Battle Over Possible Euthanasia of New York Teenager Gets Pro-Life Attention

Life News ^ | 1/1/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Bronx, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The battle over the life and death of a teenage girl in New York has drawn the attention of pro-life advocates in recent days. The fight to save Javona Peters reminds some of the struggle of the Schindler family in Florida to save the life of Terri Schiavo, a beloved daughter and sibling whose former husband eventually took her life.

In this case, Peters' parents are disagreeing on whether or not to remove her feeding tube and take her life.

Peters fell into a coma in October while she had a routine medical procedure at Montefiore Medical Center. Doctors have pegged her as being in a persistent vegetative state, a medical diagnosis pro-life advocates dispute because so many patients have partially or fully recovered.

Peters' parents were never married and are estranged and have considered a medical malpractice suit against the hospital, according to a New York Daily News report.

But Janet Joseph and Leonard Peters are also feuding over Peters' care and have each filed separate requests to be given custody of their daughter. Peters has been opposed to removing the feeding tube but has wavered recently.

Edward Gersowitz, an attorney for Joseph, told the newspaper that "Because of her condition, she cannot make decisions for herself, and the court will have to appoint a guardian to make decisions for her."

As a teen, Peters doesn't have a living will or some other advanced directive providing guidelines for the type of medical treatment, or withdrawal, she favors.

The case has drawn the attention of the Schindler family, which sent out a notice about the case from its foundation, which helps disabled patients receive legal help and appropriate medical care.

Leading bioethics watchdog Wesley J. Smith has also commented on it and he says the PVS diagnosis seems "rushed" to him.

Smith says he sympathizes with the father and the pressure he is under to take Peters' life.

"We know that too often medical teams and social workers pressure and cajole for such outcomes," he said.

Smith draws comparisons to the case of Haleigh Poutre, a Massachusetts girl whom LifeNews.com reported was also declared PVS, but who has recovered from the abuse she suffered.

In that case, state government officials had ordered her feeding tube removed but she recovered from the PVS state shortly beforehand.

[8mmMauser]

Pro life prism on candidates...

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Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- Iowa Republicans and Democrats head to their caucus votes tonight and many of them will be guided by their pro-life views on which candidate to support. On the Democratic side, all of the candidate strongly support abortion. Republicans have mostly pro-life candidates with nuanced views or backgrounds on the issues.

Republican Candidates

Mike Huckabee - The former Arkansas governor is one of the strongest pro-life candidates in the field and has a history of supporting pro-life measures. In 2005, Huckabee signed a parental consent bill and in March 2003 Huckabee signed a ban on human cloning. Huckabee also signed a bill in 2003 authorizing the sale of Choose Life license plates. The governor earned the endorsement of Georgia Right to Life because he favors a personhood bill there that would provide legal protection for unborn children.

Starting in the back of the pack, Huckabee has surged in November and December and now is shown leading in Iowa in most polls and has built momentum elsewhere. His expected strong showing would lend credence to his newfound top-tier status and give him momentum to do better in Iowa and to strongly compete in South Carolina.

Mitt Romney - Romney has been perhaps the most controversial candidate when it comes to abortion because he once strongly support it. Romney says he converted to the pro-life position after confronting the destruction of human life in embryonic stem cell research. Despite frequently sounding pro-life themes during the campaign and earning the endorsement of leading pro-life figures Jack Willke and Jim Bopp, some have questioned whether Romney is truly pro-life and point to past actions that cast aspersions on his claims. Though he opposes the destructive research, Romney has drawn criticism for saying he supports killing human embryos "leftover" at fertility clinics.

Romney has built a solid campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire and is one of the Republicans considered most likely to win the nomination. A win or second in Iowa would put him in good stead for New Hampshire, but a second in Iowa and a second to John McCain in New Hampshire may take the wind out of his sails. He also has to worry that the media may spin a second place finish into a poor performance given how much money and time he's spent in Iowa.

Fred Thompson - The former Tennessee senator took a long time to formally enter the race but quickly earned the support of National Right to Life and several statewide pro-life groups. He opposes both abortion and embryonic stem cell research and compiled a strong 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate. Thompson was tagged on comments about Terri Schiavo and has drawn criticism for backing the campaign finance bill, but he's since backed down on the latter and said he would sign a bill helping patients like Terri receive appropriate medical care. He also was criticized for a few hours of lobbying he did for a pro-abortion group in the early 1990s, but said he was simply representing the clients of his law firm and didn't support their efforts.

Thompson was hailed as a savior of a lackluster Republican field when he first entered the race but has been jeered for becoming a lackluster candidate himself. His polling numbers have dropped steadily in the last two months and he is expected to come in third or fourth in Iowa. With no campaign in New Hampshire, Thompson must finish strong tonight to be able to fund his campaign until the backyard contest in South Carolina.

