Replies

You asked: "What I think you're saying (correct me if I'm wrong) is that Terri wouldn't have wanted her parents to see her dying. Wouldn't that also apply to removal of a ventilator, if she were dependent on one?" What I mean is that Terri (or anyone contemplating end-of-life issues) should answer a series of questions, one of which concerns whether they accept that their families will have to witness the physical effects of the ill or dying person's choices. (Yes, you are accurate that this would be the case with respirators and the like, as well.) I believe writing a living will and having it witnessed brings home to the person what could be the ramifications of end-of-life choices. Given that dying of starvation and dehydration is a long and gruesome (at least to witness) process, compared to watching someone die within minutes of a ventilator being turned off, verbal remarks alone should not be controlling. I happen to think that Terri, if she were asked if she would want to have water and nutrition cut off over her parents' anguished objections, would have drawn the line at respirators and the like. But I swear to you -- please believe I mean this -- I am not crafting an argument out of sympathy for Terri's parents (although I surely do have sympathy for them). If Terri had draft a living will that specifically spelled out hydration and nutrition (as opposed to "life support"), I would sadly agree that her wishes should be controlling. But I find unpersuasive the evidence that Terri thoughtfully considered the possibility she would be in a near or actual PVS, and that she would want to be deprived of food and hydration in such a state. Where there is doubt about this, the assumption should be that the person would not want to be dehydrated and starved to death.

If Terri had draft a living will that specifically spelled out hydration and nutrition (as opposed to "life support"), I would sadly agree that her wishes should be controlling.

Had Terri had such a document in hand, before 2000, it was considered a FELONY. That kind of document may not have even LEGALLY passed muster, as I strongly doubt that any attorney would draw up a document that would allow future ILLEGAL acts to be sworn to.