Thompson talks of daughter who died

Yahoo News / AP ^ | 10/22/2007 | LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

TAMPA, Fla. - Republican Fred Thompson sidestepped a question about the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case last month, saying he didn't remember the details. On Monday he said he's uncomfortable discussing it because of his own daughter's death.

snip

"And this will probably be the last time I ever address it."

snip

He added: "It should be decided by families. The federal government and the state government, too — except for the court system — ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned."

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Fred Thompson comments on the Schiavo case.

[nmh]

What happened to his daughter?

[Grut]

The federal government and the state government, too ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned.

That's a statement.

The federal government and the state government, too — except for the court system — ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned.

That's a waffle.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

I’ll take mine with maple syrup, please.

[nmh]

Never mind!

“Thompson’s daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Thompson Panici, 38, died in 2002 of an accidental drug overdose, according to the Nashville, Tenn., medical examiner’s office. She had been diagnosed as suffering from a bipolar disorder.

Thompson’s remarks indicated that his daughter had been on life support, although his campaign declined to provide further information, saying the matter was too personal. Panici died on Jan. 30, 2002, six days after being brought unconscious to a hospital emergency room. At the time, then-Sen. Thompson released a statement saying she died of “severe brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest.”

Looks like the plug was pulled.

[Swordfished]

I agree with Thompson on the Schiavo case. The government has no business involving themself in particular cases. The legislatures write and pass laws and the executive enforces those laws. The judiciary adjudicates.

There is no need for special government intervention in any case. The laws on the books should cover every circumstance and if they don’t: tough! - write a new law.

[Clara Lou]

Looks like the plug was pulled.
That's an assumption on your part.

[nmh]

Well unfortunately Terri’s so called husband wanted her DEAD. Others didn’t - HENCE, it went to court. Unfortunately the court sided with DEATH. This will happen more and more often in our culture of death.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“There is no need for special government intervention in any case.”

Unless the judiciary has sold out to the euthanasia lobby.

[originalbuckeye]

Tough situation. I don’t think anyone knows how they will react until confronted by that situation. When I have argued the Schaivo case with people who supported the husband, I have always pointed out that they, themselves, would not have wanted to be in Terri’s place. By putting themselves in her place, they decided to support his decision. The whole thing still grates on my sense of right and wrong.

[vetsvette]

This won’t help his candidacy much.

“Pulling the plug” in accord with a living will is one thing, but cutting off food and water and watching the person die is quite another - most especially with no living will, just the word of an unfaithful husband with a financial interest in the death.

Fred screwed up here.

[altura]

Oh, for heaven’s sake!

[dusttoyou]

What on earth would give you the notion FRED injected this to help his campaign??

Don’t think FRED is the one screwed up here, think about it vetsvette!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Agreed.

[blaquebyrd]

"Looks like the plug was pulled. "

Sure does, here's a quote from the linked article.

"I am a little bit uncomfortable about that because it's an intensely personal thing," he said. "These things need to be decided by the family, and I was at that bedside, and I had to make those decisions with the rest of my family."

[airborne]

No parent should out live one of their children.

I’ll keep my opinion on this one to myself.

[DelphiUser]

By putting themselves in her place, they decided to support his decision. The whole thing still grates on my sense of right and wrong.

Interesting, I was in an accident and was paralyzed from the neck down until they put me back together (they said it was permanent at first, didn't even admit that I might get a little better until feeling started coming back...)

I said at the time (Terri's time), I would have wanted someone to pull the plug long ago. I have a living will, if I am ever unconscious for six months with less that 90% chance of recovery, I left instructions to let me go on into my rest. So at least I am consistent when it comes to me being the one to go.

I had all sorts of people telling me I was a bad conservative and part of the "culture of death", they accused me of supporting abortion and all sorts of things, and I kept thinking, who are you guys? and who made you my judge...

[SnarlinCubBear]

And if the family disagree - the courts.

But I think the part of the family who want to keep her alive should be allowed to, and be allowed to provide the care. Death is too final.

[George W. Bush]

Good for Fred.

I'm sick of our candidates having Oprah moments on national TV.

I like it that a candidate doesn't try to use everything that happened in their lives to play for sympathy or push for new programs and such.

Fred has more dignity because of this. He has kept his privacy and his family's privacy. The press is not welcome to poke and prod through everything. I think that's good.

[donna]

if they don’t: tough! - write a new law.

Or, let the people retain their freedom.