Lauren Richardson Becomes Next Terri Schiavo as Parents Debate Euthanasia (Delaware)

LifeNews ^ | 2/1/2008 | Steven Ertelt

[Pyro7480]

A Delaware woman has become the next Terri Schiavo as her parents engage in a massive legal and philosophical debate about whether to subject her to euthanasia. Richardson is a 23-year-old woman who overdosed on heroin in August 2006 while she was three months pregnant with a baby girl.

Doctors kept Lauren on life support until she delivered her baby in February 2007. Shortly thereafter, her parents began a fight that is reminiscent of the battle over Terri's life and death.

As in the Terri Schiavo case, physicians have been quick to label Lauren as having a persistent vegetative state -- something Terri's family called dehumanizing and medically inaccurate as patients have recovered from it.

Edith Towers, Lauren's mother, wants to remove her feeding tube and starve and dehydrate her to death in the same manner that Michael Schiavo subjected Terri.

Towers claims Lauren would never have wanted to live as a permanently disabled person, but Lauren, as with Terri, did not have a living will or other advance directive spelling out her treatment wishes. She claims Lauren told her during Terri's battle that she would not want to live like her.

On the other side is Randy Richardson, Lauren's father is fighting to save her life and wants to be appointed as her guardian to ensure she receives appropriate medical care and treatment.

"She's committed no crime and doesn't deserve to have this death imposed on her," Richardson told the News Journal newspaper on Wednesday. "We just want to give her a chance."

Lauren no longer uses a ventilator or other breathing apparatus and is not on artificial life support -- something Randy contends is showing progress.

Towers is winning the legal battle in court as she was awarded guardianship of Lauren, but Randy Richardson has filed an appeal.

The News Journal indicates Delaware Court of Chancery Master Sam Glasscock III has put any action taking Lauren's life on hold while the court reviews the guardianship ruling -- a process that could take as much as three months to complete.

Regardless of the decision, an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court is expected.

Randy Richardson also has other concerns about his daughter and says that Towers, his ex-wife, has not allowed Lauren's baby to see her.

Richardson and the Delaware Pro-Life Coalition released a video on Wednesday that shows Lauren at a nursing home reacting to family members and a dog.

The pro-life group also organized a prayer vigil near the Arbors Rehab Center in New Castle.

[floriduh voter]

I wonder how much money changed hands re: Terri? I hope we find out when court employees start getting their pink slips due to judicial mismanagement and cronyism at the top. Terri’s case(s) were compartmentalized but surely, there are state employees who know what we know but if we say it, we’re crazy loons. If or when they come forward, the truth will have some corroboration.

[swain_forkbeard]

I don’t have a pro-death agenda.

What you are willing to tolerate is of no interest to me.

If you cannot read what others have to say without becoming angry, you should consider either not reading it or learning to enjoy being angry.

[swain_forkbeard]

Are you, by your own definition, neglecting a child living in Sudan? If you don’t spend your life locating and helping them, is it neglect? Immoral? Criminal?

[wagglebee]

Saying that someone should be starved and dehydrated to death epitomizes a pro death agenda.

I am willing to tolerate the existence of deathbots, what I will not tolerate is for you to use a pro-life thread on a pro-life forum for your pro-death propaganda. This is not a debating society, we are not interested in what the “other side” has to day, we are pro-life, without apology or compromise.

[wagglebee]

Are you, by your own definition, neglecting a child living in Sudan? If you don’t spend your life locating and helping them, is it neglect? Immoral? Criminal?

Are YOU lost?

[LilAngel]

Terri’s Dailies threads are troll-free zones, reserved for pro-life perspective. There are other threads available for the opposing view. That’s more than generous on the part of Jim Robinson. There is no excuse for dragging that crap onto this thread.

[wagglebee]

Terri’s Dailies threads are troll-free zones, reserved for pro-life perspective. There are other threads available for the opposing view. That’s more than generous on the part of Jim Robinson. There is no excuse for dragging that crap onto this thread.

It looks like the "swarm of lucusts" has been reduced to a single pesky botfly.

[swain_forkbeard]

I am no troll.

[wagglebee]

I am no troll.

Okay fine, deathbot then.

[LilAngel]

Then stop trolling this thread.

[LilAngel]

Botflies and swine go together.

[wagglebee]

Jim Robinson pulled a thread yesterday for people making similar comments; however, the “Terri Dailies” threads have long been protected, so hopefully he would just pull the comments.

Jim has made it abundantly clear that Free Republic is a PRO-LIFE forum and NOT some sort of “debating” society.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965842/posts?page=2#2
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1914017/posts

[wagglebee]

Botflies and swine go together.

Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.
-- Matthew 7:6

[wagglebee]

Lauren's family is asking for everyone to pray for her, especially this week.

 

Lauren Marie Richardson is a twenty-three year old woman who suffered an anoxic brain injury after an accident on August 28, 2006.

  Lauren's life is endangered by a recent court decision made by Master Sam Glasscock III, by which her feeding tube will be removed.  As a disabled citizen, she is defenseless against the court-approved, imposed act of dehydration and starvation intended to cause her death.

  Lauren gave birth to a baby girl during this ordeal, and has not been allowed to see her child.  This little baby girl needs a chance to know her mother.  We appeal to each person with compassion and love to understand why we wish to bring Lauren home and care for her.

  Lauren's situation is greater than you can imagine.  Her story should be told, and we pray that it has a happy ending.

Lauren is....

....Responsive

....She is NOT brain dead

- she is disabled

....Her father wants to care for

             her at home.

....The courts won't let him.

Prayer  Request:  Please remember us in a special way this

week since critical decisions are being made.  More to come...

2/18/08 Bobby Schindler speaks out about

Lauren in Washington Times Editorial:

Click here

[floriduh voter]

The culture of death is the underlying EVIL. I am against the evil that will destroy other nations first but eventually, it would destroy America if we don't expose euthanasia. It is wrong here. It is wrong everywhere. President Bush just gave some African nations a boatload of money. He's got me covered. Your premise is weak.

Honk if you are for evil incarnate.

[floriduh voter]

If Ralph Nader steps up and condemns Terri’s death, it will hurt Obama for sure.

[wagglebee]

Good, now McCain just needs to be pushed aside for a conservative.

[wagglebee]

The culture of death is the underlying EVIL.

And ANYONE who supports ANY PART of the culture of death's agenda is an accessory to this EVIL.

[floriduh voter]

Is that Terri thread separate? World Net Daily covers Obama's Regret.

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57488

[wagglebee]

I’ve posted three Obama threads tonight:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977374/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977393/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977401/posts