Although I disagree with taking the feeding tube out, I am in agreement

[Riding this Donkey]

that the Fed. Gov't has no place in this.

It is sick and wrong for either side to make political hay out of this.

I love being here on DU and agree most of the time with most principles stated here. But on this one particular case I feel for her parents a whole lot.

I see repubs doing this, and believe me it kills me to even have one iota of agreement with those assholes, but I can't change how wrong I feel it is to take out her tube for a variety of reasons.


We all have differing opinions and I wish there were sometimes more respect shown for that difference, but hey nothing is perfect.

I will stay at DU and agree when I agree and disagree when I disagree.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I completely feel for her parents. No parent wants to see their child die

if they love them.

However, she'd be long dead were there not a feeding tube in her stomach. She's deteriorating. Do they really want to watch her deteriorate more, allow her bodily functions to slowly shut down, expose her to all the infections and other medical problems that go along with a feeding tube and failing body function?

[charlie]

5. Someone dear to me

took 5 years to die that way. Bedsores, muscular wasting, infections, rictus of the limbs, bone degeneration... inside of a year he looked nothing, nothing like the man he once was. If they get their way, they'll be in for no less heartache than if she died this week.

[latteromden]

2. I cannot believe that Congress is intervening in a personal matter like

this. I just can't believe it. If it were me, I would be so pissed off at the Republicans (moreso than usual!) for trying to make this a political issue.

[graywarrior]

3. You have to wonder what is really more painful for her parents

Having lost her as they knew her 15 years ago, watching her deteriorate each day, or living through the horror show thrust upon them by the media, the federal government and their daughters husband (not that he's wrong, either.)

I cannot imagine the gutwrenching agony they must feel knowing that either way she is lost to them. I hope they can find peace in their hearts.

[StClone]

4. We may note the irony of the Right's wrong-headedness

But I find no glory in starving a brain dead fellow human. But her husband had to make this most difficult decision and her family should support him when he needs it most. She was most loved and opting to starve what is left of her body is beyond my ability to deal with.

But, that is what thinking caring humans do. They make the best of it and allowing her to die is humane. Though a lethal injection is unlawful, in my opinion it would make sense in this situation. Why is the Right so afraid? Do they believe stories of the undead clawing back to life inside the casket? Are they clinging to this for their on selfish fears?

[Cha]

6. THis is just Wrong in my opinion!

delay is trying to gain some political capital from this and get himself out of the shithouse he put himself into with his non existent "ethics"!

Michael Schiavo is Terry's legal guardian and she told him.. and it passed the muster in court.. that she didn't want to be kept alive if something were to happen to render her useless.

Here is a transcript from 2003 in Michael's own words on the larry king show..

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/27/lkl.00.html

[DefenseLawyer]

7. Not trying to pick a fight

but why do you disagree with removing the feeding tube? Is it the facts of this particular case or do you think in general artificial means should always be used to keep a person alive? Is it on legal grounds? Do you feel her parents haven't had due process in ten years in the courts? Or is it on moral grounds alone? You say it is a variety of reasons, but I would be interested to know what they are. I respect your opinion, but I am curious.

[Riding this Donkey]

8. I feel

that dehydrating some one purpose is gruesome, and also I feel that her parents want to care for her and if he cared for Terri he(the husband) would take into consideration her parents thoughts.

Irregardless of what the court says, there are professionals who do not believe she is in a vegetative state. And I choose to believe the parents and siblings when they say she isn't. I believe that they don't want their daughter to dehydrate to death and they feel they have some relationship with her in the condition she is in.

I just don't think the parents are fundies, liars, control freaks like I have heard some say. I believe they are "using" every means possible to save their daughter.

I can feel for them. I have empathy for them. I believe them when they say there is more to terri than what is being said by a court of law.

I should also state that I do believe in dying with dignity. but people need to have it in writing. Or situations like this arise.

I don't just believe Michael because he says so, or because a court found him more believable. That is my perogative I believe.

