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]

www.terrisfight.org

Does Laura have a web site?????

[floriduh voter]

A rat is no different than a RINO. It was RINOS who killed Terri. www.judgegeorgegreer.com, a republican in name only and our now governor crist as Fla AG had a civil rights dept. but he did nothing. He continues to prove what a rino he is.

[floriduh voter]

I see she has a web site:

http://www.lifeforlauren.org/index.html

[floriduh voter]

The Feloser imo appears to be inserting himself into this matter even though he's pleading w/the family to keep it out of the courts.

He is the silver tongued devil. If mom can be bamboozled, he knows hypnosis so forget about it.

Lauren wears a cross. Thou Shalt Not Kill.

Her father loves her but does Delaware love the sinister trappings of the culture of death? Starvation and dehydration is PAINFUL and Lauren is aware and breathes on her own. There are no grounds justifying taking her life. Her mom wants to permit an adult abortion ie. euthanasia which is supposed to be ILLEGAL.

No more MURDERS by hearsay or via judicial homicide.

www.michaelschiavo.org

[floriduh voter]

What’s with these mothers? Javona’s mother wants to starve her and now Lauren’s. Mom’s knock it off.

[floriduh voter]

Felos is a hypnotist and I bet the aclu is already on speed dial. They helped murder Terri along with rino and democrat judges and the media lying about Terri’s condition night and day.

[brytlea]

I don’t get it, of course, I cannot imagine thinking my child would be better off dead. I remember my Mom fighting her cancer, she fought until the last. It was scary and painful and frustrating, but she never gave up. I guess that’s the kind of stock I come from.

susie

[8mmMauser]

ProLifeBlogs issues a call to action.

...................................

Pro-Life Unity joins with many organizations, including the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, Blogs for Terri, Defend Life, American Life League, Delaware Pro-Life Coalition, ProLifeBlogs and more, calling out for citizens everywhere to help stop the murder of an innocent girl.

Lauren Richardson accidentally overdosed on heroin in August of 2006 and severely damaged her brain.  She was pregnant at the time, and most likely, because of that reason, she was kept alive in order to deliver her child.  Lauren delivered a healthy baby girl in February of 2007.

Now Lauren is in a life and death battle.  The mother has been awarded custody, and has chosen to have Lauren’s feeding tube removed, because the mother believes that Lauren wouldn’t want to live this way.

Lauren’s father feels differently....

~Snip~

Click here to view the video that shows Lauren in the hospital.

Call for Action - Save Lauren Richardson!

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[8mmMauser]

A thread is started by wagglebee on the American Life League article...

Of interest is the fact that, during the pregnancy, Lauren relied on feeding tubes and a breathing machine to keep her alive. Today Lauren has a feeding tube only. But there is a struggle going on regarding whether or not Lauren will live or die.

Lauren's case is more than a sad commentary on the plight of a family battling over what each of the opponents believes would be in her best interest. Her story is a testimony to the growing philosophy in this country that some, because of their condition, are better off dead than alive.

Like Terri Schiavo before her, Lauren is not dying nor is she in a terminal condition. She has been diagnosed as someone in a persistent vegetative state, someone who is very much alive but locked in her body and unable to express her desires to anyone. The only thing Lauren is relying on is a feeding tube without which she will starve to death. Lauren's mother, who is Laurens guardian, wants the feeding tube removed while Lauren's father is fighting to keep Lauren alive............

American Life League: Do Not Remove Lauren’s Feeding Tube

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[mtbopfuyn]

Lauren no longer uses a ventilator or other breathing apparatus and is not on artificial life support

Oh, well, all the more reason to rush in and torture her to dead. /s

[8mmMauser]

McCain Scrutiny...

The left shouts their propaganda loud and long so that more may believe ordinary Americans want innocent people like Terri Schiavo and Lauren put to death, and that decent Americans oppose those who would save innocent lives. We have heard this refrain for years, now. Looks like McCain has those guys as friends...

Still this trio is unpersuaded by a man, McCain, who shares their oft-spoken views on marriage, abortion, small government, corruption, low taxes and the Iraq War. So what do they want?

Rather, who does this squad represent?

First they speak for themselves, and their quest for influence by the sheer exercise of power. This group helped create the mawkish Terri Schiavo hysteria.

Schiavo had been brain-dead since 1990. But talk radio drove Congress and President Bush himself in the winter of 2005 to sign legislation designed to “save” her.

Selfishness is fueling rants against McCain

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[napscoordinator]

The real story here is why are people not getting a living will and putting their own intentions down on paper. This would solve the entire situation. There needs a huge information drive in order to get people to take care of their own situation. Of course this girl was a druggie and probably did not even think to have any type of will.

