I supported Michael during this whole fracas last year and got repeatedly flamed on this forum for it. The moderators even suspended my account for a while because I wouldn't desist reiterating my stance. Why? Because I knew what he was going through since my own wife died from cancer after suffering terribly for three years. I signed a DNR order and overruled the objections of her family who wanted to keep her on life support. To this day, I'm the devil incarnate to them because I didn't want to see my wife kept alive by machines with no hope of recovery and in constant pain.
The autopsy proved Michael was right all along. Terri's brain couldn't process hearing, vision, or thought. IOW, Terri had NO cognitive ability and a few minutes of video out of dozens and dozens of hours of recordings that gives the impression of rationality doesn't change the fact of the autopsy. Her parents had their own agenda in releasing those snippets of video - and it's obvious you were one of those duped by them.
It is unfortunate conservatives have let this issue divide us - but the blame firmly rests on those who gullibly believed the wild claims of Terri's parents, family, and lawyer (e.g., I'll never forget their lawyer's claim Terri was trying to say, "I want to live!" to them).
Discontinuing an artificial sustaining of body that has no hope of recovery is not the same as murdering someone. It happens every single day in emergency rooms around the world. They withdrew something artificial; they didn't smother her with a pillow or inject her with cyanide. There's a big difference.
I held my wife's hand as she died after doctors discontinued treatments. I didn't strangle her or stab her; we merely discontinued artificially sustaining her when all hope was gone. I loved her immensely and to this day the pain of her loss is palpable after all these years.
Make no mistake - I'm a conservative Christian and will always be so. But I simply will not tolerate those who intentionally deceive or manipulate others for their own agendas whether they're my fellow conservatives or liberals who will destroy our great nations if given a chance.
Excellent - I'm glad you said it. No one could have said it better (for obvious reasons). I hope rational people can see the awesome profound sense of honor and love in your actions and words.
Food and water are now artificial? When the Chinese murder infants like this, we civilized Westerners frown on it. Mainly because it is inhumane and WRONG.
Don't take my word for it, try going "all natural" for a few weeks. Report back to us about how "peaceful" you looked.
I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for the common sense reflected in your post.
Their agenda was that they didn't want their daughter to be starved and dehydrated to death. I guess I can have sympathy for their position. I wouldn't want my child in that situation, either. They wanted to take care of her. She was their daughter. They had known and loved her ALL HER LIFE.
I take umbrage at being told I was duped. I want to know STILL how she could respond to "open your eyes" and not only turn her head toward the doctor, but lean in to him, face up, open her eyes as wide as possible, and then raise her eyebrows as she is almost BUGGING her eyes out. You could see her trying so hard as well. I don't give a flying fig what that autopsy report said--I saw her respond. I heard her laugh and I heard her try to vocalize. I am not someone easily fooled, either.
You know they said that Hailee Poutre was brain dead, too. That old familiar "persistent vegetative state" that they like to label people. They even got permission from the court to remove her from life-sustaining measures as her parents were to blame for her condition.
But little Hailee didn't want to die. She woke up and shocked everyone. That brain dead brain, well, it wasn't so dead after all.
I respect your position and my heart aches for what you have had to endure with your wife and losing her. But your wife obviously made her wishes known. Terri did not. Michael suddenly recalling a conversation that they had in passing, only AFTER receiving a jury award, doesn't pass muster. Sorry, that is how I feel.
I have a friend that is dying now, and she has me listed as one of the people authorized to make those end of life decisions for her. What an unbelievable responsibility. I made certain that she clearly spelled out every single thing, because I am not someone who could easily pull the plug. Thankfully, her brother is first in line to make those pronouncements, and I am certain he will follow her wishes.
I appreciate the thought you put into your response, and except for the part where you called me a "dupe" ;^) I appreciate your civil tone. This difference of opinion can get ugly fast, and the issue is an emotional one--for both sides. I don't think we will ever agree on this issue in regard to Terri. I think that we can agree, as Christians, that everyone involved needs our prayers.
Sorry but your wife's tragedy is not the same as Terri's. Terri deserved to live with her family that loved her
While I understand and sympathize with your loss, it's difficult for some of us to lump nutrition and hydration in with artificial life support. Babies are unable to feed themselves and we assist them-is that "artificial life support"? Terri was brain damaged, not terminally ill.