After familiarizing myself with this situation, I was appalled. Michael Shiavo is committing first-degree murder with the help and blessing of our judiciary.
Some say that this is a "States rights" issue? Bull!
Why can't I get the comparison of this situation with the Dred Scott case out of my head? The law may have been served, but justice was flushed down the toilet.
Good post.
Simple reason, rdb, you're a student of history and a smart guy.
Indeed.
We are assured (I can almose hear the dulcet tones), that this is simply a case of Terri being allowed to refuse medical treatment. Really, that's the legal issue, which Judge Greer decided based on testimony from Michael and his witnesses that Terri had made casual comments noting that she wouldn't want to be hooked up to a machine. No big deal, why get all excited?
Well, I'll even concede that's the legal issue, but in this case, THE LAW IS WRONG.
The state is allowing the killing of a woman who has committed no crime, who was not terminally ill, who was not in pain, who had left no clear, uncoerced written "living will", and was not on "life support".
If that ain't clearly wrong, I don't know what is.
Sad to say, it looks like Terri's troubles are just about over. But we can't forget this. Things have to change.