Enforcing the "Right to Die":The Case of Terri Schiavo

Life Issues ^ | August 2003 | Nancy Valko

[Theodore R.]

subversion of churches

This is a serious phenomenon of the Age of Clinton too. Churches spend their time singing "choruses" that most have never heard and listening to "sermons" that are mostly pep talks about how good everybody in the congregation is. The Bible of course addresses this when it says in time men will not "stand sound doctrine." Were churches standing sound doctrine, there could be no euthanasia or abortion.

Has the Reverend Falwell spoken up on Terri's behalf? Did he take a stand on poor Hugh Finn in that Mr. Finn was starved to death in VA, supposedly a conservative state.

[Theodore R.]

This wonderful woman is an expert in the matter, but no one in authority will listen. Their hearts are hardened against Terri.

I now do believe that Michael Schiavo may be on a "power trip" more so than in collecting remaining money in her fund.

[Theodore R.]

It seems like Mr. Finn may have starved in "conservative" VA because the "wife" would not let the parents "feed him by hand" after the feeding tube material was stopped. America is in deep "do-doo," as the first George Bush said, and I don't think electing more Republicans will solve our problems (though I always vote the Republican ticket.)

[Theodore R.]

Orthodox church

This is supposed to be a very conservative body. In politics the most famous member of the Orthodox Church was probably former MA Gov. Michael Stanley Dukakis, whose liberalism, I assume, included support for euthanasia in cases like that of Terri.

Was Spiro T. Agnew also a member of the Orthodox Church?

[MarMema]

My mother is the one who holds my wishes. She knows what I want under several conditions. Much safer than a living will.

I think you have made an important suggestion.

[MarMema]

then removing the feeding tube in itself will not be the cause of death

It is posted that her husband has refused to allow her to have a swallowing test. In these many instances, they do not actually remove the tube anyway - they use it to administer sedatives, morphine, etc in order to make the dehydration experience less agonal.

More and more horrid, isn't it? They keep the tube in but simply stop allowing the disabled person to have fluids or food.

In several of the cases I linked stories to on my FR page, the patients killed could and did chew food.

[MarMema]

In this case, that would be fine, as her parents are capable and willing to pay for her care.

People who are disabled by a car accident should not be killed because they emerge with less mental functioning than the rest of us. In all of the cases I have read about there have been plenty of prolife groups willing to completely shoulder the care and costs of people who were disabled. But the family member in court still wanted that person killed, and more often than not, succeeded.

[Theodore R.]

Methinks your likely good state of personal health clouds your intelligent judgment here.

Terri's parents have offered to take her home and drastically reduce medical costs involved in her care. It is the greedy government that refuses to let THEM cut the costs.

[ventana]

Her husband is free to do the "honorable" thing and move on rather than engage in an expensive legal battle for her death by starvation and dehydration using the monies provided for her care.

You are making assumptions. Terri remains a living soul. You do not know her.

[MarMema]

but I lost it this morning in front of a live audience.

It is an entirely appropriate response to the situation.

[MHGinTN]

For those interested in such trivia:

In the 1970 edition of Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, the term vegetative state or persistent vegetative state is not to be found. The definition of coma is: "An abnormal deep stupor occurring in illness, or as a result of it, or it may be due to an injury. The patient cannot be aroused by stimuli." Tbaer's p.C-72 The 1982 edition of Stedman's Medical Dictionary has a similar definition for coma and nothing at all on vegetative state or persistent vegetative state.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo is not in a coma, obviously, since she is responsive to stimuli and has followed simple directions given to her. I'm trying to find a Medical Dictionary that actually lists PVS and then find when this term entered the regular medical vocabulary.

[MarMema]

Please do, I am very interested.

[trussell]

I think you have made an important suggestion.

Yes, of course. Always include your parents, if possible, in the decisions for your future. A parents love is forever, where a spouse's love can be situational.

[MHGinTN]

The next several entries will serve as 'bumps'

'The term "persistent vegetative state" was introduced by Jennett and Plum in a 1972 article in the journal Lancet to describe the condition of patients with severe brain damage in whom coma has progressed to a state of "wakefulness without awareness" (795).' http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/2919/pvsirr.html

[MHGinTN]

The following link is quite instructive. It will occupy me for some time, to gain sufficient background for writing an op-ed addressing Terri's plight.

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/2919/links.html

[MarMema]

A ping for an excellent writing on this topic.

[MarMema]

Btw, I greatly appreciate your willingness and open mind.
This is about rights of an individual, imo.

[MarMema]

Please forgive me if this a second ping to you.

[Pegita]

Taber's 1993 Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary: "vegetative state" page 2117:

An imprecise term indicating a patient who was previously comatose, but whose eyes are now open and give the appearance that he or she is awake. It is properly characterized as a severe dementia due to global damage to the cerebral cortex. THERE IS COMPLETE INABILITY TO RESPOND TO STIMULI OR TO COMMUNICATE.

[Pegita]

Who has the final word on what the definition of "persistent vegetative state" is?