Time is running out for Terri Schiavo. Her husband, now living with another woman whom he has children with (!) continues the fight to see her dead. It seems odd to me that in all this time, and in light of his happy life with this new woman, that he has not divorced Terri, nor granted her parents legal authority over decisions surrounding her care. Keeping in mind that this is an opinion blog, I intuit that he does not really act out of selfless concern for Terri.
Terri is not comatose. She does respond to stimuli in her environment. She laughs and cries, and tries to talk with her parents. Some medical personnel hold the professional opinion -- and have testified under oath -- that she could improve and increase functionality if she were to receive rehabilitation.
She does take her nourishment through a feeding tube in her stomach, and this is what her "husband" (I put it in quotes, because he certainly isn't living as a devoted spouse should) wants to have pulled. He cites a vague, unwritten reference to some unspecified time in the past when, he claims, Terri indicated that she would never want to be allowed to live through artificial means.
This anecdotal "desire" isn't in writing. There is no Living Will. I give his word as much credence as I give my two-year old when she claims that she didn't get into the cookie jar, even though the evidence is smeared across her face.
Starvation is a horrible, slow, painful way to die. The pain is grinding and unrelenting. She would be racked with pain and gnawing, inescapable hunger and thirst. It could take a week or more for her to die. She went through this once already: in 2003, she was denied food and water for six days before the Florida legislature and the Governor intervened on her behalf.
In a culture that breathlessly believes every prisoner abuse claim that gets trumpeted across the front page of liberal rags, Terri's fight for life goes largely unnoticed.
Conservative Alerts has a way for you to help. Contact lawmakers today and demand that they allow Terri her life. For those wishing to assist more tangibly, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Schindler, can really use donations to help them defray the legal costs of the battle for their child's life. Go here to make a secure donation to help Terri.
You can bet your life that I sent my letters to the appropriate people. I think her husband is the lowest scum of the earth. As he was collecting money from several law suits, he neglected to tell anyone what his "wifes wishes" were. Once all the money grabbing was exausted, he started telling everyone that his wife did not want to be kept alive. What an Ass.... He is now living with another woman and has children by her. What kind of woman would live with him knowing what he has done. Sorry, just venting!!
Posted by: Lucy Stern at February 23, 2005 11:02 PMVent away, Lucy! Heaven knows I'm not the most politic person on the web.
Her "husband" is scum. I hope that in the end, he gets exactly the justice he deserves.
Posted by: Linda at February 24, 2005 12:00 AMLinda, I have been reading on the Internet about Michael Schiavo. I found a really interesting link. http://www.theempirejournal.com/alleged_schiavo_abuse_florida_of.htm
Take a look. Lucy Stern