Posted on 01/29/2006 10:06:22 AM PST by NormsRevenge
And that makes you what?
Life-and-death decisions are made every day for people who are unable to speak for themselves. It was, in that respect, a very ordinary case. What made it exceptional was not the fact that Terri couldn't speak for herself, but rather that Congress was interfering.
No different from you in that respect?
What made it exceptional was that there was NOTHING in writing and based on contradictory oral testimony, a severly handicapped woman was going to be starved and dehydrated to death.
I'm glad to see you on this thread, I usually shudder to get involved in these threads because there's so many who clearly don't get it. I'm glad that for many, these appear to be esoteric issues they've never been smacked in the face with in real life.
The truth is, though I've had to lose a lot of family members and these issues are more real to me, I've not had to suffer the unimaginable torment of a family member who was close to Terri's situation. I'm blessed, I guess in that my family has suffered only plain old disease and old age. While the experience was heart wrenching, to see my formerly strong and optimistic mom pass into choking unconsciousness and death, I'd have traded all hope of inheritance to have had her able to wake again and live. But we knew she would not. This was it, all the lives around her could come to a halt and be there because it would not last.
I can't imagine the torment of a situation remotely like Terri's, where I or someone young like me might have lost all real consciousness through some accident or trauma, and be left lying in a state of suspended animation potentially for decades without consciousness. And for the record, I'm not talking about someone merely disabled or partially functioning... I'm talking about permanently vegetative. I'd expect there'd be lots of time and effort spent on the possibility of ~some~ level of recovery, but when that hope fades, would it be right for any of us to want to be kept alive indefinately in a brain-dead state, consuming all the time and resources of our family to tend, pay for, and revolve around the one family member who is unable to respond to our energies? It would not only be emotionally devastating for the living, it would consume the savings and futures of the entire family. When there is hope for recovery, any family would pay it. When there is no hope for recovery, it is cruelty to do prolong them inevitably until there is nothing left of any of them.
That's the way I see it anyway... no cult... just common sense.
In most cases today there IS nothing in writing. So that is not exceptional. The contradictory oral testimony was shown to be less than believable. And, contrary to what you might think, most people in the final stages of the dying process do not eat and drink up to their final minutes. As a nurse you should know that. Or am I incorrect in my belief that you are a nurse?
I've often wondered whether the divide is between the young and the not-so-young -- not necessarily senior citizens, but old enough to have been around the block a bit. Certainly those who have had experience with aging parents or grandparents tend to be more realistic.
Ultimately with "logic" like this you end up indulging the comfort of the relatives not the disabled person.
Those anti-terribots should ask themselves why did it take a creep like George Felos to counsel this to fruition, a guy who unashamably acts like an Erl-King trying to coax his subjects into his netherworld? Why not some dishwater dull barrister?
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/frist200503181027.asp
Frist is a liar. He most definitely did more than raise a question.
First is simply trying to please all sides -- so as to not jeopardize his chances in 2008 should he decide to run. Recognize it for what it is.
Not sure what you're saying here.
Those anti-terribots should ask themselves why did it take a creep like George Felos to counsel this to fruition, a guy who unashamably acts like an Erl-King trying to coax his subjects into his netherworld? Why not some dishwater dull barrister?
I really try to talk about the issues and not the personalities involved in her case. I couldn't pick Terri's parents, Michael Schiavo, or Felos out of a lineup. I don't know any of them and I find the demonization of the players to be a distraction.
In many states, apparently including Florida, probate court is "family court". Probate judges handle wills and estates, but also the appointment of guardians for orphans, the legal changing of names, and other such personal legal matters. That is why, quite logically, the Florida legislature gave Florida probate courts jurisdiction over adjudging someone in a PVS - because probate courts handle other kinds of guardianships as well.
I see that you're familiar with the principle of a straw man, but I really must congratulate you on the use of the term "Erl-King". It's really high time we had some fresh invectives around here - the old cliches are getting so dull.
I well understand the supposed "logic" behind it, I am a paralegal.
Funny how people claim not to want the government involved, but they supported the government ordering the murder of an innocent woman. They just don't support the government performing its most sacred duty; defending the lives of the citizens.
You're very wrong. You'd rather the issues be closed, decided and never come up again but that's not reasonable. All these issues very much need to be discussed, and continue to be discussed, and continue to be discussed, as every new technology and treatment changes the reality of what is possible, and what is ethical. The issues we think are tough decisions today will probably be decided, but new ones will evolve.
What if, through some new regenerative or stem cell therapy, that we could grow new brain cells in a brain as damaged as Terri's? They would not necessarily have Terri's personality and would not have her memories, but they would be in her body. Should we do that?
If we could do brain transplants... should we? Would that be a new chance at life for the donor, or the donee? What makes us "us"? Our bodies, or our brains?
The times ahead will be interesting I'm sure.
I'm sorry, I tried to engage you to give your point of view, but you just want to insult me... ~shrugs~
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Best summary.
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