[8mmMauser]

Golly, I wonder which candidates Michael Smerconish supports...

ABORTION: For once I would like to hear a candidate say, "you know what, Roe v. Wade struck a pretty reasonable balance for an awfully complicated problem." (And given the Schiavo debacle, the last people I want determining my end-of-life plan are the politicians.) Clinton and Obama agree. Not the Rs.

EMBRYONIC STEM-CELL RESEARCH: Pardon my callous nature, but that which exists in a Petri dish is undeserving of the full rights that are afforded a viable fetus. Let's change lives with research. The Ds agree, and so does McCain......

Michael Smerconish: Not so easy, given the issues

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[Hoodlum91]

“She’s committed no crime”

Well, yes, technically she did.

Whether that means she should starve to death is something else entirely.

The video should be shown widely. Not just to further her cause but to kids to show them the consequences of heroin.

Very sad.

[8mmMauser]

And on the topic of embryonic stem cells, we have this thread by Kaslin. Thanks to TheSarce for the ping.

As President Bush explained in his State of the Union address, scientists recently "discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells." This development holds the promise of new, ethical research and may eliminate the "need" for research that destroys embryos, produces clones, or harvests women's eggs. These adult stem cells provide hope for human life in a culture that seems willing to destroy its young to heal its old.

This willingness to destroy life began when scientists clamored for funding and attention as they explored the potential of embryonic stem cells. The media and many politicians were only too happy to oblige, trumpeting the "promises" of embryonic stem cells long before anything was actually tested. Moreover, any resistance to the idea of leaping into embryonic stem cell research was immediately labeled "ramblings of the religious right" and promptly dismissed..............

The State of Human Life

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[8mmMauser]

An update on Tiller the Killer episode in a thread by wagglebee...

"If the grand jury wants to be fair and impartial in its work, it should be wary of Newman, his fringe group and its harassing and often tasteless tactics," said Holman in her editorial.

"This attack was a shameless attempt to influence the grand jury via the editorial pages of the local newspaper with ad hominem attacks and inaccurate information," said Operation Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger.........

Newspaper Editors Attempt to Influence Abortion Grand Jury, Attack Operation Rescue

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[8mmMauser]

They don't want us to know...

Thread by PotatoHeadMick. Thanks to TheSarce for the ping.

Botched abortions mean that scores of babies are being born alive and left to die, an official report has revealed.

A total of 66 infants survived NHS termination attempts in one year alone, it emerged.

Rather than dying at birth as was intended, they were able to breathe unaided. About half were alive for an hour, while one survived ten hours...........

Scores of babies left to die after NHS abortions that go wrong

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[Theodore R.]

I can’t bear to read the article, but is there MONEY involved?

[8mmMauser]

This excerpt is from the recent Hannity and Colmes interview with Lauren's father. I suggest reading the whole dialog at the link.

.......................................

So where does Lauren's father go from here? Randy Richardson joins us now, live.

Do you see this as similar to the Schiavo case?

RANDY RICHARDSON, FATHER OF LAUREN RICHARDSON: The similarities is the cruelty that took place during Terri's demise. You would have to read the book "A Life That Matters" to get the full story.

And Lauren's is different. Lauren's, we have a situation with a girl that is improving. She's exactly like Terri. She's alive. She's not terminal and seeking care...........................

Father Fights to Keep Brain-Damaged Daughter Alive

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[8mmMauser]

More on Lauren...

...............................

Family News in Focus

Court will decide if feeding tube will stay.

In a case reminiscent of the Terri Schiavo story, a brain-injured 23-year-old Delaware mother has been placed in the custody of a parent who wants to remove her feeding tube.

Lauren Richardson was pregnant when she overdosed on heroin. She was placed on a breathing machine until the baby was delivered, one year ago.

Lauren’s father, Randy Richardson, is leading the drive to keep her alive. She is breathing on her own, and he said she is aware of her surroundings, moves and feels pain.

“He feels hopeful she will improve with the right therapy," said Nicole Theis, president of the Delaware Family Policy Council. "The father wishes to move her into his own home and take care of her.”

But a Delaware Court has given custody to Lauren’s mother, Edith Towers, who said her daughter once told her she did not want to live in an incapacitated state. A court ruling could be 90 days away; in the meantime, the feeding tube could be pulled.

Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the case is a warning to us all.

“Talk to your parents, your spouse, your children, to the people who are closest to you," she said. "Talk to the people who might be making a decision for you, if something tragic would happen."

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit the Focus on Social Issues Web site.

Delaware Dad Fights to Save Brain-Injured Daughter

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