If you look at the trends world wide, the direction is most definitely towards euthanasia, not preserving life. I see no support for "preserving physical life at all costs" as you say. Conversely, I see many frightening trends towards euthanasia. The assisted suicide law in Oregon and the "elimination" of imperfect infants in the Netherlands (even without parental permission) are just 2 examples of this trend. Our society has always had provisions to protect those who could not protect themselves- children, the elderly, the infirm, etc - That is why I believe Terri should be protected. She cannot protect herself. Besides, if you are going to err, why not err on the side of life? After all, once she has been starved to death, there will be no going back. On Judge Greer- perhaps you are right that he simply weighted the evidence he saw differently than I would have but what if he is an activist judge? There are plenty of them out there, legislating from the bench as we speak. What if he just doesn't like the Schlinders? Is tired of the case? He is the only judge that has ruled on the motions so who is to say that he is King Salomon? After all, he ruled (as I posted last night) that feeding her naturally constituted an experimental procedure and therefore denied the Schlinders their appeal to feed her should the tube be removed. One more thing- if her death is so justifiable, why don't they give her a lethal injection?
I hesitate to ignite new flames, but I think assisted suicide and the state-initiated euthanasia are two-entirely different things. I think to require people whose lives have become intolerable to use crude and cruel means (i.e. blowing your brains out with a shotgun) to end their lives when much more humane means are within the monopoly control of 'doctors' is tragic. If they don't want to 'assist', OK. Just give me the drugs and I will do the rest.
The Netherlands law is the logical outgrowth of transferring these life or death decisions to the state, as many here would now do. The idea that the state can kill my children is incredible for a supposedly civilized society.
Thus, I support so-called 'assisted' suicide and oppose state-controlled euthanasia.
[I am a Biblical Christian and (obviously) not a catholic. If you have faith in RCC dogmas about suicide, your answer would obviously be much different.)