TERRY SCHIAVO, Was her death necessary, or precedent?

[mamadadawahwah]

I am sickened by the american government's failure to act to protect the weak and vulnerable and worry that Terry's death is just a prelude to what is going to happen in the future, despite living wills. Was her death a test case to see how the world reacts to shutting off life support? It was all so cold and something stinks about the whole thing. God Bless Terry and her family!. God knows what they must have gone through.

No perhaps she was not in pain. But could she communicate to say she was? Was she able to eat, drink, enjoy an beautiful sunny day? Could she have fulfillinf relationships with people? Was she happy? I don't believe that pain on its own determines quality of life.

mama - he says and you have no proof that this is a lie!
That she had said she didn't want to be kept alive if she ended in this state....
I can see you are very upset at what happened to her - quite rightly but you are saying things that are very biaised!

Sorry, like I said I don't know the ins and outs. If her husband was doing it for the wrong reasons that that is terrible. But Euthanasia does have a place in some rare cases.

Velcrobott, am i on the witness stand? This is an opinion based forum. Of course i am biased!!! It goes with the territory

She hadnt spoken in 14 years. Yet, miraculously 7 witnesses testify that they "heard" her say something to the effect of "no tubes".

The religious right didnt run away with this case, the ACLU did. Now if you know anything about the ACLU you will know that something is not right in the state of denmark. Strange bedfellows indeed!!!

But euthanasia is not legal so this seems to be the only available option to end a person's life.

I'm trying to remember what happened in teh Tony Bland case - was that life support machine or feeding tube?

Yes but you are accusing and you don't knwo the facts.
If you have an opinion on euthanasia - go for it !
I just find it hard to hear so many people judge others when they don't know the facts... and the press only reports what it wants to report... no one ever said the press was objective.

True VB. I'm sure a lot more of the facts will come out in the next few days.

What's ACLU?

I have an opinion on this case period. It smacks of underhandedness and i know many people will agree with me and already have. Why is it that when mums are vociferous about their opinions on mumsnet, this kind of response is elicited, i.e. what has been said by you velcro? I dont have to tell the facts, i just state my opinion based on what i have heard and read and what i think. Give me a break.

it might have been a drug to make him comfortable then, I can't remember exactly, I did try and search for the story online but couldn't find anything.

ACLU is the American Civil Liberties Union and are well noted for their pro choice, gay rights and freedom of speech work along with many other things. You either love em or hate em, depending on what minority you are in

This background info is interesting

So which side were they on in this fight?

Schiavos "side"

They must have been for her right to die as they would oppose the religious right... correct?

How old are his children with this other woman?

He's been fighting for her 'wishes' to be carried out for 7yrs - and if it wasn't for SCIENTIFIC intervention she would have died 15yrs ago when her heart stopped beating!

I've just read that Michael spent the last few days of her life living in a room in the hospice and held her in his arms when she died - doesn't sound very much like the actions of a cold and callous man to me.

I'm not saying he was 'in the right' - and to be honest I don't think it really matters now. Once the autopsy has been done both sides can go their seperate ways and stop the bickering which SHOULD have been a private affair.

I know that if my DH has been in a PVS for that long I'd probably have at least 'found' a new person to be close to - even if I didn't get engaged/have children with them - it's human nature.

Yet, miraculously 7 witnesses testify that they "heard" her say something to the effect of "no tubes".

Equally miraculously her parents apparently heard her try to say "I want to life" when asked to repeat those words.......

Yes, miraculous isnt it!

I was being sarcastic - how do we know even if she Did try to say something that she wasn't saying "I want to die?")

We dont, and i doubt very much she said anything of the kind, either that she wanted to live or didnt.

According to CNN's stuff - there isn't any money to have... all spent on lawyers... well it would have gone if you have been fighting in courts for 7 years !