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To: MonroeDNA

agreed, let her find peace in heaven


590 posted on 03/18/2005 11:45:22 AM PST by stuck_in_new_orleans
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To: stuck_in_new_orleans

Yeah, death by dehydration is sooooo peaceful...as the quotes from this article I excerpted from another thread detail.

Here is what you "let her die" people want to make her go through.

Doctor Describes Process of Dehydration

"What will probably kill Terri is dehydration because it's much quicker than starvation," Stevens said. "To starve to death takes eight to 12 weeks. You can die of dehydration in anywhere from three to five days to two weeks."

Stevens said the amount of fluids in Terri's system when her gastrostomy or "feeding tube" was removed and whether she receives any fluids by mouth will determine how long she lives.

Initial effects of the lack of hydration will include:

Extreme thirst

Nausea and cramping

Dry skin, becoming wrinkled as fluids are drawn from the skin to hydrate the organs.

"She's likely to become dizzy and begin to have cramping in her arms and legs. That's because her electrolytes – her sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes in her blood – start getting out of whack because of lack of fluids."

Terri's body will experience other effects due to the forced dehydration that many might not have been considered. "She'll see decreased secretions. If she tries to cry, she won't be able to make tears very well, if at all," Stevens said. "Her mouth will become dry and saliva thick. You can have cracking of the (mucous membranes) of the mouth and lips as they dry out."

Those external symptoms of dehydration are accompanied by internal effects, as well. "People often get headaches, then (become) lethargic and finally go into coma," Stevens continued. "It actually can cause seizures.

"As it progressively gets worse, what happens (are) the physical signs. Her blood pressure will drop, her heart rate will pick up. She'll actually, ultimately go into shock," Stevens explained. "You just don't have enough fluid to keep your blood pressure up, and it drops so low, and that sometimes can be a terminal event, or an arrhythmia of her heart.

"Her blood will get thicker," Stevens continued. "Sometimes, people who are severely dehydrated will actually have strokes just because the blood gets so thick that it clots. It's not a pretty picture."

Which of these symptoms Terri experiences and to what degree will depend on whether the hospice staff makes any attempt to hydrate her by mouth and whether she is offered any pain medication.

"If they sedate her, she could be semi-conscious or unconscious while this is going on," Stevens said. "It's not a very pleasant experience, unlike what the Hemlock Society and other groups try to make you believe."

Stevens explained that he had "had a little bit of experience" in this particular field "since I worked in Africa for 11 years with severely dehydrated people, especially kids."

Starvation, Stevens said, is not really an issue for Terri. "It's a long process that, depending on what condition people are in when it begins, determines how long it's going to take," Stevens said. "But if you're not getting fluids, it's academic interest. Before you starve to death, you'll die of dehydration."

Terri Schindler Schiavo's feeding tube was removed at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Based on Stevens' estimates, she could die from dehydration as early as midday Saturday.


616 posted on 03/18/2005 11:47:42 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat (I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: stuck_in_new_orleans
agreed, let her find peace in heaven

While her murderers burn in hell.

902 posted on 03/18/2005 12:19:54 PM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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