Any thoughts on the Schiavo case? Options

[Trolling]

woman fell into "vegatative state" 15 years ago now they wanna pull the feeding tube outta her... Experts say that parts of her brain is like "muss" Her husband wants to but her family dosent... The husband already has a new family with children...

I cant really explain it that well but heres a timeline
Timeline

This post has been edited by hosing: Feb 26 2005, 08:01 PM

[demolished]

That's seem odd but i dont exactly know what do you mean.

[yukichan]

i think the feeding tube should not be pulled out..and if the husband has another family, i think he should stick his head out of his ex wifes life...well thats what i think..

[picaso_smile]

Two possibilities about the motive behind the huband/family's opinion. Only a few main options off the top of my head. Chances are it could be neither....

1. The husband had hid new family. He wants to forget about his old wife. He's sick of paying medical bills (I'm assuming he is) for her to stay alive and would rather be with his new wife even if his old wife man a full recovery.

2. The husband gave up hope for his wife regaining her heatlh. He moved on and started a new family. His wife family resents him for moving on and forgetting about her. They don't want him to get his way.

I say the husband butts out. The wife's family wants her alive so they can cover the costs, or let her go. There's no clearly fair way.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

i think terri schiavo's husband just wants her to hurry up and die so he can get the money. if he already had another family, he wouldnt care to fight for the feeding tube to be removed if there wasnt money involved. i think its sick what he is doing, and i think he needs to butt out and let her family decide for her.

[william]

i think they need to take (keep?) the feeding food out. the only reason why the family wants to keep her alive is just to keep her alive. she isn't going to get better, and i think the husband is doing the right thing by trying to put her out of her misery.

[Teesa]

well, I agree with the husband in trying to put her out of her misery..but if I was in the parents' place I think I would want to see my daughter "live" as long as she could hold out, unless she was extremely suffering, so sorry as I don't have a clear opinion on this subject.

[Rachel]

^she has been in a vegetable state for like 15 years, she can't respond to anything and is not in pain because she is brain dead.

i think terri schiavo's husband just wants her to hurry up and die so he can get the money. if he already had another family, he wouldnt care to fight for the feeding tube to be removed if there wasnt money involved. i think its sick what he is doing, and i think he needs to butt out and let her family decide for her.

a. he is probably paying all the bills still dumbass
b. her family won't let her go, she has been brain dead for f**kin 15 years, she is not going to just snap out of it.
c. the woman said that if she was ever in that state, to just let her go and die naturally.

I say the husband butts out. The wife's family wants her alive so they can cover the costs, or let her go. There's no clearly fair way.

i doubt they are covering the costs and hellllllo she has been brain dead for a long ass time.


i cannot believe the parents are trying to take this to the supreme court. the goverment has NO right getting involved. the parents need to move on and let their daughter go! she has been a veg. for like what 15 years? her husband keeps trying to take her off the life support but her parents keep bringing him to court and wont let him!

for serious, let the woman die peacefully.

[Aesirus]

Whoever's paying the bills should get the choice.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

for serious, let the woman die peacefully.

peacefully?! she would f**kin starve to death! and also, the husband friggin went with another woman and went off and had kids with her, i mean, how would you feel if you were in a veg. state still married to a man, only to find out that he is with another woman, and violating the marriage vows? "till death do us part"

[OriskybusinessO]

didnt they already take the tube out? Just a week ago or something. If not i totally and fully agree with william.

[pandamonium]

its funny how most of the nation doesnt want this one woman to die. but still we still sell ciggarettes to millions of people......

[william]

peacefully?! she would f**kin starve to death! and also, the husband friggin went with another woman and went off and had kids with her, i mean, how would you feel if you were in a veg. state still married to a man, only to find out that he is with another woman, and violating the marriage vows? "till death do us part"

...she's braindead. she's not even concious. do you not grasp that point? it wouldn't be painful at all to her.

she isn't going to find out her husband has started a new family. she's basically been dead for 15 years, and she obviously isn't going to get better. why not move on?

do you know how many people get divorces in the u.s.? there are tons of people who violate marriage vows... i personally don't think that's a big part of the issue here.

[xHalf nHalf]

ok, its been said medical advances have been found that could help her but the husband REFUSES to let the doctors to actually utilize them. and ive also heard that her heart problems that led to the brain damage were caused by an eating disorder and the husband beating her. anyways, i dont think that the tubes should have been removed.

starving her to death = euthanasia
euthanasia = murder

plain and simple

[Rachel]

peacefully?! she would f**kin starve to death! and also, the husband friggin went with another woman and went off and had kids with her, i mean, how would you feel if you were in a veg. state still married to a man, only to find out that he is with another woman, and violating the marriage vows? "till death do us part"

holy shit are you f**king retarded? if you can read, than you would know what the hell brain dead means. she is BRAIN-f**kin-DEAD. meaning she doesn't even know that her husband is remarried or that she is on feeding tubes. she cannot feel anything. she is just sitting there, unconcious, on bed....

