard]

That's a GREAT cartoon.

[amdgmary]

Michael Schiavo will appear on MSNBC tonight on "Countdown with Kieth Olbermann." Last night, MSNBC had a small preview of tonight's "show". Schiavo wails about the politicians who tried to save his estranged wife's life from a death by starvation/dehydration. Schiavo lamented how the politicians "walked uninvited" into his house.

Schiavo said that if President Bush and Gov Jeb Bush had seen Terri, they would have "seen nothing."

Schiavo is gearing up for his new career in politics.

[amdgmary]

Bobby Schindler is scheduled to speak on Feb 27th at Franciscian University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. He'll be a guest speaker for the Students for Life.

Franciscan University of Steubenville

[8mmMauser]

Schiavo said that if President Bush and Gov Jeb Bush had seen Terri, they would have "seen nothing."

He would know what "nothing" looks like. Sort of like an empty suit.

Anybody home?