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I'm posting to you kimmie7, because you are the most recent, but this is for the doubters here, and that might even include me! Because this story is unbelievable, but it has certainly been reported in enough reputable media that its truth really can't be doubted.

I read another story, in, really, like the NYTimes years ago, a similar tale. It may not have been the Times, but it was certainly as mainstream (liberal) as that. About a man, very disabled, but definately cognizant, and his wife was DETERMINED to end his life. I'm sorry I can't remember any pertinent details, like, ah, his name. But I certainly do remember the story.

And that is the point I am trying to make, stuff like this HAPPENS. Maybe not all the time, maybe not every day, but regularly, commonly. This woman's family just care enough to fight the long, good, maybe even losing, fight against the death mongers.

Because they crave death these people. Because they have turned against God, who instructs us "choose life". Because, they do not only crave death, but killing. I cannot even call it murder, murder requires a motive. Michael Schiavo may have a motive, but his colluders do not. A woman may have a motive to have an abortion, but her colluders do not.

These people are nihilists, and their meta-collusion with the motivated murderers among us (yes, the Muslims terrorists, I do mean them, amoung others, such as Mr. Schiavo) is all it will take for millions of innocents (ultimately) to die.

I dont' remember the man's name, because my atitude was always "I don't need to pay attention to this, I know they are wrong, someone else will have to deal with this, it is not my affair." Well, I also thought Bill Clinton's failures were dishonesty, perjury, and sexual perversion. Those may have been among his failures, but his crime was "dereliction of duty". That crime caused the death of 3000 Americans. If I scoff at the nihilists many more that 3000 innocents will die.

Islamo-terrorism and the culture wars, not unrelated at all. This is the scary part.

Is this the story?

Since Steven Becker's March operation to relieve pressure on his brain, discussion has revolved around eliminating food and water, provided through a tube into his digestive tract. This medically assisted food and water was correctly called "comfort care" in records at St. John's Mercy Medical Center before the decision was made to end his life. Now the hospital -- as well as the media -- calls it "life support".

But St. John's and its ethics committee have also decreed that other treatments -- antibiotics, other beneficial medications, physical therapy and a possible operation to correct his now-infected brain shunt -- can also be denied to Becker even though the legal process is still proceeding.

Becker has been deemed by his doctors to be in a "permanent vegetative state", defined as "awake but (assumed) unaware". That diagnosis is disputed by at least one other doctor. But pain medications and muscle relaxants, which can cause sedation, are among the few treatments that may be provided. Why would a supposedly unresponsive person even need pain medication?