Everyone makes these wild accusations without any evidence of fact. IF the guy had caused this coma it seems very likely that with all the court interest he would have been charged.
Without a will the spouse is the legal guardian and speaks for the disabled person. My personal wishes are clearly stated to my wife - NO living with extraordinary means. I believe that Ms. Shiavo voiced this to her husband as many married couples do. And most married couples never think it will happen to them.
It happened.
Call the guy all the names you want, but until YOU walk in his shoes by making that kind of decision nobody - I repeat NOBODY can second guess him. I have made that decision for my Father. He voiced his desire to never live with tubes and such so after a heart attack we pulled the breathing tubes. It was not easy.
In this case the parents believe that their daughter has congnition, yet all the evidence says otherwise. The lawyers on the parents side have turned this into a circus while invoking everyone's emotions, intimating that the woman uttered "I want to live" and all kinds of other stuff.
While it may be thought by some to be cruel, if the woman wants to live, then she needs to eat. If she can eat then she obviously has cognitive ability. My guess is that she can not feed herself or swallow when spoon fed. No amount of rehabilitation will save this woman. Were she living 50 years ago she would have already died.
While we don't know and will never know what she thinks - if anything - my guess is that if she is aware at all of her situation she might find it horrible. Perhaps she is saying "I want to die" instead.
Nobody will ever know. Making wild accusation against the husband is just as cruel as pulling the feeding tube.
I side with the Judge and Husband in what is certainly a most dreadful situation they have both found themselves in.
Just my thougts.
In another thread, I went through this in greater detail - but I believe that when the end is near for someone, the majority will fight to hang on, even with living wills or discussions with spouses.
My sister was a neurologist and recommended to her patients losing muscle and/or nerve control that the quality of life on a ventillator was poor and to avoid it. BUT, she contracted ALS herself and when the time came that she couldn't breathe on her own any more, she chose life and the ventillator - without a second thought.
I don't think any of us know how we would really feel in that situation. While it is hard to watch a loved one become dependent on others and losing dignity, I think their will to live prevails no matter what the circumstances (this doesn't include those in chronic pain, of course.)
You may be correct that Terri might not be able to swallow, but one does have to ask WHY the judge forbids anyone from attempting to feed and hydrate her orally once the tube doing so now it pulled. ask yourself why he would do that?
Terri has apparently not recieved therapies as required by the ADA for years. (when was her last plan of care filed?I'm sure someone can tell us) until they actually get around to killing her the judges duty is to ensure that she is recieving the care needed to insure her comfort, including range of motion therapies to help avoid contractures. PT, OT and medical and dental care. It really sounds as if the 'judge' has also protected her guardian from having to provide these therpies.
Also , one has to ask why those who trumpet their goodness and compassion in passing the ADA to help protect those who can't protect themselves,(those democrats who are silent on Terries rights) aren't condemming the lack of services it requires for the disabled in Terri's case. (me thinks there's some two faced bigots who use those who truely do have compassion for those less abled)
BTW, how many of you realize that a parent does not automatically get custody of their disabled young adult if they have that young adult declared incompetant? Sure they get a say in what goes on in their family members life but it doesn't mean squat if the state decides to do something else...this happens in most states, I believe it's changed in MN so families are now in control after one legislator found out the state had all the say in the life of his disabled brother, he and his family were shocked to find this out that they really didn't have much say in moving their son and brother home. (this fact is really getting out in the disabled community so things are changing) Also, while I could appoint a guardian for my children, in my will, when they were minors the state (judge) Was NOT required to honor my wishes there either.
So unless there is something in the law stating the spouse or parent get custody of the disabled person, that person is basically under the whim judge who assigns his/her guardian, Judge Greer has decided it's MS. Personally I think it's wrong and pray for Terri to survive and thrive with the family that truely LOVES her.
This if of course just my opinion.