If its legal to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube

[lenidog]

which is an action that will kill her over the course of a week or two. Then why isn't it legal to for a doctor to more mercifully giver an overdose of morphine or some other drug to put her body at rest. It dawned on me that this is different than other cases its not like turning off the respirator that is breathing for her. You are physically taking an action that will kill her rather than her own body doing the work in the case of not being able to breathe. Can anyone explain why one would be legal and not the other since in a way there really isn't a difference.

[Walt Starr]

1. That's why this case is so important

and why it's being battled so vociferously by teh radical clerics and their minions.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Because one is killing her and one is letting her die

naturally.

[mondo joe]

3. Because it's not KILLING her. It's allowing her to die a natural

death.

Lethal injection is something very different.

[JimmyJazz]

4. But, if the end result is the same....

which one is actually more merciful? I have no opinion, btw - I'm asking for yours.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. Why not just shoot your sick wife in the head, if...

... turning off the respirator only produces the same result?

[JimmyJazz]

14. Because that isn't merciful. People who sought the services

of Dr. Kevorkian weren't shot in the head. Your argument has no legs, IMHO.

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. Sure it is--- death is instantaneous.

It may be messier than morphine, but it's far more rapid.

[JimmyJazz]

16. I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were serious when you said she

should be shot in the head. I thought you were being sarcastic.

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. Oh, OK.

:hi:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. That's comparing apples and oranges. One is a violent death.

the other is a natural one.

[mondo joe]

19. I'm sincerely not certain how to measure mercy, which is why

my preference would be to leave it up to the individual.

But I don't think dying by dehydration in hospice is in any objective way less merciful than a lethal injection.

[mondo joe]

11. I don't think outcome is the only measure. But in my opinion, it would

be a decision best left to the individual.

If it were ME, I'd opt to fade away by removing the feeding tube and I'd take a bit of a morphine drip to help pass the time.

[lenidog]

10. Maybe my reasoning is off

and I support her husband in this don't get me wrong but starvation is not a natural death at least in my mind. You are physically taking an action that will kill her just s you would with an injection. I find that different than if her body couldn't support life like in the case if should couldn't breathe without help

[mondo joe]

13. Except starvation is a natural death.

It happens quite often for terminal people.

It's surely as natural as what happens when a respirator is removed.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. When my father died of Alzheimer's, he in effect died of

starvation. He had declined to the point where he had forgotten how to swallow. The home had instructions to not take extraordinary measures, which included intraveanous feeding, and after about a week, he died.

TS is in a very similar state. Without extraordinary help, like the feeding tube, she very naturally dies. The feeding tube inserted through her belly is what is unnatural.

[Divameow77]

5. I think it's different because

a machine is essentially keeping her alive, and when we let people start deciding when to "end" things that could definately be abused. Deciding to end things for yourself when there is no hope is called a living will or DNR.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. The introduction of the feeding tube was an artificial/surgical measure

in the first place.

Feeding tube = respirator.

[BlueEyedSon]

8. I think "accidentally" overdosing near-death patients

is more common that you think.

[Frances]

9. I don't follow your train of thought

A respirator gives oxygen; a drip gives water & chemicals that simulate food.

Taking a person off a respirator deprives the person of oxygen.

Taking a person off a drip deprives the person of water & chemicals that simulate food.

Using a respirator keeps a person breathing artificially.

Using a drip keeps a person hydrated and "fed" artificially.

The state courts in Florida have looked at the Schiavo case many times for many years.

My personal opinion? Get a health power of attorny document and hope that Tom DeLay doesn't need to divert the public's attention from his own horrendous ethical lapses if you ever need to have the plug pulled on you.

[Bridget Burke]

12. There will be morphine to ease the way...

If it's necessary.