The fight to keep Terri Schiavo "alive" is about taking YOUR rights!

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11126399.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

The first goal of the campaign, Mahoney said, is to save Terri Schiavo's life. But he and others also hope to roll back the laws and ethical and medical guidelines that have evolved since 1990, when the U.S. Supreme Court recognized artificial sustenance and hydration as medical treatment. That ruling eventually cleared the way for Cruzan's parents to remove her feeding tube.

Now, patients or their health-care decision makers in every state have the right to refuse or withdraw artificial feedings under certain circumstances. That is something many of those joining the Schindlers' campaign reject as immoral and inhumane, and a step down the road to legalizing euthanasia.

"I cannot disagree more: Food and water is not medical treatment. It's ordinary care," said John Stemberger, the Orlando-based president of the Florida Family Policy Council. "Our primary interest is what the law should be, not what the law is, and this will be one of our top priorities: to create new public policy."

[ProfessorGAC]

1. You're Gonna Get Flamed Modem!

This is a hypersensitive topic. I don't envy you on this post. BTW: I agree with the premise of it. The desire to make a minority's moral compass the root of all law is insidious and constant. That's what's behind all of this. No matter which side of this issue one is on, the root is still the same.
The Professor

[Modem Butterfly]

2. Meh- I have a thick skin

I was a headhunter for ten years and have heard every permutation of "fuck off and die". A little flammage won't hurt me any, and it might make my office a bit warmer this AM!

;)

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Every Permutation

Hmmmm! I will have to figure out how big a number that really is! There are some very passionate anti-Michael Schiavo folks here in GD. Not sure why some folks believe one side more than the other, but they sure do.
The Professor

[Modem Butterfly]

5. It's an emotional argument

The righties are good at plucking people's heartstrings and playing on their emotions, and they're not shy at doctoring videos and slandering Michael Schiavo. I think it's telling that the parents have massed this big PR/media machine behind them to try this case in the court of public opinion and Michael Schiavo is essentially trying to keep out of the spotlight. If and when Terri is finally allowed to die, I will not be surprised to see the parents promote themselves on the book and lecture circuit. I also fully expect a made-for-TV movie on PAX TV and possibly a few Xian and/or Country Western songs ("Where were you/when they pulled the tubes on Terri Schaivo?").

[mondo joe]

4. Funny how the wingnuts so against "Government Intrusion" in private

lives are so FOR it when it suits them.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Let The World SEE Terri Schiavo

Many people I speak hear about this issue think this lady's just sleeping with a tube in her stomache...that somehow she's awaken and walk off into that golden ray in the heavens. They assume she is cognizant, can see, hear, feel, thing. They've never dealt with a person in that situation (and I hope few ever do) where a person's body totally shuts down and what is left is a prisoner inside a pod of little use.

While I know this sounds cruel, sometimes the best medicine tastes the worst. I'd suggest someone bring a camera into her room...show the world what this woman CURRENTLY looks like...not some old "how she was" photo or ones that were taken years ago when she was a lot more alert. From what I've read, she hasn't really communicated with others in years and her movements are to sounds and stimulai rather than any true recognition. The example best explained to me is like the moments we are born, our bodies go through the extreme shock of temperature, sound, light...our bodies shut down and slowly restart...in her case, there's no reset button.

I had a mother who spent her last life on a feeding tube. In the end I also had to decide to have that tube removed in her last days as she her condition was deteriorating and the feeding was actually making things worse...iritating her stomache and creating uncomfort. The decission was made, and while she lingered longer than we expected, she was at peace and went naturally. I have no regrets and I can completely sympathise with Mr. Schiavo...a man who has remained silent in light of all of this piling of of his own personal hell. Shame on those bastards...especially the ones who don't care about this family and are only using this issue for their own personal, political gain.

There's not enough bandwidth on DU for me to go into how the Insurance companies are already playing god with many elderly in this country...deciding who gets treated and where...denying coverage for their bottom line...especially when it comes to preventitive procedures...but another rant for another day.

How ironic for those who claim to be for the rights of the individual to trample all over Mr. Schaivo's (and I believe Terri as well) rights and pain for their own goofy, selfish purposes. What do they expect to come from this? A miracle? Are they paying the costs for her treatment or the pain and suffering this man continues to endure as this folly continues.

Dying, and it's process, are the hardest for humans to deal with. They don't realize this is a part of the cycle of nature and that much of what people do during those times are about their own pain and grieving rather than for the loved one who is passing away. While my hearts were once with Terri's parents, I can see they've been used ala Paula Jones and others by right wing hypocrites with purely selfish, arrogant motives. It'd be sweet if this side could be exposed as well.

[LisaL]

7. I believe it's because of her husband-

no videos of her can be taken. Her husband doesn't want it done. Someone can't bring a camera into her room.
What are you saying, his wishes should be ignored and make the videos anyway?

[KharmaTrain]

8. I Honor His Wishes...I Wish Others Would

I'm suggesting that the world see what being in a vegitative state...especially someone whose been in that condition for years, really looks like. Let's show what "quality of life" is really involved here. If not Terri, another person who is in a similar state...sadly there are many. Let's see the bedsores, the extreme dificulty is is just to wash the body down to prevent further infections, the tons of equipement she's hooked up to, just to maintain "life" in the most basic form.

No, if he doesn't want any cameras, I can understand. He still has the right and power of attorney and from what I've seen, the man's done right. He'd be the last person I'd like to upset at this time.

It's not a pretty sight and knowing the corporate media, they'd find a way to say how medical science was not "doing it's best" to save her. Sheesh. Again, this is a very personal time and one you don't want others sticking their noses in.

Yesterday I visited a friend in a nursing home and chatted with one of the station nurses and again heard the usual complaint. She was glad I was there since so few people in that place get visitors...when someone gets sick or aren't the fun person they once were, friends and family stay away. If these holier than thous want to do something positive...they'd force their own hivedwellers to visit their own family in those homes.

Cheers!

[LisaL]

9. Let's do it? Again, the husband doesn't want to do it.

So, if you are suggesting you want to honor his wishes, how do you propose we do it?

[KharmaTrain]

10. I Didn't Say Terri Shaivo...

His wishes are not to show HER...and I absolutely agree if he doesn't want what she looks like shown. In a "normal" situation, I wouldn't want my pain and grief to be shown to anyone...let alone put across the world.

I'm discussing showing what Terri is really like, not the cartoon image her parents and the media are presenting. Many think she's in some beauty sleep and will awaken through prayer or some other miracle. They have no concept what the reality is here (and I suspect this includes a majority here on DU) and how ugly things get when a person's life shrivels to the point where removing the tube is even considered. Again, I've been there and I know very, very few others have.

My bets are Mr. Schiavo would love the world to see what the process he's going through is, not his specific situation.

Obviously with few media outlets, it's virtually impossible to discuss this matter. Dying...especially of the elderly and the suffering these people go through...along with other disabled people, is not "sexy".

However, if people are going to open this can of worms, let's show all the sides here. Unforunately many will face similar situations with their own parent(s), spouse, child or dear friend...and the greatest shocks are the ones when you first see what the final stages of life really look like.