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To: bjs1779
Do you think Terri had the right to try to swallow her own food and water if she chose to do so? Yes or no.


This is something of a strawman argument, don't you think? Since Mrs. Schiavo could not safely swallow enough food/water to sustain her, and lacked the cognitive ability required to "[choose] to do so", your question is, at best, hypothetical. But if she had been undoubtedly capable of a) volition; and b) safe oral nutrition and hydration, (that capability being determined by reputable medical personnel), then certainly she would have had a "right" to eat and drink orally. I don't believe anyone would say otherwise.
909 posted on 02/14/2006 1:05:01 PM PST by quentin
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To: quentin

On the contrary, Terri was put on a feeding tube for the convenience of the nurses.


910 posted on 02/14/2006 1:36:35 PM PST by candeee
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To: quentin
Since Mrs. Schiavo could not safely swallow enough food/water to sustain her, and lacked the cognitive ability required to "[choose] to do so", your question is, at best, hypothetical. But if she had been undoubtedly capable of a) volition; and b) safe oral nutrition and hydration, (that capability being determined by reputable medical personnel),

Isn't that sweet that they were concerned about her wellbeing? By 'reputable', you mean the three for hire death doctors, correct? And while we're at it, we'll just ignore the sworn affidavits from medical personnel who spoon fed her in various nursing homes, too. Happy now?

912 posted on 02/14/2006 1:54:38 PM PST by bjs1779
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To: quentin; RGSpincich
Quentin, I am glad to carry discussions with you.

If you sense hostility, keep in mind, we are targeted by trolls and are watchful of their attempts to disrupt and hijack. I sincerely hope you learn plenty here and recognize the resources we can bring to bear.

To carry on the ability to eat, and other signs many would like to see as proof of human life, I can give you an example. As I have noted elsewhere, we could only dream our son of 26 years had the responsiveness of Terri. His eyes could not track as well, and he could not respond as well. He could lock eyes just for a heartbeat, and would burst into a smile and that was that.

Yet, we were able to feed him by mouth. It is very hard work and takes patience, not highly qualified medical opinion, to feed a person in that condition. He did not know how to chew, could swallow reflexively, a motor function common to even the severely retarded. But we took our time and did what the medical technicians said was impossible. So far as aspiration is concerned, we at times offered gelatin, Jello, to keep him hydrated. We did it for 26 years and he thrived, did not develop, but lived a happy life.

Look back at the truths about Terri and you will see she was on the road to a fair recovery way back then, when Mikey started his own version of Exit Protocol. To make observations such as you made, I suggest they be backed by something more close to real experience for them to be credible. Echoed opinions of biased medical personnel are not necessarily valid to those of us who know better.

942 posted on 02/14/2006 7:16:27 PM PST by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam Tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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