Congress Intervenes to Keep Florida Woman Alive

Today a judge has ruled that she should be allowed to die.

Quote:

Judge rules that Terri Schiavo should die By Jenny Booth, Times Online Terry Schiavo A federal judge has ruled that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should not be reinserted and that she should be allowed to starve to death. The feeding tube that was keeping the brain-damaged Florida woman alive was removed on Friday on the order of a state judge, ending an epic legal battle through the state courts between her husband, who wants her to die with dignity, and her parents, who want to keep her alive.

From: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...536773,00.html

I think if I was in that state, I'd want to die.

If she can't feed herself - cannot tell ppl if she wants to live or not, & there is no chance of success, then I see little reasoning in campaigning to keep her alive. There is no quality of life there whatsoever.

Yeah, i agree, if i was in that state i would want to die too.
Not to be cruel to her or her family, but i think that this is an example of medical advances gone too far. They are not keeping her alive so that she can live life and enjoy it, they are keeping her alive simply because they have the technolagy to do so, and because of the wishes of her parents. And however much they love her, they are keeping her alive for their own piece of mind because they couldn't deal with losing her and being the one who allows the machines to be turned off.

Actually, this isn't a medical issue at all. This is a basic rights issue. Nobody can be denied food and water -- and this is all that is provided for her. All her organs work properly, so, it isn't that her body needs medication or machines to be kept alive. She needs nourishment - that is all. A feeding tube is technology if anything, not medicine.


I very much agree with this - it is selfish of the parents.


On the other hand, I do wish that there were more humane methods of putting someone out of their misery than through starvation.

As far as reacting to her surroundings - I am not sure how much of that is really going on. I vaguely remember a 60 Minutes episode way back when Jeb Bush signed something to disallow the removal of the feeding tubes months ago. As I remember it, it was all about religious beliefs, not the fact that she had any quality of life and/or chances of recovery.

I'm not sure of that fact either. I saw a little film on internet in which she did seem to react quite well and it was a shock for me: before that I thought she was in some kind of coma. However, the film was just a few seconds, so it could've been just that brief moment. I couldn't find much more info on her reacting to her surroundings.

I don't know. I think it's quite natural for a parent to keep your child alive. especially when her death is so inhumane as what Terry is facing now. On the other hand, her situation as it is right now, might be as inhumane.

Still don't know what to think of this.

that's what I thought.

neither do I really

Aren't there other methods though? I don't understand why this particular one is the method of choice. Surely a lethal injection would cause a lot less suffering.

yes but that sort of stuff is illegal - remember Dr. Kovorkian (sp)?

Ahhhh yes. How could I forget.

age? :P