Terri Schiavo - what would you do?
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Congress is now trying to get into the act in the Terri Schiavo case.
If you don't know who Terri Schiavo is, or why she is relevant in the politcal arena, then I'd suggest doing some quick googling on "Terri Schiavo" or reading the following quick summary:
... Working against the clock, Republican leaders in Congress on Friday were trying to prevent doctors in Florida from removing the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman at the center of a battle between her husband and her parents.
Background to the case
Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance, and court-appointed doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents dispute that, and say she could get better.
The court found that it was Terri Schiavo’s wish not to kept alive in her current state and issued an order to remove the feeding tube Friday. Michael Schiavo’s attorney, George Felos, wouldn’t comment on when and how the removal will take place or whether Michael Schiavo would visit his wife before it happened.
Doctors have said it could take a week or two for Terri Schiavo to die once the tube that delivers water and nutrients is removed.
background info from Associated Press, Washington Post, and others
So, with that info (or any you've researched or already were aware of), what would you do, and what do you think should be done?
Should the feeding tube be removed -- this may hinge upon your belief that Terri Schiavo really has stated in the past that she would not want extraordinary measures and artificial means to be used to keep her alive. Assume that is the case (that she put into effect those orders and you have hard evidence of that information), would you order the feeding tube removed? What if all you had was a verbal (voice) statement saying that?
What helps you decide what should happen and how do you arrive at your conclusion? Are you deciding because you think it's the right thing for yourself if you were in a similar situation, or only for the case at hand?
I'm curious as to how most people at JoeUser.com stand.
If you don't know who Terri Schiavo is, or why she is relevant in the politcal arena, then I'd suggest doing some quick googling on "Terri Schiavo" or reading the following quick summary:
... Working against the clock, Republican leaders in Congress on Friday were trying to prevent doctors in Florida from removing the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman at the center of a battle between her husband and her parents.
Background to the case
Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance, and court-appointed doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents dispute that, and say she could get better.
The court found that it was Terri Schiavo’s wish not to kept alive in her current state and issued an order to remove the feeding tube Friday. Michael Schiavo’s attorney, George Felos, wouldn’t comment on when and how the removal will take place or whether Michael Schiavo would visit his wife before it happened.
Doctors have said it could take a week or two for Terri Schiavo to die once the tube that delivers water and nutrients is removed.
background info from Associated Press, Washington Post, and others
So, with that info (or any you've researched or already were aware of), what would you do, and what do you think should be done?
Should the feeding tube be removed -- this may hinge upon your belief that Terri Schiavo really has stated in the past that she would not want extraordinary measures and artificial means to be used to keep her alive. Assume that is the case (that she put into effect those orders and you have hard evidence of that information), would you order the feeding tube removed? What if all you had was a verbal (voice) statement saying that?
What helps you decide what should happen and how do you arrive at your conclusion? Are you deciding because you think it's the right thing for yourself if you were in a similar situation, or only for the case at hand?
I'm curious as to how most people at JoeUser.com stand.
