Schiavo battel

[Miscue]

The husband has a commonlaw wife and 2 kids and is not part of her life. I have no idea why anyone is giving him say in this matter. He would rather her be dead because he's getting a big settlement. Conspiracy theorists are saying he is behind this condition, because it can be brought about by a few different things. << I'm not going to touch that. I do know that he's not a part of her life, he has a commonlaw wife he lives with and has 2 children with. He should NOT get the say.

On top of that, why is it that we delay the killing of a person on death row who killed/raped.. etc in cold blood, and people watched them do it, but we keep delaying their death for years so we get appeals. But this innocent woman who actually does respond to stimuli, is being put to death because a man who calls himself her husband but lives and has children with another woman wants her to die??

She has no "do not resusitate" order. (please forgive my spelling). On top of that, just for anyone who hasn't been keeping tabs of this, Shiavo can actually chew food, eat it, and swallow water, but just not enough for a healthy diet. When the courts ordered her feeding tube out, they also ORDERED that she not be able to eat or drink. They are ordering her death. I don't understand how this can be possible. I think all those judges would feel otherwise if they were the one in that condition.

He used that settlement to pay for his nursing school and her medical bills. He could have abandoned her, but did not. I do not see anything wrong with him, and sympathize. He's being demonized unfairly.

Her body is alive, but she is not living. I think letting her die is the decent thing to do. I would expect the same if I were in that situation, and would be pissed (if I weren't in a vegetative state) if the government interfered.

There's a difference between executing someone, and letting someone go.

[Sparta]

According to Florida law, her life is in the hands of her doctor and her husband. If the doctor finds that she cannot sustain life on her own, he can pass that message on to the husband where he makes the final decision on whether to keep her alive or not. Since the doctor decided that she cannot sustain life on her own, it is the husbands decidion and NO-ONE ELSE'S! Would you rather have someone close to you like your wife decide whether you live (they would also need the consent of a doctor), or would you rather have a judge who has no medical knowledge and does not know you make that decision. I would much rather have my wife/spouse make that choice (not married, but could be one day).

I say let the women die with dignity and grace. There is no dignity in living the way she was. If you look at the catscans that were taken of her brain, you will see that there is literaly nothing left of her higher brain. She is not capable of thought. The only reason her head doesn't cave in is because it is filled with spinal fluid. She literally doesn't even know she is alive.

Once again I will say this: let the woman die with what little dignity she has left. If it were me, I would expect someone close to me to take a knife to my chest and let me diet with honor.

He used that settlement to pay for his nursing school and her medical bills. He could have abandoned her, but did not. I do not see anything wrong with him, and sympathize. He's being demonized unfairly.

Her body is alive, but she is not living. I think letting her die is the decent thing to do. I would expect the same if I were in that situation, and would be pissed (if I weren't in a vegetative state) if the government interfered.

There's a difference between executing someone, and letting someone go.

Very well said, I completely agree.

[tropical_fishy]

This case is sticky. The only thing I can think of are my personal opinions (who would WANT their body to be kept alive long after everything that makes that person themself is gone?) and the fact that they can keep her alive indefinitely-- how long with interest groups and taxpayers and her parents pay for this? Twenty years? Thirty? Fourty? There's no reason to believe she'll ever die of natural causes, really. She has a perfect diet, no chance of an accident (basically)... she's a vegetable and I see no reason to keep her as such.

Her husband has been fighting for twelve of the fifteen years to get the feeding tube out, I don't know why everyone's upset now about how "he didn't do anything before."

[Cameo]

What I find so interesting is what caused all this in the first place. She has these conditions esentually because of an eating disorder. So she starved and or ws bulimic, and now her fate is to die of dehydrations and starvation, poor thing.

Only thing I wonder is her husbands real reasoning for all of this. could part of it be him wanting to get her out of the way in order to move onward in his life with his new "mate" and children?? Isn't adultry means for a divorce, why havn't the parents tried that aspect, He has "love children" to this other woman.

I also wonder about where is her soul, theoretically speaking her soul should go onto eternity when she dies. Now would that be dying in the forms of mental capasity or complete physical death? Do you think her soul moved on when she suffered the stroke like symptoms or do you feel she is still alive.

It is all just a sad situation but definately a turning point for our law makers and government system, the outcome of this will surely affect many more in the future, I just hope that we choose the right option, and at the same time open our eyes.

[Sparta]

What I find so interesting is what caused all this in the first place. She has these conditions esentually because of an eating disorder. So she starved and or ws bulimic, and now her fate is to die of dehydrations and starvation, poor thing.

Only thing I wonder is her husbands real reasoning for all of this. could part of it be him wanting to get her out of the way in order to move onward in his life with his new "mate" and children?? Isn't adultry means for a divorce, why havn't the parents tried that aspect, He has "love children" to this other woman.

I also wonder about where is her soul, theoretically speaking her soul should go onto eternity when she dies. Now would that be dying in the forms of mental capasity or complete physical death? Do you think her soul moved on when she suffered the stroke like symptoms or do you feel she is still alive.

It is all just a sad situation but definately a turning point for our law makers and government system, the outcome of this will surely affect many more in the future, I just hope that we choose the right option, and at the same time open our eyes.

