Comments on: Terri Schiavo Utilitarianism

By: Sandy G.

Sandy G. — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 01:01:40 +0000

First off she's not brain dead. Second her husband has commited adultery. It's his word against hers as to her wishes. What doesn't he want us all to find out? She may have said after funerals of people kept on machines she would not want to live that way. She was not on a machine.
Of course her parents want their child to live. We scream at those that kill their own children, now we have attitudes because these parents want to save theirs.
We can all debate this untill the cows come home. The fact is she's being murdered and hasn't commited any crime but to marry that dirt bag.

By: d.melinu

d.melinu — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:29:54 +0000

Mrs. Shindler has declared that, even if Terry had said to her she did not want to stay alive by artificial means, she will keep her alive. Maybe that's why she talked about it with her husband and friends. As a mother I understand their pain, but the Shindlers are not fighting for Terry's rights. They are fighting for what they want without any regard to their daughter's wishes.

By: B. Ray

B. Ray — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:16:50 +0000

Where are You!! The loyal Americans ! 1500 of our Young men and women dying in Iraq , and you will not even pick up the phone call your congressman and demand that this injustice stop! I understand that you feel relatively safe in your home, that is protected by Law enforcemant ( police officers have died for you) Firemen ( firemen have died for you) Soldiers have died for you. Where does it say in our constitution that if you are mentally retarded that no one should fight for you. Where are you hiding from Terry!!

By: A. . Ray

A. . Ray — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:03:43 +0000

It does not seem to matter to alot of people that if Terry wanted to die , she would not fight so hard to stay alive! This is a fact. To remove the feeding tube is to starve her to death, (think about that, STARVE TO DEATH ) a human being. I can think of alot of ways to die but none as scary as to be forced to starve to death with the people you love and trust , standing right there beside you and , you cannot even ask for their help or get it. This is something I cannot perceive that a careing human would do even to a dog.

By: ASoldier'sGirl

ASoldier'sGirl — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:50:11 +0000

Anyone notice that we're spending all this time and money worrying about someone who is brain dead but we don't care about the 1500 dead Americans in Iraq? Or the Iraqi's we've killed/wounded/injured?

By: Teri

Teri — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 18:08:59 +0000

It's sad that after decades of feminist progress, Terri's case boils down to the fact that her husband legally has total control of her body.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 17:41:32 +0000

McGehee: Well, no. For one thing, living wills weren't common 15 years ago when Terri Schiavo suffered her heart attacks and brain damage. Further, we have allowed families to make these decisions since time immemorial.

And the courts have more than just hearsay from the husband. There were several other witnesses who testified that Terri, on multiple instances (apparently following funerals of people who'd been kept around on various machines too long) expressed her wish not to live in that manner.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 17:34:32 +0000

...according to them there was clear evidence that Terri would not want to be kept semi-alife like this.

Basede solely on hearsay evidence from her husband.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 17:33:45 +0000

The default position for those without a living will should be that the next of kin decides.

No. The default position for those without a living will should be that they live. The concept of the living will when introduced was that this was a way for those who wouldn't want to live, to make sure their wishes were carried out. By definition that means that the absence of a living will means absence of a desire to die.

But I guess we rely on the courts to change things like this -- instead of the legislative branch.

God, I hate lawyers.

By: Dutchmarbel

Dutchmarbel — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 15:52:07 +0000

But it is not about what the parents want, or what the husband wants. The courts were asked to decide what Terri would want and according to them there was clear evidence that Terri would not want to be kept semi-alife like this.

By: Cam Wolff

Cam Wolff — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 15:06:48 +0000

So, the feeding of a disabled citizen is a crime? Is it not the morality of our courts and the press that is in a persistent vegetative state?

On one hand we argue the privacy of the family and the importance of allowing them the right to make this deeply personal decision. When we ask, âWhat family member should make this decision? Should it be the husband who has taken a common law wife and had children by her? Or, should it be by the parents who want to care for their daughter and make available to her basic therapy that here husband has deniedâ. At that point the response is âthe law states the husband can make this callâ. Oh, so this isnât deeply private and personal; it is guided by the law. Does congress not make the laws?

The culture of death continues to march while the courts and the press lay down the pavement before them.

Please pray for Terri Schiavo.