Monday, March 21, 2005
Unanswered Questions in my Mind on the Terry Schiavo Case
When I wrote to the editor of the RM paper, I felt a little guilty for not dealing with the "life" issues. But here's why I didn't. I simply don't know enough about all the complexities of this case to speak anywhere near authoritatively. There are too many unanswered questions in my mind.
Is rehab possible? Has it been tried? Who's right about this--the parents and their doctors or the husband and his?
What is a reasonable physical level of physical deterioration to make feeding tube removal ethical?
Do the rights of a husband include the right to terminate life?
Is there a difference between terminating care for a brain dead person and a persistently vegetative person?
Is the husband's testimony that Terri said she would never want to be in this state credible in light of his apparent motivations? If he didn't care about the money, he could divorce her. (Jesus' teaching on divorce and fornication doesn't seem to be a guiding principle in his life.)
Is federal intervention going too far? Does the argument hold water that "if death row inmates get a hearing with the U.S. Supreme Court, Terri should too"?
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2 comments:
My dire prediction is that all of these questions/concerns will be addressed after Terry's death. Then (and only then) will the news media focus on Michael Schiavo and possibly question his motives and financial gain. It will be interesting to see all of his supporters "back off" if/when Terry Schiavo dies...especially the politicians!
I realize this is after the fact, but I have a few comments. First, what was the motive behind wanting the feeding tube removed? Why wouldn't the husband turn Terri over to her parents? Did he have the tube removed out of love? Not for Terri! Maybe for self. If he'd loved her, he'd have stuck by her side, as our wedding vows say, "in sickness and in health." If he loved her, he'd have honored her parents. Next, the feeding tube was already inserted. When I was caring for my mom, our doctor said "Do not have a feeding tube inserted. It's too hard on the patient." But then, my mom was in her 80's, with no hope of recuperation. Terri had been improving before her husband stopped rehab. Who knows but what she wouldn't have kept on improving? Why didn't her husband want her to? Since the tube was already inserted, and her parents wanted to care for her, why not? If her husband didn't love her enough to stay with her, how could anyone believe him when he said Terri would not have wanted to live that way?
JAW
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