If she does have a soul, why not let it rest? Let her move on to the afterlife in peace and end her struggle! People keep saying she is holding on to life, but what for? She will have a miserable "life" until she finally dies, why not let her body die and allow her soul to enjoy the fruits of the afterlife?

[Miscue]

According to Florida law, her life is in the hands of her doctor and her husband. If the doctor finds that she cannot sustain life on her own, he can pass that message on to the husband where he makes the final decision on whether to keep her alive or not. Since the doctor decided that she cannot sustain life on her own, it is the husbands decidion and NO-ONE ELSE'S! Would you rather have someone close to you like your wife decide whether you live (they would also need the consent of a doctor), or would you rather have a judge who has no medical knowledge and does not know you make that decision. I would much rather have my wife/spouse make that choice (not married, but could be one day).

I say let the women die with dignity and grace. There is no dignity in living the way she was. If you look at the catscans that were taken of her brain, you will see that there is literaly nothing left of her higher brain. She is not capable of thought. The only reason her head doesn't cave in is because it is filled with spinal fluid. She literally doesn't even know she is alive.

Once again I will say this: let the woman die with what little dignity she has left. If it were me, I would expect someone close to me to take a knife to my chest and let me diet with honor.



Very well said, I completely agree.

What they were doing medically, served no purpose than to keep her artificially alive. I think that's both an effort in vanity and futility.

These politicians trying to interfere with private life, and force theology upon people - disturb me. Another thing I find disturbing is how playing God with technology is "okay" in some situations, and not in others. The only consistency I find is that, what is "okay" is what serves their purposes.

[Sparta]

What they were doing medically, served no purpose than to keep her artificially alive. I think that's both an effort in vanity and futility.

These politicians trying to interfere with private life, and force theology upon people - disturb me. Another thing I find disturbing is how playing God with technology is "okay" in some situations, and not in others. The only consistency I find is that, what is "okay" is what serves their purposes.

Wow dude, I COMPLETELY agree! I find these things disturbing myself. I am not a religious man at all, more a man of science and I really don't like it when they condem and praise the exact same things in different situations.

[Target Practice]

On the "In Before the Lock" bandwagon. This can not end well.

[Miscue]

She will have a miserable "life" until she finally dies, why not let her body die and allow her soul to enjoy the fruits of the afterlife?

Yes, another theological paradox. Heaven is a better place, so let's keep her here because we can.

[Duzzy]

Two things:

First thing:

If she is brain-dead and incapable of thought how is keeping her alive cruel?

Second:

Giving a human the power over life and death is foolish to say the least.

[Miscue]

Two things:

First thing:

If she is brain-dead and incapable of thought how is keeping her alive cruel?

Second:

Giving a human the power over life and death is foolish to say the least.

I don't think she's "brain-dead," but in a vegetative state. What the technical difference is, couldn't tell you off hand.

I don't think it's cruel either. I believe it makes no difference to her either way in the state she is in. I also don't think that keeping her alive is of any benefit to her either. If you were not conscious, and had no hope of recovery, why would you want to be kept alive? Personally, I would prefer to die and rest - and relieve my loved ones of an unnecessary burden.

I think it is wonderful that humans have the capability to heal, and that is not foolish.

[Duzzy]

I think it is wonderful that humans have the capability to heal, and that is not foolish.

Healing is one thing, creating life is another.

(Yes I know all about babies, but those cells are already alive, so it is more in the way of forming existing life than actually creating it)

[RoadDawg]

I say she should be let go. Being tied to a machine for 15 years is not a way to live, I'd say it's time to let her go.

I've been through something similar last year. Although not as long nor the same age but my fiance's grandmother was on a feed tube and was literally being kept alive by a machine. Her husband realized her pain/struggle and made the tough decision to let her go with god. It took a week and was very painful to watch but our faith is what kept us at peace. I feel the people trying to keep her around are in a way being selfish. Let her pain/suffering end and let her move on to wherever she goes. It's better to remember the good times then to let this get ugly and ruin others lives.

On the parents behalf though it has got to be tough to lose a child, especially in these situations. Turning to the gov't to go against "her wishes" is horrid in my feeling.

[spantol]

"Should she live" is the wrong way to phrase this question.

Terri Schiavo died fifteen years ago. A severe potassium imbalance led to a heart attack, which triggered a stroke, which in turn killed off her cerebral cortex--the part of the brain that makes you you. All higher thought, memories, and sense of self are gone, replaced with goo and spinal fluid. If there's such a thing as a soul, that's where it lives, and it's long gone.

What's left is little more than a shell, in a permanent vegetative state. It's capable of responding to certain types of stimuli, but only in a reflexive, random fashion. It's little more than a crap factory--nutrients go in, feces comes out. I'd hardly call that living.

The parents seem to think that this is a condition worth protecting. I think they're in heavy denial, but that's there perogative. If it were their call to make, I wouldn't fault them for keeping that thing going indefinitely--it's incapable of feeling any pain or discomfort, so no harm, no foul.

But, it's not their call to make. When Michael Schaivo married their daughter, those rights were transferred to him--this is part of that whole Sanctity of Marriage thing that all the politicians were harping on awhile back. As such, I consider it the highest form of hypocracy for two branchs of the government to attempt to intervene here, as well as a further assault on personal freedom.


Here's a good summary of all things Schaivo: http://www.abstractappeal.com/

[Konigballer]

Well, I guess spantol pretty much summed it up for me as well...