Many folks do not realize that a simple infection can cause the death of an immobile person. I am also confident he let her dental care go for so long, also hoping she would get an infection and would die of it. (Christopher Reeve died yesterday from a simple bedsore that got infected...entered the bloodstream and caused a systemic infection.... which attacked his body to his death)
What happened to Christopher Reeve is what MS has hoped would happen to Terri for years....and even those who support him cannot deny this. I guess it goes to say that Terri must have one heck of a strong will to live. Shouldn't that count as to her wishes?
Christopher Reeve was a real fighter and had a very strong will to overcome his obstacles. As we know, God must of felt he has more important work to do in heaven just as he has done here on earth. His work for those with spinal cord injuries has been instrumental in helping thousands and most probably millions more to come. His loss will be surely missed and our prayers go to his family.
I haven't heard the specifics about Christopher Reeve. Do you know why he lost his hair?
The difference is that Reeve was in much worse shape than Terri. Terri is NOT immoble! Chris Reeve could not breath on his own, and so a runny nose was bad for him and his breathing tube.
Chris Reeve could not feel anything in his body, and the infection got carried away before they recognised it.
Terri is restless from MENSTRAL CRAMPS! She feels pain and discomfort, while Reeve did not.
Terri is in much better shape than Super Man, and has out lived him.
I am having a hard time feeling any pity for Mr. Reeve. I have written him several times on behalf of Terri. He REFUSED to speak out in her support, when he could have saved her life. I am getting sick when I am reading and hearing all about his "compassion" for "fighting" for other people's lives. He could have helped Terri a great deal. And brain damaged people like Terri. But, he selfishly refused. Instead he chose to speak out against President Bush, and show up at the Democratic convention. His dedication to killing innocent children (abortion and embryonic stem cell research) kept him from helping one brain damaged person.
I am sure he is finding out how wrong he was.
BTW, If I was in his shoes I would beg and plead every day for someone to do me in. He was in a state of living death. A purgatory. I admit I could never face that the way he did.
Michael Schiavo did not make the decision to discontinue life-prolonging measures for Terri.
As Terri's husband, Michael has been her guardian and her surrogate decision-maker. By 1998, though -- eight years after the trauma that produced Terri's situation -- Michael and Terri's parents disagreed over the proper course for her.
Rather than make the decision himself, Michael followed a procedure permitted by Florida courts by which a surrogate can petition a court to act as a ward's surrogate and determine what the ward would decide to do. Michael took the position that, based on statements Terri made to him and others, Terri would not wish to continue life-prolonging measures. The Schindlers took the position that Terri would continue life-prolonging measures. Under this procedure, the trial court becomes the surrogate decision-maker, and that is what happened in this case.
The trial court in this case held a trial on the dispute. Both sides were given opportunities to present their views and the evidence supporting those views. Afterwards, the trial court determined that, even applying the "clear and convincing evidence" standard -- the highest burden of proof used in civil cases -- the evidence showed that Terri would not wish to continue life-prolonging measures