Thompson talks of daughter who died

Yahoo News / AP ^ | 10/22/2007 | LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

TAMPA, Fla. - Republican Fred Thompson sidestepped a question about the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case last month, saying he didn't remember the details. On Monday he said he's uncomfortable discussing it because of his own daughter's death.

snip

"And this will probably be the last time I ever address it."

snip

He added: "It should be decided by families. The federal government and the state government, too — except for the court system — ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned."

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Fred Thompson comments on the Schiavo case.

[nmh]

What happened to his daughter?

[Grut]

The federal government and the state government, too ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned.

That's a statement.

The federal government and the state government, too — except for the court system — ought to stay out of it, as far as I'm concerned.

That's a waffle.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

I’ll take mine with maple syrup, please.

[nmh]

Never mind!

“Thompson’s daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Thompson Panici, 38, died in 2002 of an accidental drug overdose, according to the Nashville, Tenn., medical examiner’s office. She had been diagnosed as suffering from a bipolar disorder.

Thompson’s remarks indicated that his daughter had been on life support, although his campaign declined to provide further information, saying the matter was too personal. Panici died on Jan. 30, 2002, six days after being brought unconscious to a hospital emergency room. At the time, then-Sen. Thompson released a statement saying she died of “severe brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest.”

Looks like the plug was pulled.

[Swordfished]

I agree with Thompson on the Schiavo case. The government has no business involving themself in particular cases. The legislatures write and pass laws and the executive enforces those laws. The judiciary adjudicates.

There is no need for special government intervention in any case. The laws on the books should cover every circumstance and if they don’t: tough! - write a new law.

[Clara Lou]

Looks like the plug was pulled.
That's an assumption on your part.

[nmh]

Well unfortunately Terri’s so called husband wanted her DEAD. Others didn’t - HENCE, it went to court. Unfortunately the court sided with DEATH. This will happen more and more often in our culture of death.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“There is no need for special government intervention in any case.”

Unless the judiciary has sold out to the euthanasia lobby.

[originalbuckeye]

Tough situation. I don’t think anyone knows how they will react until confronted by that situation. When I have argued the Schaivo case with people who supported the husband, I have always pointed out that they, themselves, would not have wanted to be in Terri’s place. By putting themselves in her place, they decided to support his decision. The whole thing still grates on my sense of right and wrong.

[vetsvette]

This won’t help his candidacy much.

“Pulling the plug” in accord with a living will is one thing, but cutting off food and water and watching the person die is quite another - most especially with no living will, just the word of an unfaithful husband with a financial interest in the death.

Fred screwed up here.

[altura]

Oh, for heaven’s sake!

[dusttoyou]

What on earth would give you the notion FRED injected this to help his campaign??

Don’t think FRED is the one screwed up here, think about it vetsvette!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Agreed.

[blaquebyrd]

"Looks like the plug was pulled. "

Sure does, here's a quote from the linked article.

"I am a little bit uncomfortable about that because it's an intensely personal thing," he said. "These things need to be decided by the family, and I was at that bedside, and I had to make those decisions with the rest of my family."

[airborne]

No parent should out live one of their children.

I’ll keep my opinion on this one to myself.

[DelphiUser]

By putting themselves in her place, they decided to support his decision. The whole thing still grates on my sense of right and wrong.

Interesting, I was in an accident and was paralyzed from the neck down until they put me back together (they said it was permanent at first, didn't even admit that I might get a little better until feeling started coming back...)

I said at the time (Terri's time), I would have wanted someone to pull the plug long ago. I have a living will, if I am ever unconscious for six months with less that 90% chance of recovery, I left instructions to let me go on into my rest. So at least I am consistent when it comes to me being the one to go.

I had all sorts of people telling me I was a bad conservative and part of the "culture of death", they accused me of supporting abortion and all sorts of things, and I kept thinking, who are you guys? and who made you my judge...

[SnarlinCubBear]

And if the family disagree - the courts.

But I think the part of the family who want to keep her alive should be allowed to, and be allowed to provide the care. Death is too final.

[George W. Bush]

Good for Fred.

I'm sick of our candidates having Oprah moments on national TV.

I like it that a candidate doesn't try to use everything that happened in their lives to play for sympathy or push for new programs and such.

