Life is very special. One of the ways that makes us a step above animals (Sorry PETA) is our capabilities to feel. I do think this trait is a gift from God to be used if we so wish. None of us take delight nor want our love ones to suffer nor that of strangers but it is the crosses that we sometimes bare that makes us stronger not weaker. President Reagan was a great man who through his works now millions of people experience freedom for the first time but do you think he should have been starved to death so he could be put out of his misery or do you think that just maybe he was teaching us one more lesson before God called him home? When we start killing people because it is the humane thing to do, I can promise that this will not make life more valuable but cheapen it further.
This society has already deemed which of God's Creations should be born or not. Now we will dictate to God when we will die.
"The only thing necessary to insure the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Is it the works of good men to starve the innocents to death? Peach, I do not require nor want a response. Just a moment for you to reflect. I can not change your heart nor would want to because this is not my place. Only you and your conscience can be comfortable with your choices just as it is with my own.
I do hope Peach that you and your family never ever have to walk in Terri's parents footsteps. I mean this in all sincerity.
That was a lovely post Two-Bits and I appreciate your tone in addressing this difficult issue.
I have posted my family's story on FR several times now, but we HAVE walked in Terri's families shoes. Twice. Once for removal of a feeding tube on the recommendation of doctors after it became clear that nothing could be done following a massive stroke. It was my husband's aunt who was like a mother to him. She could have lived for years on machines.
The other was my lovely, sweet stepsister and my stepdad who I love and call dad had to make the ultimate decision to have his daughter removed from life support equipment. And she could have lived for years on machines. If anyone can call that living. In our view, they had already died. It was only their bodies here and machines and modern technology were keeping them alive.
Neither of those two people had Living Wills. And I have seen in my family and other families the torment this causes. But they carried out promises they long ago made to loved ones. It is the last thing we can do for them.
Have you ever stood by the bedside of someone hooked up to tubes and been told there is no hope? I've seen friends go through it and family members. Every time I'd visit the hospital there would be co-workers and other friends and family. Without fail, the person standing with me in the hallway or waiting room or at the end of the bed has said "Don't let that happen to me."
I understand fully that others feel differently. And the only good likely to come of all this is that perhaps people will think more carefully about how they want to die and ensure that their wishes are well known and documented. And if you wish to be kept alive by a feeding tube indefinitely, then you need to specifically mention that.
Anyway, I respsect your opinion and understand we aren't going to change each other's minds.