John McCain -- The senator from Arizona has long had a pro-life voting record when it comes to abortion issues, but his position on everything else has caused pro-life groups to lose considerable sleep. The campaign finance bill that limits their activities bears his name and McCain has voted repeatedly for embryonic stem cell research funding. He's also been criticized for opposing and then supporting the reversal of Roe v. Wade. When Sen. Sam Brownback dropped out, the pro-life luminary threw his support to McCain but some chalked it up to support of a colleague rather than ideological similarities.

McCain's campaign was considered through during the summer and fall months but he has rebounded in recent weeks as other candidates have attacked one another and as foreign policy matters have come to the forefront. He gave up on campaigning in Iowa so a third place finish would exceed expectations and give him a boost heading into New Hampshire. Polls show him leading or second in the Granite State and he's performed well there in the past. A third in Iowa and a win in New Hampshire could be McCain's ticket to Minneapolis.

Rudy Giuliani -- Rudy Giuliani is the only self-declared pro-abortion candidate in the Republican race and he's not likely going to get the support of many pro-life voters in Iowa. He's been attacked for flip-flopping on partial-birth abortions and taxpayer-funded abortions and has been called out for inflating adoption statistics in New York. LifeNews.com has issued a non-endorsement urging pro-life voters to reject his candidacy.

Despite claims from some political observers and media pundits and despite polls showing him competing well nationally, LifeNews.com predicted almost a month ago that Giuliani would not win the GOP nomination. Since then, Giuliani has given up on Iowa and New Hampshire and may come in sixth tonight behind Ron Paul. Giuliani has no realistic shot at competing with the top-tier candidates in conservative South Carolina and three losses in a row (combined with more likely in Wyoming, Nevada or Michigan) will make his stand in Florida meaningless.

Ron Paul -- A former surgeon and obstetrician, Paul is strongly pro-life on abortion and has flatly refused to fund embryonic stem cell research. However, his approach is both a blessing and a curse. Paul wants abortions illegal but has opposed several federal bills that would limit or stop abortions because he doesn't think it the right way to end abortion. That's earned him both praise and scorn from pro-life advocates depending on their strategic approach. As president Paul would certainly stop the kinds of domestic and international abortion funding pro-life advocates oppose.

The Internet sensation has come along way from his one percent standing in the polls during much of 2007 and could surprise observers with a third or fourth place finish in Iowa and a strong showing in New Hampshire. He's raised more money of late than most of the field but can't seem to convert that into more support in the polls.

Duncan Hunter - Congressman Hunter is strongly pro-life on both abortion and bioethics issues. However, he has never been more than a blip in the polls and the question is less about whether he will become the nominee and more about when he will drop out and whom he will endorse.

Alan Keyes - The former ambassador is a hero to many pro-life advocates, but the reasons for his very late entry into the presidential race are still unclear to many. Sadly, his poor showings will detract from the strong performance he put in during the 2000 Republican primary when he placed third in Iowa and stayed in the race long enough to raise the pro-life standard high............................

Pro-Life Candidate Guide to the Iowa Republican, Democratic Caucus

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[8mmMauser]

Thread by SErtelt on watch of backers of Planned Parenthood...

Thanks, wagglebee, for the ping.

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life group that monitors Planned Parenthood and companies that support the nation's largest abortion business has released a new list of corporate supporters.

Life Decisions International says 160 companies have stopped backing the pro-abortion group since its boycotts began.

Planned Parenthood Watchdog Releases New List of Corporate Supporters

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[8mmMauser]

Interesting thread on Romney in light of last night Iowa Caucus...

BOSTON, January 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A number of Massachusetts conservative leaders are warning pro-life and pro-family voters to pay close attention to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's decisions as governor on marriage, life, children, and family, saying that a number of conservatives are covering up a pro-abortion, pro-gay legacy to sustain his candidacy.

Conservative Activists Warn "Aggressive Cover-up" of Pro-abortion, Pro-gay Romney Legacy

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[Lesforlife]

Romney Fairy Tale:

www.ARTLaction.com

[Dante3]

All of the GOP candidates, except Rudy, are now pro-life. Just because someone has not been in the past does not mean they cannot change. I have a relative who has made this kind of change and is now strongly pro life.

[8mmMauser]

Hyphenating the Conservative base...

CONCORD, N.H. - They were called Reagan Democrats and then "values voters." They were the police and firefighters President Bush credited with his 2004 reelection. And in this week's Iowa caucuses, they were the dominant constituency in the Republican Party.

For decades, Republicans sought to reach beyond their traditional base of business-oriented, upper-income voters by wooing blue-collar voters through social issues and appeals to patriotism. But Thursday in Iowa, working-class Republicans flexed their muscles, sending former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas to a clear victory over businessman Mitt Romney - and leaving some upper-income conservatives to wonder whether they are in control of their party anymore.

~Snip~

When Bush launched his ambitious campaign to privatize Social Security, Christian conservatives expressed dismay, saying their members couldn't support such a scheme. But when Bush answered requests from Christian conservatives to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose husband wanted her removed from life support, many GOP economic conservatives were dismayed.

Such economic conservatives also blamed social conservatives for increased government spending on Medicare, education, and other traditionally liberal priorities under Bush and the recent GOP-led Congress............

