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Witchflower,
in my anger I overstepped the bounds of proper judgment -- you correctly write that we do not have sufficient facts to evaluate the husband's motives and behavior.
I just have a strong suspicion that many people in this situation -- that is, people who live for a long time with a close family member in a persistent vegetative state -- may be motivated largely by the desire to see the person's life end so that he or she may move on with life, and that this is not sufficient reason to let the vegetative person go.
There is a temptation in our society to want to remove all obstacles -- even living ones -- to our own convenience and immediate interests. Once a person becomes more of a burden than a help to society, we tend to want to do whatever it takes -- even if it means killing him or her -- to remove the burden.
Again, this is only a strong suspicion, but I think this is the mindset used to justify most abortions -- they remove a living, breathing obstacle to the convenient life of a woman who society believes to be of greater standing than a child in the womb.
I am confident that such an attitude is quite common, even if my specific assessments as to how many people hold this attitude are wrong. And this attitude is social Darwinist, far too callous toward the legitimate interests of those with less personal capacities than the average person has.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on March 20, 2005 at 11:48 AM
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This picture
certainly makes her look more cognizant than the ones I've seen so far. Is it a current one? It really is heartbreaking story. As a parent, I can feel her parents' pain. I would not want to live the length of time she has (and longer) in this manner.
If she can commnicate in some way (blinking, other movements that can demonstrate "yes" or "no") wouldn't she be able to let her wishes be known? And wouldn't that be legally binding? It doesn't seem she has been able to comprehend or communicate this to anyone.
It also seems to me that if her husband wanted to move on, he could have divorced her years ago, as her parents want him to, and moved on. It's possible he has stayed because he does know her wishes and is doing his best to honor them. I also read that when he received an insurance settlement, he did not share it with her parents (and he was not required to), and that is when the friction began. As with almost all of us, I don't have all the facts of the case, so would not presume to judge (wouldn't anyway). Just some of my thoughts. 
posted by
Witchflower
on March 19, 2005 at 9:51 PM
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Dylan, I appreciate your well-expressed views. I agree with you.
Very thought provoking comments. Thank you.
Manda
posted by
Amanda__
on March 19, 2005 at 5:53 PM
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If, as Mrs. Schiavo's original family believes, Mrs. Schiavo is able to perceive relationships and experience life, then the court was clearly wrong to rule to remove the feeding tubes.
If not, then I don't know. I do think there is a time when it is okay to let go, but I tend to agree that we should not necessarily take the most active role in that decision.
I am guessing that her husband, who wanted the tube removed, was really thinking of his own interest -- in moving on. If that's so, it is understandable but should not decide what happens to Mrs. Schiavo.
Spouses might have final legal say in these decisions, but I doubt if that is a reliably ethical resolution. Especially considering what low regard some people hold their spouses in (fifty percent divorce rate?!).
I would tend to trust the opinion of the parents over against that of the spouse in a case like this. I agree with President Bush that when there is doubt, we should err on the side of life. I do not mean to politicize this, but this issue inevitably has political implications, being finally a matter of law.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on March 19, 2005 at 3:57 PM
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Christy, I agree and am also sad. Thanks for your comment.
posted by
Amanda__
on March 19, 2005 at 9:56 AM
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My heart aches for Terri, Manda...Thank you for your post. They are all my prayers and I hope whatever the outcome, they will all find peace at last. Peace and blessings to you.
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on March 19, 2005 at 9:45 AM
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