What disgusts me most about those who say, "she's better off dead" or "I wouldn't want to live like that" is that these people think they're being merciful, when in fact, they are merely dehumanizing another human being. It's easier to say "kill them" if one doesn't view another as equal, as human.
Nobody wants to live with disabilities, but we take what we can get. Being disabled doesn't make a person any less human than another, especially in God's eyes.
Another ridiculous argument by those who wanted Terri dead is the "death with dignity" argument. They claimed that Terri was brain dead and that she was nothing but an empty shell. How can anyone argue about a person's dignity when they don't believe there is any person there? The truth appears to be that they don't see a disabled person as useful, and thus should be put to death. That's the real basis behind all those statements, Terri wasn't useful to some people and not worthy of life to them.
And someone tell me (please!) how dying of starvation and dehydration--very painful--can ever be called "dying with dignity"? Personally, I call it "being tortured to death."
and a very real danger of slipping into "duty to die"
Doctors say that, when the actuality happens, 9 our of 10 people who made "wouldn't want to live under..." statements, when they then unexpectedly find themselves there - change their minds and want to live. Life is precious