[sadolakced acid]

you can keep a person's body "alive" while you chop off thier head.

does that make the alive?

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

holy shit are you f**king retarded? if you can read, than you would know what the hell brain dead means. she is BRAIN-f**kin-DEAD. meaning she doesn't even know that her husband is remarried or that she is on feeding tubes. she cannot feel anything. she is just sitting there, unconcious, on bed....

no i am not retarded, its an opinion. you dont have to resort to name-calling. i now understand that she is brain-dead and cant function, but i still think it is wrong for murder.

[sadolakced acid]

why is it murder?

in my view, she's already dead.

[lakerfever2476]

I think it's unfair for Terri Schiavo's parents. They were the ones paying for the tube and for what? Just so that Terri's husband would take it out. It violates Terri's beliefs because she's a Catholic. Just like you wouldn't abort, you won't kill Terri. I saw her pictures when she had her consciousness. She was very pretty. And, the part of her brain that is damaged is the part that censors pain. So, she won't feel anything when she starves to death.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

yea, i agree. i dont think she should be killed, i mean, i know it wouldnt hurt her, and she is brain damaged... but how would you feel if your only daughter was brain damaged and in the hospital, and someone was trying to take her life? no one should EVER "play god" and justify whether or not someone should be alive. i think they need to leave it all up to god to decide if terri should die. he has a plan for her, and its not right to kill her. she is still human, and once she's dead, she is DEAD. you cant bring her back, and she can never get better. i understand she was a veg for 15 years, but come on, just let the woman f**kin live

[Rachel]

yea, i agree. i dont think she should be killed, i mean, i know it wouldnt hurt her, and she is brain damaged... but how would you feel if your only daughter was brain damaged and in the hospital, and someone was trying to take her life? no one should EVER "play god" and justify whether or not someone should be alive. i think they need to leave it all up to god to decide if terri should die. he has a plan for her, and its not right to kill her. she is still human, and once she's dead, she is DEAD. you cant bring her back, and she can never get better. i understand she was a veg for 15 years, but come on, just let the woman f**kin live

you ummm contradicted yourself a lot there. by the way shes pretty much f**kin dead. her husband is not "playing god" by wanting to let go of his wife who has been a f**kin vegetable for 15 years. obviously "god" must have planned for her to die if she hasn't woken up or responded to anything for 15 years. so come, let her DIE ALREADY.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

hah well the feeding tube is still out
talking about this wont help the situation, so why debate about it

[onenonly101]

This is my thing.

If in fact she told her husband that she did not want to rely on medical help to survive there is no discussion the feeding tube should stay out.

Also the decision is supposed to be left up to the attending doctor and her legal gaurdian and her legal gaurdian is her husband.

She has been in a vegetative state for 15 years, frankly there ain't no coming back

This case is showing us that what we want doesn't matter anymore because someone could reverse the decision.

[jennyjenny]

Didn't they take the tube out on friday?
Or did they put it back?

I think that they should just take it out because she really can't do anything. She can't communicate with anyone, move, or have feelings. She's been in that state in 15 years, and unless a miracle comes along, I don't think she's going to get any better. If she can't even feel or think for herself, then why not just let her die? I mean, not like take a knife and stab her, but didn't they say that she could probably go a couple of weeks without the tube?

[ItzOnlySydney]

she is a vegatable if that were m i wwould want to be put out of my misery.......

[sammi rules you]

i think they should just let her die naturally. her doctors say there's not even a miracle that could possibly happen to save her.

plus what the person 2 posts above me said.

[lakerfever2476]

Her parents were the ones paying for the tube! They should be the one deciding!

[Rachel]

not if the woman told her husband she NEVER wanted to be on the tubes in the first place.

[william]

talking about this wont help the situation, so why debate about it

will debating about the iraq war change it? how about debating about gay marriage? of course this won't have any effect, but that's not always the point of debating.

onenonly101 and crazyjew basically laid out what i think.

[avalon*]

she is a vegatable if that were m i wwould want to be put out of my misery.......

vegetative. not vegetable.

i think that prolonging someone's life who will probably never get better is just stretching the hopes of everyone around them. if they're not meant to be kept on earth any longer, then why fight it? it will cause you misery to see someone you love suffer everyday, but if you let them go, you can move on. i'm sure the suffering person would want the rest of the family to enjoy their lives, and not have to spend extra time worrying about them.

