what are your thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case?

Gumby · Post by **Gumby** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:00 pm

So if you don't know anything about this case, just pick up any newspaper or go to cnn.com and you're sure to find news about it.

a brief synopsis: Terri Schiavo has been in a vegitative state for 15 years now. Her doctors have declared her a no hope case and are certain she will not recover. Her body is being kept alive by means of a "feeding tube" from which her body is still successfully drawing sustenance. Her husband wishes for the tube to be withdrawn and let his wife pass. (currently I believe it is not in tact and the courts are fighting about weather to put it back or not). Her family wants to keep her alive. Her husband claims that she at one point had told him she would not want to be kept alive in a case such as this, but he has no proof and her catholic family doesn't believe him.

So what are your thoughts on this? Who has the right to make a decision for her? her spouse or her family? Should the courts be taking such a huge role in this or should they butt out? Should there be more clearly written laws on who has priority in cases like this? You can view this from a judicial, scientific/rational, or religious paradigm. Whatever floats your boat. I'm just looking to spark interesting and intelligent conversation.

Discuss, people.

Grubb · Post by **Grubb** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:03 pm

My thoughts?

I wish the news would quit covering it. Even my beloved BBC won't shut up about it.

Why can't the write an article about it after something changed? I'm tired of hearing the same crap over and over agian.

GaKki · Post by **GaKki** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:05 pm

I feel bad for the poor girl. I think we should keep it in, and who knows, maybe her body will never stop accepting the feeding tube and maybe she will live forever. that would be nifty.

Potter · Post by **Potter** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:07 pm

Are you kidding me? I would rip that sucker out so fast. You really think she wants to live not being able to do ANYTHING at all? I would prey every second that I die. what's the point of living?

Grubb · Post by **Grubb** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:17 pm

You know, there are lots of other important things going on in the world. Even moderatly important things, like this case.

How many of you knew that Bobby Fisher, the chess player who vanished several years ago, turned up in Japan when he got arrested for trying to travel without a passport?

Basically, Japan has to choose either to turn him over to the United States, where he'll be tried as a criminal for his illegal final match, or turn him over the Iceland, where he'll be treated like a returning hero.

That news wasn't covered at all... and neither were tons of other stories that are just as important which I never got a chance to hear about.

What this "Schiavo" case has really become about is Media, and trying to get you people to buy, read, watch, and listen to it. It's not about the details of the case or anything.

It's just another "OJ Simpson" case... or "Jon Bennet Ramsey" case... or any other so-called "Important case" that the media has whored to death.

I can think of lots of TRUELY important cases that we're covered by the media, and the only reason they weren't covered is because it wouldn't sell as many papers as this Schiavo case would.

Don't get me wrong, I think the situation the poor woman and both sides of her family are in is extreamly sad, and I truely feel sorry for all of them. But at the same time, it's not fair to that woman to turn her into a media clown.

Ottop · Post by **Ottop** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:21 pm

Pull the Tube... I have seen one of my fmaily members on one of those when they didn't want to be. They had it in their living will that they did not want to be on one of those, but the hospital did it anyways. The family needs to think of her wishes... not their fears.

hascoolnickname · Post by **hascoolnickname** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:46 pm

That's not living... that's just existence.

Secef · Post by **Secef** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:48 pm

From everything I've heard about the case, my decision would be to remove the feeding tube. In my opinion to begin with, that's no way for someone to live. Aside from that, according to her husband, she didn't want to live in such a state if it came down to it.

Now I know that's what she just supposedly said without any proof to back it up, but even given that it wasn't her expressed wishes... and I don't mean to sound cold here... why prolong her life in such a way? According to doctors, she has no chance for recovery. I've seen MRIs of her brain, and where the cerebral cortex (the part of the brain that controls thought and manages pain response) is supposed to be there's only spinal fluid now. That means she can't think and she can't feel pain.

So honestly... what kind of life is that? Why would you want to force your daughter to stay that way by means of machine support? It sounds mean, I know, but let nature take it's course and let her go. It's not "forcing her to commit suicide" like her parents seem to think. She would've died naturally if the doctors hadn't came along and stuck that feeding tube in her. To remove it is to simply allow nature to take it's course before man intervened, so I sort of fail to see the suicide element here. I don't think it would go against their Catholic beliefs, but I guess it's just how you interpret the action. Also, the parents argue that removing the feeding tube and making her die of dehydration is cruel and painful when the doctors actually said that in her state it'd be completely painless thanks to the cerebral cortex having been replaced by spinal fluid, as I mentioned earlier.