Fred has more dignity because of this. He has kept his privacy and his family's privacy. The press is not welcome to poke and prod through everything. I think that's good.

[donna]

if they don’t: tough! - write a new law.

Or, let the people retain their freedom.

[therut]

OH please people think. Did they just take her off the ventilator maybe.

[oldenuff2no]

The husband made a choice based on his legal right to do so. I have read all the factual data that I can find on this case. Not one word of the provable factual true data supported any of the wild conspiracy stories that the press made up. The autopsy totally supported the doctors statements and factually determined the mental ability/disability and impairment of this poor young lady.
During a very slow press cycle many people allowed themselves to be used by the lying press to create and sustain a non existent fabricated story. The truth was sad enough but it was a private personal decision of her husband. Terri had cut the apron strings when she married. With the help of a needy press her parents tried to reinvent and reattach them.
When you ignore all the unproven and stupid accusations and suggestions that were made to keep this story alive this situation is no different than many others similar situations that take place every day.
This is a case of a husbands ability to make a legal decision that has been entrusted to him by his wife and the laws of the state.
The press, the government, and all the busybodies out there need to stay the HELL out of these very difficult and painful decisions.

[mylife]

I agree with Fred

[frogjerk]

Looks like the plug was pulled.

Was it extraordinary means that were stopped or was she starved to death?

[biff]

What I did not like about the Shiavo case is how they killed her by starving her. We do that to even our pets and we end up in jail for cruelty.

[airborne]

I’m glad you’re still with us, FRiend!

[George W. Bush]

I agree with Thompson on the Schiavo case. The government has no business involving themself in particular cases. The legislatures write and pass laws and the executive enforces those laws. The judiciary adjudicates.

It was a complete Geraldo Rivera circus.

And yet, when it was all over, they did nothing to prevent future cases of that sort, to pass laws requiring, for instance, that if family members disagreed on such cases that an entirely independent medical panel should be convened to determine the actual medical condition. Or to bring other reasonable solutions. It was all-out on Schiavo, including that ridiculous attempt to subpoena her, then afterwards, nada. Absolutely nothing. It was just bizarre.

[lag along]

Fred is being consistent with his principles.
Each of us have to be responsible for our own actions. Terri could easily have had a medical directive. They are available everywhere. Many doctors and hospitals like to have a copy it eases their the decisions when there is a clear directive.

Thompson is for reducing the federal reach as it was and is limited by our constitution. He is for allowing states to be able to freely take care of the responsibilities given to them by our constitution.

Thompson is for protecting our unalienable rights granted to us as free men by our Creator.

Just as we are decedents of Abraham through our Lord, Jesus Christ, we, as citizens, are the decedents and heirs of those who fought to create our constitution and those who died over the years to defend our rights.

When a man has my back, I must trust him as he must trust me, I do not have any interest in his age, race, hairdo, religion or his speech habits.

There are times when you have to look the man in the eye, take his measure, make your decision to trust him, and get down to the fighting. That man who has your back is also trusting you to have his.

[frogjerk]

Never mind the fact that Terri was starved to death. I’m sure it was totally euphoric.

[zencat]

I’m in about 99% agreement with you. The small difference being that Terri was not on life support and that her family was willing to take care of her. So, I likely would have deferred to them... However, not knowing the intimate details, I withhold judgment on what is one of the most difficult and personal decisions.

Good for Fred.

[frogjerk]

This is a case of a husbands ability to make a legal decision that has been entrusted to him by his wife and the laws of the state. The press, the government, and all the busybodies out there need to stay the HELL out of these very difficult and painful decisions.

Yes, please keep the government out of the business of starving people to death.

[snippy_about_it]

On the contrary. Those of us with this type of personal experience know exactly what he means. It’s a family matter, period.

As far as the courts he mentioned, if in fact the family has to call in the court then it should be allowed.

Unless you’ve experienced great family suffering and the stress it brings to bear on the family unit, you have no idea and really shouldn’t judge.

[nmh]

The truth is he murdered his wife LEGALLY.

He was already living with his next wife, had one or tow kids with her and Terri was a problem. She had to go. He used up the money on getting her murdered legally. There was no reason to murder her. He could have divorced her. Her parents were more than willing to care for Terri. Only a sick f could believe that murdering a human being by starving her to death is okay.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I recommend to all, “Fighting For Dear Life: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo and What It Means for All of Us” by David Gibbs.
The author writes about this “government interference” which attempted to get Terri a new trial. With her own attorney.
It doesn’t seem like much of an interference, to get the case into a new court when the life of an innocent woman is at stake.