[pandamonium]

vegetative. not vegetable.

i think that prolonging someone's life who will probably never get better is just stretching the hopes of everyone around them. if they're not meant to be kept on earth any longer, then why fight it? it will cause you misery to see someone you love suffer everyday, but if you let them go, you can move on. i'm sure the suffering person would want the rest of the family to enjoy their lives, and not have to spend extra time worrying about them.

yea you can definately say vegetable.

and she is not a vegetable. tell me how can a vegetable laugh cry or make any emotions she is progressing. she doesnt need a respirator she can breathe by herself. and she cant die peacefully. dying peacefully is like putting her to sleep... they are gunna kill her by unplugging her feeding tube.. that is the most slowest death in the world.. imagine you on a bed with out any food while everyone is waiting for you to die???? i mean come on think about it throughly put yourself in her shoes.

if you had a baby and the baby had down syndrome would you kill him or her...? i doubt it cause they can stil breathe show emotions they just dont think the same as everyone else.

the only way i would say "ok its alright for her to die" is if she dies by other means. like giving her pills or something but taking her feeding tube out is totally insane.

---------------

[DaTru KataLYST]

Hey guys, maybe we should stop thinking our beliefs, and more for the beliefs of Terri.

She specifically said to her husband on two separate occasions before her incident that if she ever fell upon such an unfortunate situation, she did not want to be on a tube for the rest of her life. She specifically said she didn't want it. SHE said she didn't want it! Euthanasia is legal. It's not morally wrong. It's wrong for the Christians; not wrong for America (by law).

I mean, you can't compare this to Terri wants to commit suicide. There's a difference between comatose and brain-dead. When you're brain dead, the only definition for life is your heart is beating. There is no mental life. She's gone. When we say, "He died." We mean it as in his heart stopped bleeding. We usually don't encounter the word 'death' with when your brain stops working. But the truth is that she's dead. Brain-dead. Dead. Respect her wishes, and let her R.I.P.

[Levy2k6]

i think we should put her down (haha, that was almost funny but this is serious)... there's no real "use" for her.. i know it sounds mean but its true.. we are put here for a reason and forgot what they are.. can someone refresh me? i know one of them is "reproduce" and yeah..

well idk.. if i were her, i would have wanted to be put out of my misery a long time ago.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

its kinda strange how she told her husband that she would never want to be on feeding tubes if she was ever brain-dead or in a veg state, then after that she "accidently" was brain damaged? dont you think the husband has something to do with that?

[Sumiaki]

That's the problem. She never made a living will nor gave anyone power of attorney. I will have to say I am with taking the tube out.

This is what I have learned while in med school.

1. Mrs. Schiavo does not feel any sensations due to damages to her brain. Technically she can still live without the tube. She can recieve nutrients from an intravenous. The tube just gives her the feeling of nourishment. Now why would you need the feeling of nourishment if you cannot feel any sensation at all? Intravenous is actually cheaper than tube feedings.

2. Would you like to have life support machines connected to you or your loved one while in a casket during a wake? I think not, that is demoralizing. It would rather die naturally than being on a machine that eats for me.

3. Why would you force someone to live? The feeding tube forces nutrients and nourishment down her throat. Due to her brain damage she has aphagia(not being able to swallow). I mean I bet they have already tried putting her on a puree diet, but unfortunately she just cannot eat on her own will.

4. The husband should make the decision. No one is closer to her than her husband. Can you imagine heartbreak everyday for 15 years? Traditionally in a wedding ceremony, the father gives away his daughter to the husband. Therefore it should be the husband's choice of what should be done.

5. Can't think, Can't eat, Can't do anything. To me she is already dead.

6. Darwinism. We are animals (as stated in animal experimentation debates) so why should we help someone who is useless? No other animal will spend 15 years taking care of a another animal. Have you ever wondered why african americans are good athletes. (seriously) Slavery helped make them that way. The strong survived through slavery. Therefore the genes of strong africans carried over while the weak genes died.

7. Finances. I am not sure who handles it but it most probably the husband or the government. Why waste money on someone who will not become better. That money can be spent on people that can become better.

She should die peacefully and respectfully. Would you rather remember your daughter doing nothing and hooked up on machines or remember a daughter who has lived their life the way you know she wanted to live it. Why would you choose sad memories against happy ones?

I know most people want the tube to stay in just because that's what most of the opinions on TV are. Well to keep things straight, politicians don't want to take a chance on seeming immoral.

Just my two cents on things.