I can understand the love of the parents for their daughter and not wanting to see her die. I feel sympathy for them, really. But I also feel sad for the state that Terri is in and how they're forcing her to continue living as a basically brain-dead vegetable with no chance for recovery. I understand not wanting to let your daughter die, but with the situation as it is... I feel the best course of action would be to keep the tube out and just let her go.

Just my stance on the issue.

CaseyDidder · Post by **CaseyDidder** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:50 pm

Family's decision. She has done nothing wrong, so whos to say she wants to die?

God Of Rock · Post by **God Of Rock** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:04 pm

hascoolnickname wrote:That's not living... that's just existence.

Seconded. I suppose in hindsight, she should have made
some plans before she turned into a vegetable....or at the very
least drawn up some 'Do Not Recussitate' orders.

Rusty Shackleford · Post by **Rusty Shackleford** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:11 pm

In what I saw this morning, one of the dr that wants to keep the tube in says that she has brain activity. The stem is still functioning, and also part of her brain is to so there is a chance of recovery.

And by taking the tube out she is basically starving to death which isnt very humane to me

I say they should put it back in and see what happens.

I also don't believe the husband, because apparently he has interferred with her care in the past.

Original Sin · Post by **Original Sin** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:54 pm

Rusty Shackleford wrote:In what I saw this morning, one of the dr that wants to keep the tube in says that she has brain activity. The stem is still functioning, and also part of her brain is to so there is a chance of recovery.

And by taking the tube out she is basically starving to death which isnt very humane to me

I say they should put it back in and see what happens.

I also don't believe the husband, because apparently he has interferred with her care in the past.

Even if there is activity in the what little brain she has left, the cerebral cortex is gone, it's just fluid now. The brain will never function at a human level again, ever. Brain tissue does not regenerate, it's the reason we can't cure alzhymer...er, I'm not even gonna spell that now. You know what I'm saying. The point is, she will never think again, it's a physical impossibility. It's sad, but you can't just regrow a brain.
As for the 'brain activity,' that's always there. Even after you die there's activity left in the brain, but it doesn't change the fact that you're dead.
Personally, I think they should let her go. She's dead already, she died 15 years ago for all intensive purposes. All we're doing, from the 'religious' standpoint of the family, is trapping her soul inside of a body, unable to go to god, and unable to live. Letting her go isn't forcing her to commit suicide, it's what naturally happens in this situation. It's what is intended to happen. Human life is not supposed to happen without the brain, and her brain is gone.
I respect the wishes of the family, and I feel sorry for them for being in this kind of situation, but I believe they should just let her go.
And the only reason the court is taking this much time with this case is because it's getting so much media coverage, and there's so much public opinion riding on it. It pisses me off to see this situation made a mockery of by the public, but there's no changing that now.

Fluffyumpkins · Post by **Fluffyumpkins** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:20 pm

I question whether this would get any media attention if she weren't a white christian girl. Afterall this sob story is a great way for the media to get loads of attention from a fairly large mass of people here in the U.S. There was a school shooting, largest since Columbine, on a reservation. Ten non-white children were killed. I'm sure in some distant country, a hundred people just died from disease or war. Really, this whole issue has gotten entirely too much airtime. But since you asked for opinions, I say go with the family.

Fun-fun quote guy says:

"Seemes democrates only care about the lives of fruits while republicans only care about the lives of vegetables."

GaKki · Post by **GaKki** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:29 pm

What I said before was just an attempt to make the subject or "light-hearted", but with this girl, they could undergo serious expermental medical procedures. She is perfect for that. Not necessarily dead, not really alive, can't feel pain. I say we stick another brain in that puppy and fire 'er up!
But in all seriousness, I would probably let her pass. Naturally in this event, if everything was still primative, she would die. So maybe that's how it needs to be. I don't know, my thoughts.

SirPhobos · Post by **SirPhobos** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:34 pm

Let's not forget the husband probably stands to gain something if she dies. she has to have some kind of will, or something.

So i think it shouldn't be up to the husband alone. i think it should be the whole family's decision.