Opinions, anyone?
Depending on the media outlet, the reports of her condition really vary, so I don't know if she could ever recover or not.
But I wonder why her husband hasn't divorced her, and I wonder why, if her parents are willing to take over her care, he's so opposed.
Has to be tough, but after 15 years I think it's time for them to let her go peacefully without dragging this out any further.
And apparntly, the courts again have said that the feeding tube will not be put back.
Here's a little something about what will happen to her.
EXPERTS SAY SHE WILL GO PEACEFULLY
Sorry gae....
I've gotta believe that the current Mrs. Limabean told her husband that she didn't want to be a salad accoutramount for the rest of her life. I know D2 doesn't. I don't. I would imagine most people wouldn't want to live like that.
That being said, I don't understand either why the current Mr. Limabean doesn't divorce her either. I believe I heard at one point that there was a sizable insurance policy to be paid out. Or something like that.
However....if it were me. Pull the plug, the tube, hell....throw me out the window. I don't want to live like she does.
I think the key point in jumper's point is when he said "I imagine that most people wouldnt want to live like that"
He's most likely right, because she isn't living. She is just existing.
It seems to me that they are holding onto flase hopes and that 15 years is a long time to have to be able to say goodbye, especially when the person you are saying goodbye to probably cant even tell that you are.
Not trying to sound cold hearted, but they shouldnt torment themselves any more over this.
She got 1.4 million from a malpractice suit that is paying for her care. If he divorces her, the money goes to her parents. If she dies the money goes to him.
Regardless of the money, pull the plug. I can?t imagine lying in a bed for 15 years with a tube shoved down my throat and no hope of ever getting better.
Jump, I understand what you're saying, so I'm certain that you and D_2 have living wills, right?
The stuff I'm hearing about the Mr. indicates that he's just lower than pond scum.
Trav pointed out the malpractice bucks. Oddly enough, it wasn't until after he got the money that he "remembered" that his wife didn't want to be kept alive by artifical means.
Is a feeding tube artificial means? Years back I worked with a woman who has (had?) a son with ALS. He needed a feeding tube.
If nothing else comes from this, I really do hope that those of us who don't want ridiculous measures taken to keep us "alive" will put those wishes in writing.
I heard this morning on the radio (so y'all know it's true) that www.agingwithdignity.org will provide living wills for $5.00.
"If nothing else comes from this, I really do hope that those of us who don't want ridiculous measures taken to keep us "alive" will put those wishes in writing."
Absolutely. Perhaps more people will do this, but I doubt it because Shiavo's circumstances aren't all that unusual. Mrs. Droid & I did it about a year ago, waaay late considering our kids were 13 & 15 at the time. We even initialled the "don't want hydration or nutrition" block under certain circumstances.
This case is getting weird. Something like 15 judges have ruled in Mr. Shiavo's favor, the Supreme Court of the U.S. declined to review it, and now Tom Delay is shopping around for a mid-level federal judge to reverse it all??? What if it got reversed, then the Supreme Court reversed it again? [img]confused.gif[/img]
This case keeps everyone distracted from Delay's ethics problems, multiple record deficits, and our fabulous success in Iraq, so I guess it's a good thang. Between this and M. Jackson's trial, we're staying well informed!
Well, and it's nice to see that 'conservatives' have taken yet another opportunity to stop being conservative. For years and years, conservatives whined (correctly, I might add) that the Federal government was too bloated, and intruded into our lives too much. And they were right. So what does our current 'conservative' leadership do? Pass a law in the middle of the night creating Federal jurisdiction over a case that, in theory, is strictly a state matter. And then whine when a Federal Judge decides that it's not for the Federal courts to decide. Of course, this is the same administration that re-upped the FCC after Janet Jackson, and don't even get me started on 'homeland security'......you know, any day now, conservatives can feel free to start being conservative again....
But back to Gae's original thread.....
The wishes of the patient themself should always trump. But, if you don't have it in writing, as Lan recommends, it does create a hassle. I would employ the same analysis as when a person has died, and the issue is whether they have a valid will. If they do, you follow the will. If they do not, you follow a statute.
Or, if a person becomes incapacitated, the court appoints a guardian, which I think it's already been determined that the husband is her guardian in this case.
Well, once that decision has been made, it should be the guardian's decision, period. And if he's money grubbing or whatever, so be it.
But where in the world the parents get off having standing in this case......well, we know now they have it thanks to Congress, but where Congress got the idea, is beyond me....
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That money is also paying for the legal bills her parents keep forcing him to pay since they are too goddamned selfish to let their daughter die.Originally posted by travelinman:
She got 1.4 million from a malpractice suit that is paying for her care. If he divorces her, the money goes to her parents. If she dies the money goes to him.
Regardless of the money, pull the plug. I can?t imagine lying in a bed for 15 years with a tube shoved down my throat and no hope of ever getting better.
The reason he kept her on life support for so long is that he waited until the docs told him that she had a zero chance of recovery.
The best and most impartial information I have found on this case has been here:
THE TERRI SCHIAVO INFORMATION PAGE
There is NO HOPE that she could ever recover any conscious thought. Most of her cerebral cortex is GONE, and replaced with spinal fluid.
Mr. Schiavo was not the only person to testify that Terri did not want to live in a persistent vegetative state.
Any settlement money that he received has long since been spent on legal fees.
The parents should cease their legal battles, and let the physical shell of their daughter die. I regret that the laws of this country allow only a "passive" death for her. If she is going to die, the doctors should be allowed to give her the same lethal drugs as are given for executions - it would be more humane than allowing her to die of dehydration.
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