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Post by kc2 on Mar 19, 2005 0:05:50 GMT -5
I an just sickened today that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed. What kind of future is ahead when the most vulnerable among us are not protected? Where is the outcry?
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Post by Jackie on Mar 19, 2005 10:09:03 GMT -5
I agree with you totally........we have million people marches for just about everything else.......where are all those people who believe in freedom and right to life now? Why arent they ringing her hospital? We fight for the life of an unborn baby......but not for the life of someone with a disability?  ? Makes no sense to me. This woman is not in a coma that she will never come out of...she is...disabled. This is no longer an issue about whether or not to prolong life......its about a womans right to live ....and now what amounts to actual murder IMHO. And the sad thing too...is all of us and our children ....and her family....are going to have to watch her go.........day by day. I truly CANNOT believe this is happening. Thanks for posting Jackie |
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Post by MB on Mar 19, 2005 14:35:14 GMT -5
Did the courts appoint a guardian for her like they would with a young child whose parents are battling over custody?
MB
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Post by Alice on Mar 19, 2005 16:03:01 GMT -5
I am very sorry for that woman...  I am very sorry that the feeding tube is removed... I am very sorry for her relatives and her husband... But who would want to live that life ?? |
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Post by kc2 on Mar 19, 2005 18:52:10 GMT -5
No MB, her husband who has two young children with another woman and stands to inherit settlement money is her guardian. Sadly, inmates on death row have more
legal guarantees than this disabled woman.
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I hear you , Alice, and yet...of the times in my life when I've grown the most all have been when I've been placed in a situation I'd NEVER have volunteered for! Has anyone asked you yet, Did you know about the Downs before she was born?"
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Post by christie on Mar 19, 2005 23:02:30 GMT -5
To me this sad case is a PERFECT example why everyone should have a "Living Will" then there would be no ? as to what this woman's wishes really were and not a he said they said type of thing. Just my thoughts ... CC  |
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Post by Jodi on Mar 20, 2005 16:37:39 GMT -5
How does someone decide when a life is not worth living? We suffer so much and deal with horrific problems. To actually make that kind of decision blows me away.
I knew about Ryan having DS before he was born (5th mo. of pregnancy). I had the Dr., nurses and family members suggest to me that maybe it would be best to end my pregnancy (granted not all opinions were like that). I was told he probably would have a cleft palete and lip and would need to be tube fed (not the case). It was as if they were trying to convince me how "bad" they thought it would be and that would help me make a "good" decision.
Oh my goodness, how do we even begin to rank "quality of life"? I NEVER once thought of ending Ryan's life. I am still mystified over how anybody can say a life isn't worth living. We don't always get to choose our situations, but we do get to have some say in how we handle them.
Jodi
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Post by Chris on Mar 20, 2005 22:47:03 GMT -5
Jackie,
You said it so well.
I just listened to an audio tape of Terri Schiavo communicating with her father on Friday, March 18. She is absoluting vocalizing in response to his questions! I do not believe she fits the catagory of vegetative state. It sickens me.
My daughter was on a feeding tube for three months. I never considered it life support! I am also concerned about the implications this case has on people with disabilities.
I guess the biggest problem I have is that her so called husband is her guardian. Geez, if my husband had a live in girlfriend (basically a common law wife) and two children, I would consider our marriage contract was void. I can't understand why he is still her legal guardian.
I have always assumed that people who were taken off life support were brain dead. I guess I need more than just her husband's word that she said she wouldn't want to live in a vegetative state. If it's not on paper and notarized, then I feel it isn't valid.
I feel so terribly for her parents. It was heartbreaking to hear her mother plead for her "little girl's" (her words) life.
I know I am rambling but the neighbor who lives across the street had a daughter with CP. Cognitively she never progressed past that of a three month old. She was never even able to sit up. When she was 23 she died of natural causes.
I met this mom after her daughter had died. She loved her daughter just as much as any mother loves their typical child. She told me her daughter was the most wonderful baby. She said her daughter didn't really grow and was always like a baby. The daughter would get excited everytime her mom walked in the room. This mom definately felt that her daughter life was valuable. Her daughter had been gone for seven years and the mom still can't talk about it without crying.
I imagine Terri's mom and dad feel very much the same as my neighbor. This is their child! She has been their child for so much longer than Michael was her husband.