[william]

^ nice points.

its kinda strange how she told her husband that she would never want to be on feeding tubes if she was ever brain-dead or in a veg state, then after that she "accidently" was brain damaged? dont you think the husband has something to do with that?

that's COMPLETELY speculation. you have no facts to back that up. i have heard my parents have tell each other numerous times that if they ever reach a state where they will be bedridden for life that they want to die. i don't think that's an uncommon thing for married couples to discuss.

[Levy2k6]

talking about ur future is never uncommon.. i know that if i get paralized or anything like that.. if im not back in 6 months.. im out. unless there's a very high 90% chance im going back but no speculating im coming back...

im leaving a will with things like this when i gro wup..

[sadolakced acid]

i'm going to draw a political cartoon.

it's going to have terri

at the pearly gates

and st. peters tells her

"you've been there for 15 years. what are you waiting for?"

and she'll respond

"for my body to die. i'm already at the gates of heaven, but those people on earth are keeping my body. "



isn't it kinda strange that

1. her husband, her legal guardian, has said remove the tube and there was a movement to over-ride this? that's like congress passing a law to require you to not wear pink or something. it's a personal choice the government has no say in.

2. the people who's opinions actually matter (her husband, her doctors) all say take out the tube. since when was the private life ruled by congress?

[DaTru KataLYST]

^ Political America (namely, the conservatives) are using this story to their advantage on the life & death morality status of America. More religious bs American citizens have to bathe in.

[onenonly101]

For once I agree and like what acid said. I love the cartoon

[lakerfever2476]

Okay, I watched a full damn documentary about this *chuckles* so I'll just say it.

Terri Schaivo was put into a vegetative state when her heart stopped beating 10 beats. The part of her brain that was damaged was the part that censors her feeling of pain. So, if she were put to death, she wouldn't feel pain at all. Even though she smiles, blinks, mumbles, etc etc it all means nothing. She is in a very, very unconscious state but there was a part of her brain that wasn't damaged and it helps her blink her eyes and smile. She doesn't have feelings, she doesn't have thoughts, all she has is a beating heart.

I now change my mind about my position *another John Kerry lol*. As the Vatican says, you shouldn't mess with death. If she was supposed to die, she is supposed to die. If she can't survive by her own, she simply wasn't meant to survive, feeding tubes and all. She'll probably be in a better place in heaven. But who knows? Maybe she does know what people are saying. Eh?

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

yea im starting to change my mind also... if i was in a veg state i wouldnt want to be kept alive either. no one really knows how terri schiavo is feeling, since obviously she cant talk, and she cant function. who knows, maybe she CAN feel pain, or maybe she wants to die, but no one will ever know since she cant express her feelings. now im thinking that they should just let the woman go. i sure wouldnt want to be in a veg state, but i wouldnt want to starve to death, or die a slow death. i think they should just put her down right there, and not make it so complicated.

[william]

yea im starting to change my mind also... if i was in a veg state i wouldnt want to be kept alive either. no one really knows how terri schiavo is feeling, since obviously she cant talk, and she cant function. who knows, maybe she CAN feel pain, or maybe she wants to die, but no one will ever know since she cant express her feelings. now im thinking that they should just let the woman go. i sure wouldnt want to be in a veg state, but i wouldnt want to starve to death, or die a slow death. i think they should just put her down right there, and not make it so complicated.

she can't feel pain. she doesn't think. i'm pretty sure that's proven. so starving or dying a slow death wouldn't be bad at all.

i don't think they can legally "put her down right there". my mom is a gereatrician (sp), and all they can do is just give them pain meds and let them die nautrally. isn't it murder or assisted suicide if you just kill them off?

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

im sure it wouldnt be assisted suicide, or murder, since letting her starve to death wouldnt be any different. she would die anyway

[Rachel]

^probably (thats to william)....

ps-i love how all the people who were soo rampidly against taking out the tubes now are changing their minds because they actually know what the case is about now.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

yep.. but it wouldnt be a debate if everyone agreed

[lakerfever2476]

I just wasn't sure whether it was the right thing or not before I watched that documentary. =]

[william]

im sure it wouldnt be assisted suicide, or murder, since letting her starve to death wouldnt be any different. she would die anyway

dying nautrally and "putting her down" are completely different things.

ps-i love how all the people who were soo rampidly against taking out the tubes now are changing their minds because they actually know what the case is about now.

haha, that's what i was thinking too.

yep.. but it wouldnt be a debate if everyone agreed

that response makes no sense if you actually read/understood what rachel was trying to get across.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

yea, i understood what she was talking about. i didnt understand much about the case until now. but cant you agree that a debate has two opinions?

[bunny--bunny]

I think she should live. Even if she's suffering, she should stay alive. It's better to stay alive then die.

[Rachel]

^have you read ANYTHING in this thread or on the case at all?