Some choose to believe and the court and michael and that is their perogative.

There are always two sides to everything.


I can understand what people are saying about it, but I don't agree with it.

[sonicx]

11. i'm confused. if it's gruesome, why would it be any less gruesome if

someone had it in writing?

[Riding this Donkey]

15. If it was in writing the tube would have never been put in.......

I really don't want to rehash all of this in this thread. That kind poster asked my opinion and I gave it.


I aint got it in me right now, maybe later ok sonicx?

[Hamlette]

12. death by dehydration is not gruesome

the lack of water effects the electrolites and the heart stops beating. I've witnessed it twice. There were absolutly no signs of discomfort.

[seabeyond]

9. i dont see how anyone can disagree with you having a tough

time with this. i too sit in wonder about the experience and feel for the family. in the ideal world i would have given the woman to the family to make the decision, but the husband didnt. it went thru the judicial system, and i accept what it gives. just as we dont inter fer with the many many decisions families are making across the nation with their loved ones in similar positions, we cannot here either.

i am not fearful of death. i wouldnt want to be left on a tube, body alone, for family to deal with for years to come. and the money it would cost. just none of it feels right for me. i can let go.

i am not opposed to an individual decision to take their own life in, well any reason, is the individual decision. to many variables, to many circumstances.

but for the right to play with this so is totally disgusting, they couldnt be held in anymore contempt by me, from what i see. they are not doing this from the heart, they are doing it in ugliness

[Riding this Donkey]

16. the congress is, yes, i agree! n/t

[Ladyhawk]

10. Hypocrisy...again.

You can count on it every single time. While they kill and torture thousands innocent Iraqis, Republicans focus on a single woman and say they are pro-life. I do believe in individual dignity and freedom, but to kill thousands and ignore it while focusing on one individual who has no hope of recover just boggles my mind. :crazy:

My opinion: If Terry Schiavo wanted to die, she should have had that chance fifteen years ago. I don't know her husband. I don't know her parents, but if two people heard her wishes, they should be carried out. What pisses me off is that she can't be eased out of this life with an overdose of morphine. I believe in the right to die. To me, it doesn't contradict a truly pro-life stance. Quality of life is so much better than quantity. For the record: please pull the plug on me if I'm ever in that state. I wouldn't want to "live."

[Pithlet]

13. I feel for the parents, too.

I can't imagine what it would be like to watch a child slip into a vegetative state. As a parent, I don't want to think about it.

[ultraist]

14. You are entitled to your personal opinion on this

It shows you are being very thoughtful when you are able to sort out your personal feelings about this from what the State should or should not do.

I've noticed that you have expressed your opinion on this in a civilized manner without resorting to ad hominem attacks. I applaud you for that!

You've taken a lot of heat over this! LOL!

Again, regardless of how we feel personally or what we may do for our loved one, there is a line that should be clear as to where the State has a right to interfere in our personal medical decisions and take control over our bodies.

Whether it be abortion, euthanasia, or medical treatments, right to privacy should not be curtailed.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[reality based]

18. Death is an enemy

We don't want to die and we don't want those we love to die. But we all die, and many of us have faced the decision of how far to go in artificially preserving life. Sometimes it involves a feeding tube. I do not second guess any decision made where there reasonably seems no real hope for recovery, no matter what I would do in similar circumstances. I will also keep my mouth shut about what I would do and try to give emotional support to those who have this awesome responsibility. My ex-spouse recently had to make this same decision involving a feeding tube regarding her mother and had to endure the unsolicited advice of other family members and co-religionists. It was not the business of Congress, the state legislature, the news media, the "Reverend" James Dobson, or President or Governor * as to what she decided. It is time to show some healthy outrage at the politicization of such difficult, agonizing personal decisions. As Mr. Schiavo has said, it may be your turn next.

[sandnsea]

19. The Republican Noise Machine

It really works, over and over again. And Democrats wonder why we can't get around it.