The Schiavo issue

[Nephythys]

and YET- when they try to change the law all hell breaks loose.

How much complaining will there be if they try to change the law after she is dead.

(btw- off topic...kudos for the Bucky quote (I have one myself you see)- although you have his name spelled wrong )

More Rachel-

Dear Terri Schiavo,

Die already, vegetable.

Love,
The Supreme Court of the United States

Meanwhile, the young woman's skin is cracking, her lips are peeling away, her nose is bleeding, her eyes are sunken in. Her brother says she looks like a concentration camp prisoner.

Because apparently we live in a GODDAMNED BARBARIC society that allows innocent people to be starved to death - because the machines say there is no brain activity - although at the same time, because we are demonstrably bat**** insane, we would collectively freak out if it were announced that from now on, death row inmates were to be killed in a way that caused any pain whatsoever beyond the prick of an IV needle. Because that would be "cruel".

It is absolutely ****ing confounding.

You know, I would not want to live in a vegetative state like Terri has for the last 15 years. Yep, that would suck and if I were given a choice, I would rather be dead.

But as I have now repeatedly and loudly told my husband (and have written down): for the love of anything that ever was good or decent on this planet, DON'T ****ING STARVE ME TO DEATH. Mmkay? How about a nice big syringe full of morphine and then something to make my heart stop. Thanks, that'd be super. Even if I look like a giant blue-eyed slab of vegetable matter, am drooling, and the scans show that all I have is a brain stem while the rest of my gray matter has evaporated. DON'T ****ING STARVE ME TO DEATH.

Not too much to ask.

Meanwhile, I'll try to go about my life with the knowledge that at least half of my fellow Americans are barbaric, heartless, selfish assholes who couldn't care less about a woman starving slowly to death in a hospice bed in Florida. The fact that she is dying is really not the problem - she "died" long ago, according to pretty much everybody. Who has custody of her is not the problem - I read the Wolfson report and it turns out her parents are kinda nuts and Michael is not necessarily an evil asshole.

The problem, and it is a very very big ****ing problem, is that no one seems to give a rat's ass that it is acceptable to kill a human being, one who just might have some shred of conscious awareness, by withholding water and food.

It's absolutely disgusting. It's like she's a forsaken fern or something - just stop watering her until she dies. Sure, it'll look ugly for a while but it's just a fern/brain-dead woman. It can't feel anything. Dry up and die.

God bless America, the most civilized and humane society ever to exist. ****.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

and YET- when they try to change the law all hell breaks loose.

?? Define "all hell".

I agree, the law needs to be changed. Euthanasia should be legal so starvation isn't the only option once the decission has been made.

[Nephythys]

aw for the love of God-let it go!!!

Gov. Bush files for Custody

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush filed a request to take custody of Terri Schiavo (search) on Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court (search) once again refused to order the severely brain-damaged woman's feeding tube reinserted.

Circuit Court Judge George Greer (search), who has almost consistently ruled that Schiavo did not want to be kept alive artificially, is expected to decide by noon on Bush's request. He also barred the Department of Children & Families in an emergency order from taking custody of the woman.

Won't work- appeals would be pointless. Sometimes it is time to let go-

[Ghoulish Delight]

"That whole syndicate that they have going on right now is for one purpose and one purpose only, and that's to destroy the conservative movement. It's to destroy conservative leaders."

I don't know about a "syndicate" but, umm, how DARE he imply that as a more-or-less liberal my goal is to get the people I disagree with out of power. What an outrageous accusation

[SacTown Chronic]

Yeah, Claire, I chewed on DeLay's ass a couple pages ago for this. But I did enjoy going over it again. It's such a fun read!

[scaeagles]

You view every situation from the experiences you have in life.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

You view every situation from the experiences you have in life.

And with all due respect, my friend, those experiences can also cloud your judgement. You mentioned many times in this thread that Michael was the only one who stated that she wished to not be kept alive. That just isn't true though. At least 4 other people, including her best friend and close family members said the same thing. You see him as having alterior motives and being creepy but not once was any of that proven in the 20 plus courtroom battles. There was ample time for this to be proven and each time the accusations were found to be without merit. Isn't it possible that just maybe, this guy just wants to carry out the wishes of his wife.

I really can't fault him for finding someone else to share his life with either. At some point, you do have the right to move on. That doesn't mean you have to relinquish your rights in the process. I can't imagine that Terry would have wanted her husband to not move forward. She has been gone for almost 20 years. This isn't an "in sickness and in health" situation to me. Terry isn't sick, she is long gone. Her husband has done everything in his power to respect her wishes and for that, he is demonized. I'll tell you this, if I was in her position, I would want my spouse to move on and find happiness AND I would want him to ensure that my wishes were carried out to the letter. There is no reason why he can't do both.

I do understand that this situation hits very close to home to you and I'm sorry for that. It just seems that you have your mind made up that this guy is evil and from everything I have read about this case, I see no evidence to back that up, other than a few people who are making unsubstantiated claims.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

And with all due respect, my friend, those experiences can also cloud your judgement.

I do understand that this situation hits very close to home to you and I'm sorry for that. It just seems that you have your mind made up that this guy is evil

There is a fine line between influencing and clouding.

I have said I have no proof of it. However, as it does hit close to home, I am perfectly open to that he is not "evil" (your word, not mine), but have stated my opinion as every one else here has.

If you'll note, I have also stated several times in this thread that I have no problem with her dying - just that someone needs to do it rather than forcing her to die slowly of dehydration and making those close to her - her parents, in particular - watch and endure it. That is inhumane and cannot be characterized as anything else.

I will choose to believe the personal accounts that I choose to believe. You can choose to believe others. Odds are we will choose to believe those accounts that are more closely related to our own positions.

One question - why is it that Michael Schiavo has refused to allow newer technology to be used to test her - such as PET and CAT scans or MRIs? A curiosity.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

why is it that Michael Schiavo has refused to allow newer technology to be used to test her - such as PET and CAT scans or MRIs? A curiosity.

Oh, I'm betting because of the money involved..... which he's also claimed he'll donate to charity upon its receipt. If anything, I guess we'll see quite soon if he upholds that promise.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Oh, I'm betting because of the money involved..... which he's also claimed he'll donate to charity upon its receipt. If anything, I guess we'll see quite soon if he upholds that promise.

A claim that continues to make no sense considering the millions he's refused over the years.