SHE IS BRAIN DEAD, cannot feel/think/move/react...she is only alive because of a machine. no miracle can save her.

yea, i understood what she was talking about. i didnt understand much about the case until now. but cant you agree that a debate has two opinions?

obviously, that is why it is called a debate...i still don't see your point tho. mine was that most of the people who were against were just making their opinion based on belief or reading one sentence....

[avalon*]

My best friend interns at Capitol Hill, where the congressmen and women work, and I'd trust him with my life, so I'm trusting what he says. I'm changing my point of view since now I've learned that the husband only wants to let Terri go because he wants to continue his family with his girlfriend. If that is his only reason to remove the tube, then I think it should stay in, because it seems a little selfish for him to let her die because he wants to go with his girlfriend, and that's the only way he can get married to his girlfriend.

[sammi rules you]

she's been in this state for FIFTEEN YEARS. she's not going to come out of it. she doesn't realize her tube is out and she's not being fed. she's dead. she is. only her shell of a body is left. she's no longer there. the husband has every right to want to move on. FIFTEEN YEARS she's been there..that's my lifetime. more than, even.

if you were in this situation, think seriously - you're spending money, a LOT of money, to keep your hopes up. you visit her every day, but it's not even her anymore. it's just a shell. this has been going on for fifteen years. would you seriously keep her like that forever?

[avalon*]

I think the parents are just happy to see her everyday, and they don't want to see her starve to death. They get donations and I think money from the government.

I think that it is basically just her body left. If her husband's motives were more for her own good, and she had a will, then everything would be much more clear.

[sammi rules you]

^ i think they ARE for her own good, and, for the good of others. yes, he does want to be with his girlfriend, but so would anyone. that doesn't make him a bad person. do you people seriously expect him to not ever be with anyone else for the rest of his life just because his wife had a heart attack?

[avalon*]

^ i think they ARE for her own good, and, for the good of others. yes, he does want to be with his girlfriend, but so would anyone. that doesn't make him a bad person. do you people seriously expect him to not ever be with anyone else for the rest of his life just because his wife had a heart attack?

But he wants to let Terri die to spend time with another woman. Yes, it's understandable to want to spend time with someone else after so long. I think that is his only choice, though, if we wants to be with another woman, which is pretty unfortunate. So I guess I have a moderate stance on this issue.

[sammi rules you]

well yes, if it was like a year or two, i'd be against it but..she's been in there for fifteen years. that's longer than i've been alive. i'm sure he doesn't want her to die, necessarily, but there's no way she's coming back, and i think he just wants to be done with it and wants closure, basically.

[pandamonium]

personally i want her to live.. but i wouldnt want to be just laying in a bed for 15 years... ok so they decide to kill her so she doesnt have to live like that...

but ask yourself... why starving her to death... OUT OF ALL THINGS out of all the technology and science and medicines... why starve her??? there are other means of killing her.

[avalon*]

well yes, if it was like a year or two, i'd be against it but..she's been in there for fifteen years. that's longer than i've been alive. i'm sure he doesn't want her to die, necessarily, but there's no way she's coming back, and i think he just wants to be done with it and wants closure, basically.

Yes, that's a very good point. I wish there was another way they could let her die peacefully, without having to let her parents worry whether she is starving to death or not.

[sammi rules you]

true, i wish they would just inject her with something and kill her more quickly, so she wouldn't have to sit there starving..however, the doctors say she doesn't even realize she's starving. she doesn't have the capacity to think "oh, my stomach's growling and i'm withering away like dust..."

[*mzkandi*]

true, i wish they would just inject her with something and kill her more quickly, so she wouldn't have to sit there starving..however, the doctors say she doesn't even realize she's starving. she doesn't have the capacity to think "oh, my stomach's growling and i'm withering away like dust..."

very true on the starving thing...my thoughts are the whole case is very hard to wager though i have pretty mixed feeling about it.....i kinda think if they are to let her die why dont let her die quick and painlessly but i guess they are going for a more natural death

[Kriegsgefangene]

This may sound mean, but I won't sway from this state-

We need to let Terri Schaivo die.
The parent's are trying to let her live because she 'might get better'. The brain damage that has been done to her is in no way possible to recover from.

Don't let her husband have to go through the watching her just like that, and having to pay expenses of her. It is unfair and unjust.

I mean, people have murdered the mentally retarded back in the 1700/1800's.

This is worse than just mentally retarded.

I, personally, wouldn't want to live if I was in a vegetative state.
I will have a will written up, and if I ever do get reduced down to that, I would like to be killed.

And the way her parents fight for her, that is just the wrong hope. I know there is some, but it is just wrong.