Lower-earning voters reshaping GOP base

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[8mmMauser]

Some of the strongest voices of advocacy can come from the converted.

[8mmMauser]

Thread by Jay777 on Fred Thompson endorsement by Right to Life in Wyoming...

Thanks, narses, for the ping.

"We're proud to endorse Senator Thompson for president because he has a long track record of supporting pro-life principles," stated Steven Ertelt, President of Right to Life of Wyoming. "Senator Thompson had a 100% pro-life voting record during his tenure in Congress. Today, he supports overturning the Roe v Wade decision which allowed for unlimited abortions, he opposes euthanasia, and he opposes forcing taxpayers to fund scientific research that requires the destruction of human life.".................

Fred Thompson Announces Endorsement of Right to Life of Wyoming

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[floriduh voter]

I ask again, "So, if President Bush answered our requests, where then is Terri?"

He did NOT answer our requests and neither did his baby brother.

Never ask politicians for much.

[8mmMauser]

Well he did give an answer and it came graphically from baby bother, branded now in my mind as the image of Pontius Pilate, too busy washing hands to help right now.

[8mmMauser]

Am still keeping watch on Javona, but lots of media silence at the moment. Will persevere.

[8mmMauser]

How many Kings? King of spades, King of clubs, King of hearts? How many Jim Kings? Or is it a Land O'Lakes buttering up? This is from St. Pete Times...

King, a Land O' Lakes Republican, is the underdog candidate running against Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, in the 5th Congressional District. King filed a complaint last week alleging the federal law aimed at keeping patients' medical information confidential, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, was violated during the preparation and presentation of an informational hearing about veterans' health care at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa.

~Snip~

But wait. There's a problem with King attacking her on any of those issues. It seems his platform is even more conservative than Brown-Waite's. Other than billing himself as the "true" conservative," his issues are her issues.

So, perhaps it will be up to King to point out where Brown-Waite has not toed the party's conservative line. In that case, he'll have to bring up her support of embryonic stem cell research and her opposition to the House's intervention in the Terri Schiavo controversy. Heck, he even might need to pin her down on abortion, an issue that has been a moving target for her over the years.

King must focus on big trees to win seat

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[8mmMauser]

This thread from wagglebee describes a remarkable win of pro life values from those who would decide who dies.

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OXFORD, January 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The quintuplets of a Russian couple were born in the UK after doctors in Russia denied them care unless they aborted some of them.

Dimitri and Varvara Artamkin, both Russian natives, gave birth to five girls at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford last month. Each of the babies now weighs 3 pounds 3 ounces, and they have been separated since birth so they can undergo incubation in two hospitals.

Dmitri, a mathematics professor, says that the children are each a gift from God.

"We believe God has given them to us as a gift and sent us here, to Britain, to give them the best possible chance," he said. "We don't yet know when we'll be able to take them home - it depends on the progress they make. But we're praying it will be soon."..................

Quintuplets Born in UK in Defiance of Medical Pressure to Abort

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[8mmMauser]

Fred Thompson picks up more endorsements pro life...

Thread by wagglebee.

MC LEAN, Va., Jan. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today Fred Thompson announced the endorsement of Citizens for Life, the New Hampshire affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.

Fred Thompson Announces Endorsement of Citizens for Life (New Hampshire)

[8mmMauser]

Rudy is attacked for his abortion bent.

Thread by wagglebee.

MEDIA ADVISORY, Jan. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pro-life activist Joseph Landry confronted Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani for Giuliani's support of child-killing by abortion in New Hampshire:

Pro-lifer Confronts Giuliani During Speech -- 'You are a baby killer'

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[8mmMauser]

Lest we sell short our youth even in these times...

Thread by wagglebee:

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7th and 8th graders say the most remarkable things. That truth is being born out through some of the entries to the 2008 Pennsylvania Pro-Life Essay contest.

Students at St. Francis Xavier school in Gettysburg recently submitted their essays for the contest, which ends March 1st. Some of their insights are truly amazing.

~Snip~

Or consider this insight about the Terri Schiavo case from a boy named Michael:

"(Terri) Schiavo as you may know was euthanized because she no longer had any worth to her husband."

Are Your Smarter Than a 7th-Grader? What Pro-Life Teens Say About Abortion

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[8mmMauser]

[Pajamajan]

"Smith says he sympathizes with the father and the pressure he is under to take Peters' life."

That's telling it like it is.

Prayers for Javona and her dad.

Glad to see the Schindlers are still fighting the good fight. I don't think it's coincidence that there have been so many people "miraculously" waking up from coma, and recovering from PVS, lately.

[floriduh voter]

bttt for Jovana. The graphic is freeper created to be downloaded and sent everywhere! Permission to plaster all over the internet is authorized by the creator.

[floriduh voter]

Fred Thompson was invited to meet with Bobby Schindler. Will he take up the invitation here in Florida? If he won’t, I can’t support his candidacy. This is a civil rights, disability rights matter as well as a religious right - to live, that is.