I bet Terry Schiavo would be so upset that all of these busy bodies got involved with her personal business, and that her face is shown all over TV in her severly brain damaged state. Most everyone would want to die given this existence. Too bad there isn't another legal way to do it painlessly. Sometimes you've got to wonder, what is more cruel, putting someone out of their misery or this: QUOTE: My paternal grandmother is 100% atrophied and unable to MOVE by herself from Multiple Sclorosis. If my aunt and uncle (who live with her) and the nurses that come by EVERY DAY didn't feed her, didn't move her, she'd die from starvation, dehydration, and bed sores that would get all infected and eat her alive, literally. She doesn't really communicate, I mean it takes a lot out of her to put a couple of words together... but we're certainly not going to stop feeding her.
^^^ Seamonster, the fact that we haven't started starving my grandma to death doesn't mean what we're doing is cruel. Yes she doesn't talk very much (because like I said, it takes a lot out of her) but she laughs, she smiles, she enjoys company and listening to music and being around people... just because she can't feed herself or more her limbs alone doesn't mean she's a corpse that still breathes - she's still a person.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving to Maggie Sugar again. Sorry darlin' I tried... I think your post rocks. The Nazis would have killed my grandma, too... even though she still enjoys life.
Just because we have the technology to keep people alive well into their decline doesn't mean we should, its a touchy subject, and a fine line....there are no obvious answers, but most people would say that they would not want to live for years in a state like that. Personally, I believe euthanasia should be legalized...this method is ridiculous, I agree 100%, but its the only legal option...thats the true crime.
I suspect that this grandmother is grateful to be surrounded by loving family members. It's a pity that you're so quick to assume she'd rather be killed. Read the essay on the German euthanasia program that I linked to in my previous post.
I'm not assuming anything, I'm just pointing out that its not clear cut at all, and that many people would want to die in a severely incapacitated state. If the grandma says she wanted to die, then yes, I would say they should let her. Same goes if she stated before she stopped being able to communicate that she wouldn't want to live like that. I see in her later post supergrrl says that she does smile etc. so this is a different story than the Terri Schiavo thing.
they could have used euthanasia on Terri, but the religous right seemed to have outlawed that. i'm telling you, euthanasia is the best way in these cases. that or lethal injection. if the conservatives don't want her to die a slow death, then they need to pick up their balls and throw them over their shoulders and unban euthanasia.
Terri is not terminally ill; she is severely disabled! What other types of disabilities would you "treat" by poisoning?
At least three doctors have stated that Terri is in "end stage disease." That is very largely synonymous with terminally ill.
When and how would she die if she were not being dehydrated? Fifteen years and counting is a pretty long "end stage."
I agree that dehydration is not an ideal way to die, but I highly doubt Terri's ability to feel pain. She may have some reflex to extremely painful stimuli, because she does have an intact brain stem. Terri has so much cerebral atrophy (over 80%) that NO electrical activity exists in the higher regions of her brain. This part of her brain is necessary to to feel pain. Her brain is incapable of feeling, loving, thinking, etc. The video clips you have seen are cut and pasted out of HOURS of recording. Because of the brain stem, she does have unconcious reflexes. That is what you see on the video. She is not responding to her parents. For instance, over the course of an hour, they repeated "Terri, open your eyes" on tape. After asking her thirty something times, she did open her eyes. It is unlikely that this is due to her parents request. Instead, this is only a coincidence. I think the real tragedy is the media exposure she has received, at the request of her parents. I cannot believe she, or anyone, would be okay with having stories of abuse and bulimia broadcast over the news, and other reports about her bad decision making, all accompanied of pictures and videos of her in a persistent vegitative state. I hope this is over very soon. Terri deserves respect and dignity.
Haven't nurses and others testified that she can follow a balloon with her eyes? This is beside the main point, though. No one should be deprived of food and water without having explicity given such instructions in writing. If she's not suffering, as you claim, then she's certainly not harmed by nutrition and hydration!
From what I understand, the overwhelming majority of medical professionals that have reviewed her case agree that there is virtually no chance she has any conciousness (and I say virtually, because, science rarely PROVES anything, but instead disproves things. It is virtually impossible to be 100% sure of anything). There have been a few anecdotal reports from nurses and other medical personnel that dispute that (following a balloon, talking, lauging, etc). I agree that providing her with nutrition and hydration cannot harm her. Being bedridden can lead to significant harm, but for Terri, that has not been an issue. I cannot disagree with your point here. At this point for Terri, though, I am afraid it is too late. I agree with Maggie that her internal organs have likely suffered permanent injury. Since it wasn't important to Terri to provide written instructions for her care, I have to agree with Florida, her husband is the next of kin and has complete power of attorney. Anyone concerned about this happening to themselves or their loved ones should immediately draft a living will.
Here's where I disagree strongly. No one should ever be starved or dehydrated to death at the behest of another, even a spouse or parent. That is cruelty, pure and simple.
hmmm. . . then I stongly encourage you to document it in writing an make it a permanent part of your medical records. I don't believe Terri's death is at the behest of another. Instead, it is a result of her own (lack of) resposibility in this issue. Here is one for the state of Oregon: Free Downloadable Living Will for Oregon OR. . . Use this link, it has one for EVERY STATE: Free Living Will forms - Choose your state! People need to take resposibility for themselves, and do so in advance of such a situation. It is unfair to place this burden on family OR the judicial system. None of us can know what another really wants. I would want to die. Huck, apparently, would want to live. I can certaintly understand BOTH sides. Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves, or accept what they get.
I find this guy's insight to be an interesting take on the whole Schiavo situation... http://nwodor001.blogspot.com/ just keep reading... he may be a clown, but he's got his PHD and knows a thing or two about... well I'll just vouch that he's one frighteningly intelligent mofo with some very interesting views
Exactly...this is the part of the story that a lot of people ignore...the part we can learn from. Living wills (or power of attorney in case of medical issue, or whatever you call them) are VITAL. Period.
Vegetables don't need to be eating, pull the plug and kill everyone who is stupid enough to keep something that can't interact with you alive.
Take it easy, we're not all experts like you are. What I meant was that if I wouldn't be able to live my life with a fully functional and conscious brain or at least the possibility to look around me for that matter for a substantial period of time, I would prefer to be made brain dead, or any other dead you can think of. And then, yes, the organs that can be used to help others will be used to help others. I wasn't saying that if I got in a coma or just fainted or whatever, well just cut me up where I landed and stuff my insides into the first random passer-by. And I wasn't saying anything about Terri, just what I would want to happen with myself if I got in a severe case of restrained ability to think or communicate.