That is the hope I hate

[william]

...i asked my mom, who's a doctor for old people, and she said you cannot legally inject her with something. you HAVE to let her die on her own. it's considered murder if you inject her with something. if you want her to die, starving is the only way to do it. she's basically dead though, so it's not like it's painful or she even realizes or feels anything.

[sammi rules you]

^ yea i thought about that after i posted but blah i was too lazy to edit.

[Kriegsgefangene]

...i asked my mom, who's a doctor for old people, and she said you cannot legally inject her with something. you HAVE to let her die on her own. it's considered murder if you inject her with something. if you want her to die, starving is the only way to do it. she's basically dead though, so it's not like it's painful or she even realizes or feels anything.

Hunger is quiet painful..

Around my second hour of the day, my tummy growls at me...

[pandamonium]

...i asked my mom, who's a doctor for old people, and she said you cannot legally inject her with something. you HAVE to let her die on her own. it's considered murder if you inject her with something. if you want her to die, starving is the only way to do it. she's basically dead though, so it's not like it's painful or she even realizes or feels anything.

so that lady on the news a little while back who was cutting the feeding tubes of all those patients why was she charged? if they die on there own then she wasnt killing them?

im not trying to prove you wrong but im just saying why did they charge the lady for murder for cutting feeding tubes when they say it isnt murder if they let her die alone.

[Angel_Cece]

It is very wrong. The husband, who gained a million dollars off of court cases, has a girlfriend and two children. Now, why should he have a say on her life. the law says that when you are married the spouse has legal care of your condition if you are injured. that's the problem... the law is the problem. why let her die when there's hope?


some q&a's from her site
If Terri hasn't recovered after all these years of therapy, why not let go?

Terri hasn't had meaningful therapy since 1991, but many credible physicians say she can benefit from it.

Why can't Terri just divorce?

Terri's husband/guardian speaks for her. She cannot divorce without his permission

Does Terri have an advanced directive or any wishes about her healthcare?

Terri never signed any directive or living will and there is no evidence that she foresaw her present situation.

Why do Terri's family fight to keep her alive? Shouldn't they let her husband decide?

Terri's husband has started another family and probably has gone on with his life. Terri's family want to provide her therapy and a safe home.

Is Terri receiving life support?

Not in the traditional sense. Terri only receives food and fluids via a simple tube.

Isn't removing her tube a natural and dignified way to die?

No. Dehydration and starvation cause horrific effects and are anything but peaceful. Read more here.

[sadolakced acid]

that's a propoganda site.

[Rachel]

It is very wrong. The husband, who gained a million dollars off of court cases, has a girlfriend and two children. Now, why should he have a say on her life. the law says that when you are married the spouse has legal care of your condition if you are injured. that's the problem... the law is the problem. why let her die when there's hope?

because there is NO HOPE. what dont you people understand? she has been BRAIN-f**kin-DEAD for 15 years. numerous doctors have said there is NOTHING that can bring her back. she can't feel anything, she can't talk, she can't respond...anything that her body does is just like natural or something, it is not because she can know when her family is with her. the husband wants to move on because he has finally accepted that she is gone and that it is what he needs to do.

she told him TWICE that if she was ever in any sort of vegetive state that she would want to die naturally. he is simply complying with her wishes.

[william]

so that lady on the news a little while back who was cutting the feeding tubes of all those patients why was she charged? if they die on there own then she wasnt killing them?

im not trying to prove you wrong but im just saying why did they charge the lady for murder for cutting feeding tubes when they say it isnt murder if they let her die alone.

i think in this case they can let her die nautrally because her husband, who is her guardian, wants her to and has given the doctors permission to. i never heard about that, but probably some of them weren't terminally ill and i don't think the lady was any of their guardians.

[kisstharingz]

I think that the husband should have the final say because she was in his custody...well I don't know if that's the right word, but she wasn't in the custody of her parents. If she told him (which cannot be proven) that she didn't want to be kept on life support, then they should just trust him when he says so.

[Angel_Cece]

because there is NO HOPE. what dont you people understand? she has been BRAIN-f**kin-DEAD for 15 years. numerous doctors have said there is NOTHING that can bring her back. she can't feel anything, she can't talk, she can't respond...anything that her body does is just like natural or something, it is not because she can know when her family is with her. the husband wants to move on because he has finally accepted that she is gone and that it is what he needs to do.

she told him TWICE that if she was ever in any sort of vegetive state that she would want to die naturally. he is simply complying with her wishes.

there is hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if they just put her on the damn feeding tube! i think the mother has more say than alll of them she brought her into the friggin world

[Rachel]

there is hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if they just put her on the damn feeding tube! i think the mother has more say than alll of them she brought her into the friggin world

DOCTORS ALL AGREE THAT NOTHING CAN SAVE HER! she pretty much died 15 years ago when her heart stopped beating. and too bad her mother isnt her guardian, her husband is and it is his decision.

