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That’s a good approach. The whoel question revolving around Terry was whether her intent could be implied from some off-handed remark she made to her husband that was completely at odds with her professed faith.

I do living wills for people and it is the rare person who wants to ensure that everything possible must be done to keep him or her alive. On other other hand, they like about a three-pronged test of whether to pull the plug: (1) unconscious or vegetative state, (2) almost no chance of recovery to a sentient live, and (3) extent of life support needed to maintain life, including whether it would entail pain.

About fourteen months ago a dear friend chose to pull the plug. He had ALS and the paralysis had slowly crept up his body to his ear level. He could communicate only by his eyes and was totally dependent on respirator and tube feedings to live. He spent two years in this condition in a “rehabilitation” hospital as he shrank from perhaps 400 lbs to around 150 lbs (he was about 6’4”), a big, burly, lovable bear of a Finnish husband and father. He surprised his wife and the rest of us by requesting the respirator be removed in mid-December 2007. We were there with him at the time. He was surrounded by his family and friends, his ecclesiastical leader, doctors, nurses and therapists who respected him. There was no question that this was his choice, he knew what he was doing, and he was not afraid of death. It was, to use a very inadequate word, an awesome experience to watch him transition from this life to the next.

I oppose euthanasia and I don’t know how much this retarded man can know or appreciate, but I do have compassion for the sisters who see a terminally ill man maintained on a respirator in a hopeless condition. It was difficult enough for my friend to stay on the respirator, and he had full faculty of mind. It would be difficult to see that intrusive treatment for someone who could not understand why this was happening to him.

I agree with you. ALS is a horrific disease. His decision was rational and humane. Its interesting that having taken care of virtually thousands of patients over the years, several stand out even to this day..The human heart is not discernible. I once had a young boy that had never had a normal day in his life. Contractures, in a coma without the support of any intervention. Unresponsive, but his mothers love for him was so great and she cared for him so lovingly that one could only admire her. There was the possibility that he would outlive her...I always wondered what ever became of them..I sure would encourage everyone to have a document done that spells out very specifically what their instructions are..

I sure don't understand Terrys husband. He seem to want her dead no matter what. A real crime. Her parents wanted to take care of her...If she were my daughter, I am afraid of what I would have done to that monster. And gone to jail happily...