Important Terri Schiavo News

I am a "prolifeer" but having read up on a great deal about this case, the stimuli you refer to has been diagnosed as reflexive. Not to argue over such a little point, but are those of us who originally want her to be spare, really stepping back and asking ourselves, "If these impressions we have of Terri responding to stimuli, are really a reflex or sorts, which if it is not reproducible, that is likely what is happening when she looks and acts interested in shall we say a Mickey Mouse ballon) than we are forcing her to really suffer because if there really is no cognative thought patter, she is suffering everyday an embarrasing death & care and we may be prolonging her natural, real, right to die." I don't know that they are being selfish, if medically the judge (which it was decided by the courts that her reactions are reflexive) than may we really search for truth about what is happening to Terri. I would never wish death, but I do long to look for the real facts to consider if it is ethical to let her die, and I believe I have researched both sides equally and I do feel she should be able to put this world behind her.

I have two children just like Terri, I adopted them, they are like sweet babies. They feel love and give love. They do not suffer, they are full of innocent joy, they laugh when tickeled, and cry when hurt. They feel!!! Would you starve your six month old baby because they were unable to feed themselves? Or because they didn't understand what you were saying? To live a life being profoundly menatlly handicap is like staying an innocent baby. It is not suffering and embarrassing death, its living the life God has given. My children never embarrass me, I think they are beautiful. My two children have taught me what true love is. There being here is for no other reason than to show us the greatest of all love, unconditional, undemanding, straight from the heart pure love. I feel it everytime my son smile's, he's the love sponge. To be starved to the point where dehydration causes a persons lips to crack and bleed, till they shrivel up in cramping pain is a suffering and hateful fate that no innocent human should be sentenced to. And no loving parent, like the blessed Mary, should have to endure.

What is all the [*****] about keeping Terri alive "artificially"? Do we feed our babies after they are born? Do we feed our elderly parents when they can no longer feed themselves? Do nurses and doctors, and even mothers and fathers and daughters and sons, feed those who are too sick to feed themselves? Is this how low our culture has gone that we seek to kill a woman because she cannot eat without assistance? Who is next? How much farther could this go? You must ask yourselves this question. You must.

Many people adjust to their disability and dependency and find meaning and value in new activities and ways.

Remember Christopher Reeve? Of course you do. Did you wish him dead, too? Was his life not worth living even AFTER he was disabled? He thought it was and he continued to live it everyday finding meaning and value in new activities and ways. His family is thankful for every minute they had together before and after his unfortunate accident. Some of his most treasured and important achievements and contributions to the overall good of society came after he became profoundly disabled.

It seems to me that many arguements are based on the "what if" and extreme-case scenarios. And each has merit in its own context. However, I am inclined to believe that had this case not been filled with such "uncomfortable details" as the live-in girlfriend, 2 children, $1.6 million, etc; that we would not even be having this discussion. For this reason, I feel that we are getting away from the real issue: "Who should have the say-so in Terri's fate?"

As a distant and indirect observer, which 99.999% of us would have to classify ourselves as, I only know two things. They are: 1) I only know what the press tells me; and 2) I know that I don't know everything about this case. If anyone can claim different, they are either involved in the case or arrogant.

Now, with this being said, as suspicious as Michael Schiavo may appear, any judgement that I or that 99.999% may pass on his character is based on partial truths at best. Yet Michael's character is the pivotal point in the case.

By "outsiders" trying to dictate a course of action, we are taking chances when it is not our life (Terri's life) that we are gambling with.

Let's look at the scenario if played out as being sought by Michael Schiavo:
The court recognizes Michael's right as husband and trusts that his intentions are good and correct. The tube is pulled. Terri dies. Michael gets $1.6 million and married to another.

In this case, I think that the $1.6 million and the loyalty issue cast a shadow of doubt on Michael's good intentions. So let's "remove the shadow" by negating those alterior motives.
1) Accept that Michael can obtain a no-fault divorce.
2) Offer both sides of the court issue more than $1.6 million (perhaps $5 million) to walk away from the case.

If Michael accepts this, particularly item 2, then we know where the priorities lie, the "Michael bashers" were right, and the parents make the more objective decision.

If Michael does not accept this, then maybe we should let the decision be Michael's; as Michael would've just blown $3.4 million to honor his wife's supposed wishes. If Michael is seeking her death to gain $1.6 million, then would he walk away for $5 million. That seems pretty tempting to a "subject of the devil".

If this type of "Testing" scheme were carried out, I for one would feel better about the decision as priorities and motives would be clearer.