I do not know what happened to Fred Thompson’s daughter, but I don’t think he had to fight for her life against a husband who was the only witness to the incident that put her at death’s door.

(Incidentally, Terri Schiavo was not at death’s door. In fact, she was healthy enough to live for 13 days without food or water.)

It’s understandable that FDT doesn’t want to delve into it, but I believe that if he knew more about the Schiavo case he would make very different remarks.

Terri was murdered, cruelly murdered.

[mh]

The “husband” was living with another woman with whom he had two children. Under the circumstances, I think he had a vested interest in death.

[nmh]

Yeah, this “husband” of Terri had quite the track record for abuse and her SUDDEN medical problem has ALWAYS been in question.

Terri was not on life support and healthy - it is a tragedy that she was STARVED TO DEATH for the convenience of her whore of a husband.

[rintense]

I don’t believe he did. The two cases are extremely different.

[frogjerk]

First let me say I am for Fred. I don't know the particulars of the case but I'm sure he wouldn't have starved his daughter to death.

Terri could easily have had a medical directive.

Matthew 25:35-40. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.

Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee: thirsty and gave thee drink? Or when did we see thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee? And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.

[lesser_satan]

ping!

[lag along]

That is a great passage.

[avital2]

the courts intercede when the family can’t agree. what else do you expect to happen?

[RobbyS]

The judiciary adjudicates.

Inpartially, one hopes. THAT was the root of the controversy, that the judge did not behave in an impartial manner.

[dschapin]

I agree with you - his statement that the courts but not state or federal government clearly shows that he would have come down on the wrong side of the Terri Schievo case. This will not help him at all with pro-lifers like myself who passionately believe that Terri was murdered by the courts in the cruelest way possible.

[Mom MD]

THere is a huge difference between withdrawing mechanical ventilation and iv therapies to keep the blood pressure up and withholding food and water. Fred’s daughter was a much different situation than Terri Schiavo

I have no problems withdrawing artificial life support, but letting someone die of dehydration is another problem. The half way with Terri’s case would be allowing her family to give her fluids/nourishment by mouth or gastric tube (as was being done) I think anything else is cruel.

[frogjerk]

BTW, Thank you and your family for their service.

[frogjerk]

I agree with you - his statement that the courts but not state or federal government clearly shows that he would have come down on the wrong side of the Terri Schievo case. This will not help him at all with pro-lifers like myself who passionately believe that Terri was murdered by the courts in the cruelest way possible.

I'll give Fred the benefit of the doubt because he is a man of character. I'll also wait until more is said on the subject from Fred.

[Dixie Yooper]

In 1973 my brother was in single car accident where he, the passenger was thrown from the car. He never regained consciousness, but was kept alive by a respirator. According to the attending doctor, he had no brain activity. My parents flew across the country as soon as they received word of the accident. After spending two days at his bedside, they made the decision to pull the plug. He heart stopped shortly after and he was pronounced dead. This happened at during the same time as a girl in Ohio had been kept alive for almost two years. The parents wanted to let her die and the doctors wanted to experiment. It was a court case that dragged on way too long. I don't recall all the details and how it ended, but we have always been thankful that the same thing didn't happen with my brother.

Fred is right, it's the family's decision, not the courts, not a talk show host's and definitely not a crowd of strangers who have gathered in the hospital parking lot.

[CindyDawg]

Actually I don’t think it will hurt him, but “hurts him”. What happened to TS was very wrong but I can understand where he is coming from. I’m ok with his decision and I’m not a supporter. It’s ok to tell people “I’m not going to talk about...”.

[lag along]

It has been a blessing that we are citizens of this country. The family just believes that blessing comes with a responsibility.

[dschapin]

I would agree with you if Fred had been asked about extraordinary measures like a respirator. Instead, he was asked about the Schievo case where Judge Greer decreed that Terri would be denied food and water untill she died - which took 14 days. What Fred did in his daughters situation was probably completely appropriate. However, I disagree strong with his conclusion that he would not have gotten involved in the Schievo case to protect Terri from her judicial murderers.