Chris
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Post by Kristen on Mar 21, 2005 13:17:12 GMT -5
IMO this is so NOT about quality of life, but quality of care. The same man (her husband) who denied her ANY therapy for ten years (stated showing improvement and he denied it, hmmm...) is pulling her tube. She also presented to the hospital in a coma and a bone scan revelated multiple fractures and bone contusions as well as signs of strangulation. the only person there, him. There is something fundamentally wrong with that.
I have to say it, even though it is not about other disabled people, but I think they go hand in hand...if our kids, kids with spina bifida, CP, etc. were left laying in cribs, institutionalized with no help directed toward them and not even allowed outside in FIVE YEARS as she has not been, the world would be pointing at them saying their lives wer not worth living, too. Some used to starve DS babie to death IN HOSPITAL NURSERIES on the premis that they had seen those institutionalized and it was not worth them living.
How is she different than those children and adults that were treated like that? Where is the compassion and hep for her? There are so many things fatally flawed with this case that it is really a very poor example of right to life/death with dignity. The man who single handedly removed her diginity is being allowed to kill her.
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Post by SuziF on Mar 21, 2005 13:34:34 GMT -5
Not only the facts about the husband...but to allow her to suffer this way...something like 58 hrs so far w/o food. Reguardless of "quality" of life ~ people have gone to jail for starving animals~ where are her rights ?
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Post by Alice on Mar 21, 2005 13:55:04 GMT -5
It is very difficult and complicated case, and I can not take any ones' side (I am not sure if it is good idea to keep her living this way, but if it's be my child I would fight for her life too - no matter what) and I have lots of questions:
1. Why she is in the hospice? For how many years?
2. Who pays for her care?
3. Why husband the only person who can make decision?
4. What doctors recommend?
5. What benefits Mr. Shivo will get if his wife will be taken off the feeding tube and die.
7. What if medicine this days doesn't have that feeding tubes?
6. Why some of you think that it is some how related to DS?
So, our spouses love us only when we are healthy and giving pleasure to them, but our parents love us no matter what.
Who is right? The parents whose love is blind or spouses whose love is practical and temporary?
I am very confused... But I know for sure that I do not like that this case became political issue...
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Post by Haleysmom on Mar 21, 2005 14:10:52 GMT -5
OK so what I don't get it, if they found - She also presented to the hospital in a coma and a bone scan revelated multiple fractures and bone contusions as well as signs of strangulation. the only person there, him- then why didn't they (police or hospital admin) IMMEDIATELY move for court guardian? There has to be more to that. If found with signs of strangulation? ? Why is the hospital that she went to not being held liable. Someone else mentioned settlement $$$ - settlement for what? I certainly don't want to start controversy but I see this poor woman and think to myself - would I want to live this way? Again, please understand I'm not for or against, truthfully I'm on the fence. Regardless this is a very sad situation. One I hope I am never put in. But my living will is in place with my wishes - although I'll have to reread it - I know I reference life support, but just a feeding tube??? I'll have to check. Alice I'm right there with you! |
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Post by Jessie on Mar 21, 2005 14:48:34 GMT -5
The part that I don't understand is why the husband won't give guardianship over to the parents and let them handle her care. I think I read they are Catholic - so if he gives up guardianship he will still be married to her and he probably does not want to get a divorce?
It's not up to anyone here on earth whether this woman lives or dies. Therefore, being that there was no living will from her stating her exact wishes, people caring for her should do whatever it takes to keep her living - regardless of what her spouse says. She has parents that want to keep her alive and that should be enough.
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Post by YoshsMom on Mar 22, 2005 12:03:12 GMT -5
What bothers me most is that politicians seem to be using this poor family for their own ends. I don't think either the Republicans or the democrats really care about what Terry Schiavo would have wanted. They all should have minded their own business. I don't know what's right or wrong, and I don't trust what I read in the news becuse every source seems to report whatever supports their opinion. I just pray that this family finds peace.
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Post by meghans_mom on Mar 22, 2005 12:42:36 GMT -5
Those of you who have a living will, or are interested. read this article (at least the bottom portion that tells about Health Care Proxys and Living Wills) A Living Will is not enough - you need a health care proxy to properly carry out your wishes...not sure if this varies from state to state...you can download a proxy form on-line, I think also www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-h4186367mar22,0,7457105.story hope that link works. laurie |
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? Makes no sense to me. This woman is not in a coma that she will never come out of...she is...disabled.
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