As a tax payer, but more so a Christian, the $5 million cost is nothing compared to the slippery-slope that we would open ourselves up to if this decision were dictated by the government. I would be willing to contribute $100 to the cause if a prominent person were to sponsor such a scheme.

This is utter [censored - sorry - I don't publish profanity ]

The case of Terri Schiavo has become a litmus test for the nation because of its publicity. Despite rampant misinformation (see blogsforterri for the truth), it should be obvious that Terri is conscious - she interacts and speaks. There is video and the ongoing testimony of her family and other observers that she attempts to talk.

The litmus test is whether of not this nation will endorse death-by-starvation (or intentional killing in general) of severly disabled people. This speaks to the much broader issue of who decides the value of a person and whether or not such value depends on health status, capabilities, and other qualities and characteristics. Our entire nation is watching and the injustice done to Terri is clearly visible to all our politicians. What will we do?

Doctors have stated repeatedly tha the her movements are involuntary and notr repsonses to outside stimuli. The family is being mislead by pro life Fascist organizations who only have their selfish agenda in mind.

Even if her husband's perception is correct, then she's dead to the world anyway, and it should make no difference to him whether her body continues to survive. But it makes a difference to her parents, they think she's still in there somewhere, so let her live.

Everyone will have their opinion about whether it is right or wrong to remove the feeding tube. But I wish these so called "conservatives" in Congress will stop trampling all over states' rights every time they don't like what is going on. True conservatives believe states have the authority to govern themselves. Yet this bunch wants to dictate everything from marriage laws (gay unions) to tort law (class-action suits) to medical therapy (medical marijuana) to living wills (Terri Schiavo) to drug abuse (baseball players on steroids). We have 50 states so everyone can find a place to call home regardless of one's moral beliefs. Congress - Stop micromanaging our nation to death!

God will someday take care of the whole situation, if not now, then in the judgment day.

this is all sad about you terri i dont know you but i luv you

this story touches alot of people because she really bady needs to to eat im only 17 and i know that why the fuck is michael taking that away from her

As a moderate independent, one thing has become very clear to me in this whole situation with Terry Schiavo. The conversative right-wing and the pro-life groups are really extremely hypocritical.

One one hand, you are willing to spare no expense for this one case that has turned into a media frenzy, but yet on the other hand you folks remain quiet on real issues that effect people's lifes everyday.

For example, I don't hear you folks screaming and junmping about automobile safety that costs many more lives every year. I don't hear you folks screaming and litigating about decisions made by managed health care organizations to deny critical services and procedures that lead to countless deaths and disablities. I don't hear you folks screaming and yelling about large pharmacutical companies who market dangerous drugs that kill and destroy untold numbers of lives. I could go on and on....

The point is that you folks like to pick and choose the lives that "you" think are important! Last I checked that job belonged to somebody else. You don't really value ALL life, just the ones that are convenient for you, and suit your current purposes. Otherwise, you would be trying to tackle the biggest "killers" in our society. I can only shake my head and chuckle. It really is quite laughable!

If anything, you have convinced that being in the middle is the place to be...

Whether or not we remove the tube we're still "playing God" i think we should just all be praying for a miracle

Incredible. Of COURSE Michael Schiavo is going to collect insurance money upon Terri's death. Why shouldn't he? But more importantly, when did it become morally right to try and supersede the bond between husband and wife? Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Schindler are Terri's parents, but just because they have a deep emotional attachment does not give them the right to over-rule any living will/agreement(s) that Terri and Michael had made when they were together.
If anyone should know Terri's most intimate thougts best it would be her husband.
How did the Schiavo case even become newsworthy? People are taken off life-support and/or feeding support all the time. By all indications, Terri is living the life of a turnip. I think that those who are so hell-bent on keeping her alive should ask themselves this question...
'What if Terri really does want to die? Are you prepared to accept the fact that you will be condemning her to another twenty or thirty years, or more, of laying in a bed, unable to move without help, dependant upon others to clean her after a bowel movement, dependant upon a piece of propylene tubing stuck into her belly to provide her with 'food.'
It's just obscene.

Thank God that I have brothers who will not leave me in a state such as this! If I (God forbid) find myself in the same state as Terri, I know that one of my brothers will release me, even if it means going to prison for life.
And what does Terri have to look forward to, should government intervention prevent her early escape? A nice, comfortable dog-and-pony show, confined to a bed - for the t.v. cameras - for the rest of her life.
Sick.