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To: MineralMan
You are mistaken. I don't actually have a position on this, except that any action must be legal. These end of life cases are always wierd in one way or another. I am not opposed to people making living wills to decide how they will be treated if in a terminal situation. Neither is President Bush. He signed just such a law in Texas when he was governor. The question here is a legal one, and that is my only interest in the matter

Some things are more valuable and more important than obeying the laws of the state. Human life is one of them. If you are only looking at the this issue from the perspective of law, then you are not seeing the whole picture.

-A8

1,161 posted on 03/22/2005 12:04:36 PM PST by adiaireton8 ("There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse." - Plato, Phaedo 89d)
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To: adiaireton8

"Some things are more valuable and more important than obeying the laws of the state. Human life is one of them. If you are only looking at the this issue from the perspective of law, then you are not seeing the whole picture."




Either we have the concept of removing people from life support codified in the law, or we do not. Florida does have that in its laws.

The question, then, comes down to how that law is written and how it is applied.

Many here are opposed to any such laws, and I can respect that point of view, even though I disagree with it. The fact remains, however, that such laws are in place.

In the case of Terri Schiavo, the legal process has been long and has gone through many hearings and appeals. This case is about the law.

If enough people disagree with these laws, then they should devote their efforts to changing them. But...as long as laws permitting such removal from life support (which includes feeding and hydration in Florida) then the question becomes one of law.

I'm not there. I don't know any of the principals in the case. I have not read every court transcript. Because of that, I cannot make a judgment regarding this particular case. That's not my job.

As for myself, I executed a very precise living will in California, and re-executed it when I moved to Minnesota. My wife has done the same. It is a legal matter, based on my own desires, and will not be opposed, because I have made it absolutely clear under what circumstances I wish to have artificial life support (including feeding and hydration) ceased. Very clear.

I recommend that everyone execute such a document. If you wish for every means to be taken to prolong life, then you can put that in there, too, and it will be done. There is no excuse for leaving these things for family to decide, when you have to power to make such decisions for yourself.

Terri did not do that, but Florida law has options in such cases. The courts have ruled. Again, I do not know all of the details, so I must rely on those who do.

I've seen so much half-truth and supposition on this topic now for the past year or so. It has become impossible to tell exactly where the truth lies. So, I turn to the transcripts.

You may wish to do something else, and that's fine. You can protest the current state of affairs, and that's fine, too. However, without meeting the legal requirements for a challenge, you'll find that your efforts will not gain the result you want.

We are a nation of laws. If the laws are wrong, in your yes, change them by convincing others that they are wrong.


1,191 posted on 03/22/2005 12:18:50 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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