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

DOCTORS ALL AGREE THAT NOTHING CAN SAVE HER! she pretty much died 15 years ago when her heart stopped beating. and too bad her mother isnt her guardian, her husband is and it is his decision.

how could her heart stop beating if she is not running on life support, or any machines, but a feeding tube? HER HEART STILL BEATS, she still responds to movement, she knows that there is a balloon dangling over her, there still is hope. the husband has nothing else to do with her, he moved on already, why make decisions for her? her mother should have full responsibility for her, considering she did bring her into the world.

[Angel_Cece]

how could her heart stop beating if she is not running on life support, or any machines, but a feeding tube? HER HEART STILL BEATS, she still responds to movement, she knows that there is a balloon dangling over her, there still is hope. the husband has nothing else to do with her, he moved on already, why make decisions for her? her mother should have full responsibility for her, considering she did bring her into the world.

she's a vegetable she cant think, talk or anything. and i agree with you. there's hope. there are survivors! her husband is in it for the inheritance money, think about it he doesnt care. he has another family.

[pandamonium]

how could her heart stop beating if she is not running on life support, or any machines, but a feeding tube? HER HEART STILL BEATS, she still responds to movement, she knows that there is a balloon dangling over her, there still is hope. the husband has nothing else to do with her, he moved on already, why make decisions for her? her mother should have full responsibility for her, considering she did bring her into the world.

i totally agree with you. i also think there is hope but think about it , it would take like another 15 years for her to do something else like start talking. i mean by thenn her parents would of died. i myself wouldnt want my daughter waiting in a bed for 30 years to die. i mean i would say let her die but i wouldnt want her to die by starving like some other means.

and i also dont think the husband should have any say. its her parents that should. The only way he should have any say in what happens to her if they have kids together which i dont think they do but correct me if im wrong.

[Rachel]

how could her heart stop beating if she is not running on life support, or any machines, but a feeding tube? HER HEART STILL BEATS, she still responds to movement, she knows that there is a balloon dangling over her, there still is hope. the husband has nothing else to do with her, he moved on already, why make decisions for her? her mother should have full responsibility for her, considering she did bring her into the world.

you changed your mind again i see. and again, doctors have been quoted saying that there is no hope. obviously he moved on, his wife was practicially dead, do you blame him?! he isn't making decisions for her, she said that she would never want to be in vegetative state. and HE IS HER LEGAL GUARDIAN, her parents legally have no say. the reason why this case is soo big is because the parents are trying to bring the gov't into something that it has no say in.

[william]

...do you guys not get this? THERE IS NOT HOPE. show me some medical facts to back up your statements, because what you're saying is just b.s. without them. she responds to movements and her heart beats because that part of her brain works, but the part that controls her thinking, feelings, and emotions does not.

and angel_cece, show me where you got your fact that shows "there are survivors" please.

lastly, legally her husband is her guardian. it doesn't matter whether or not you THINK her parents should have the say, because guess what? by law, her husband is the one in control.


edit: rachel beat me to posting this, so sorry if it seems a lot like her post above mine .

[clarissa]

I personally think that they should just let the whole thing go. She wanted to die naturally, so let her die naturally.

[sadolakced acid]

OMG i totally agree with you!

there is HOPE that she will wake up.
there's also HOPE that a neutrono will strike her DNA, mutate it, and cause her to grow a third arm.

[pandamonium]

OMG i totally agree with you!

there is HOPE that she will wake up.
there's also HOPE that a neutrono will strike her DNA, mutate it, and cause her to grow a third arm.

lol

[laur3nw]

The way I see it is she's practically dead, but her organs are still working. Before she was brain-dead, she already told her husband that she didn't want to be in a vegetated state, so why not just listen to what she wanted and let her go? I mean, she's not going to recover, so there's really no point in keeping the tubes in. If they let her go, she'll be in a better place anyways.

[lolthissiteisfun...]

I think that they should go with what she supposedly said she would want to do in this case which is die naturally, because after 15 years, i hate to be harsh, but why not? I did a project on this once and its true, some people do live when doctors think they won't recover, but after 15 years the chances are kind of slim. And she did, i *think* say she wanted to die naturally. I honestly think everyone should have to sign a paper telling what they would like done were this to happen to them, so we don't have to go through ordeals like this, but that's just my opinion.

[Loff]

There are no chances of her coming back at all. She is dead, but her breathing and heart still function. Her movements are more random than not, because her brain is...dead.

I say pull the plug. She's dead, and tax payers shouldn't have to pay for her or any others (I agree to public health care, but health care for the brain dead?! talk about stupid!)

[sadolakced acid]

but there's HOPE!

there's HOPE gandalf could raise her!

[Loff]

If Gandalf can raise her, then theres hope that Ghandi can be raised from the dead!

Sweet!! :)

[sailormei]

I just saw on Yahoo! frontpage that she's going into her "last hours". It's kinda sad.

I just don't get why it's her case that's such a big.. deal right now. Lots of people probably had to die...

I don`t know. I`m not well "ed-u-ma-ka-ted".

[HongKongDong]

Terri Schiavo is dead - brain dead that is. The Dems played this card smart, I don't know whether to pat them on the back or be scared thinking they may play every card right. However sad it is that Terri Schiavo is essentially being starved to death - though I believe she is highly sedated? - she is already dead. She should have been dead 5 days ago - or even 5 years - by an injection or something quick and painless, not being staved. The Dems were smart to play possum on this issue. It's a no winner, and it's wrong. For the party that screams about the sanctity of marriage, the GOP is not letting this husband decide his wife's fate - and honestly, how many of you would want to remain a vegetable, I know I wouldn't. Pull the plug, take my life insurance money and have a party. It's not anyone's business but her husbands, and even if it was her parent's business (which it's not) they had some 15 years to do something about it. Let the woman die, she deserves as much. We can only hope for the best.

[Loff]

injecting her with with a quick and painless toxin would be considered assisted suicide, or murder.

What they do is they remove life support so the person dies of natural causes (like not being able to breathe because they unplugged the breather). Its what they do alot of time

[Rachel]

^exactly. which is why it is ridiculus that this whole ordeal got soo much publicity. the parents really just need to accept that their daughter is not going to come back and to let the husband do what it right. the gov't never needed to come into this

[Angel_Cece]

I personally think that they should just let the whole thing go. She wanted to die naturally, so let her die naturally.

die naturally? YOU THINK STARVING SOMEONE IS NATURAL? NATURAL IS WHEN YOU JUST DIE.

[nevernothere]

I think they should let her die... I wouldn't wanna live like an empty shell and racking up the hospital bills.

[Trolling]

Hrmm... Dont really know if this can be related to part of the post... 2 childern were protesting with thier parents I think one was aged 11 and one was 14 got arrested along with their parents infront of that hospital...

[Angel_Cece]

Hrmm... Dont really know if this can be related to part of the post... 2 childern were protesting with thier parents I think one was aged 11 and one was 14 got arrested along with their parents infront of that hospital...

yeah. they tried to feed her.

[HongKongDong]

die naturally? YOU THINK STARVING SOMEONE IS NATURAL? NATURAL IS WHEN YOU JUST DIE.

Starving is a natural way of dying. Whats the point of being fed anyway? Your brain is mush, nothing but mashed potatoes in a shell. Might as well just let her starve... and leave.

[sadolakced acid]

starving sure is natural. dehydration is too.

if you get lost in the desert, or on a lifeboat, with no water and food and you die of thirst and hunger, then you have died of natural causes.

some states do allow physician assisted suicide.

a terminally ill patient and request for thier doctor to inject them with something that wil make them go into a coma and die.

[william]

^ i thought that was only legal in oregon.

die naturally? YOU THINK STARVING SOMEONE IS NATURAL? NATURAL IS WHEN YOU JUST DIE.

like others have said, starving is nautral. but what i want to know is why you think she should be kept alive? there's no point to it.

[Rachel]

^ i thought that was only legal in oregon.
like others have said, starving is nautral. but what i want to know is why you think she should be kept alive? there's no point to it.

obviously because there is hope that jesus and god will save her...DUH

[pandamonium]

yea shure if your poor and you starve its natural. but she does NOT have the ability to pull the plug on her own. i mean shes in a bed and cant move. tell me how its natural

[smile4me]

i think they need to take (keep?) the feeding food out. the only reason why the family wants to keep her alive is just to keep her alive. she isn't going to get better, and i think the husband is doing the right thing by trying to put her out of her misery.

actually...terri can't "feel" pain (if her mind is in that vegetative state)

if the husband has a new family, he really shouldnt be making decisions for his old wife...
i think...that the tube should not be pulled out.

terri's family (when i say family..i'm talking about her parents, brothers, etc. not her husband) are very religious people - catholics, to be exact.
what i'm getting at is...they most likely believe that terri will be healed through a miracle.

another thing...terri can breathe.
there has been evidence saying that she can respond to moving objects.
if there is contradicting evidence, i think they should keep the tube in until everything is sorted out.