A serious issue

[Melody21]

What do y'all think about the Terri Schindler case? In case you haven't heard of her, she is a woman who suffered brain damage 13 years ago, and now her husband wants to remove her feeding tube so she will starve to death. Upon her death, he will inherit $750,000.

This whole thing just seems so wrong. I went to her website (unfortunately, I'm unable to attach the URL because I don't have a high enough post count - but the website is terrisfight.org), and you can see from the video clips that she isn't a complete vegetable. She can follow commands, she recognizes her family, and she even appreciates music. When she was told that she might die, she even tried to get out of her chair in protest. They are going to remove her feeding tube at 2 pm today (October 15), and she will starve to death within 2 weeks. This is not dying with dignity; this is cold blooded murder. Very, very sad.

 

[admtaylor]

What do y'all think about the Terri Schindler case? In case you haven't heard of her, she is a woman who suffered brain damage 13 years ago, and now her husband wants to remove her feeding tube so she will starve to death. Upon her death, he will inherit $750,000.

This whole thing just seems so wrong. I went to her website (unfortunately, I'm unable to attach the URL because I don't have a high enough post count - but the website is terrisfight.org), and you can see from the video clips that she isn't a complete vegetable. She can follow commands, she recognizes her family, and she even appreciates music. When she was told that she might die, she even tried to get out of her chair in protest. They are going to remove her feeding tube at 2 pm today (October 15), and she will starve to death within 2 weeks. This is not dying with dignity; this is cold blooded murder. Very, very sad.

I think it's horrible. I heard about this. We should pray that someone will step in and stop this. We should also pray that the man comes to his senses.

 

[Freodin]

Yes, this seems to be murder.

It would be a different case if she would agree to have her feeding removed, or was completely unable to react.

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

i dun belive it!!! The man is so heartless...why does the law allow it, whatever the country!

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

Beside, it is very bad to be stave to death, it is beyond human immagination. The man is heartless!

 

[JillLars]

If she is able to react, then I don't see how a judge could allow her husband to remove her feeding tube, just ridiculus. What a dirtbag. I have heard that her parents are willing to take care of her, so there is no reason for him to do this except to inherit the money. Ugg, makes me very angry.

 

[Arikay]

If she can react, is not a vegtable, and does not want it, then Yes it is definatly murder in my opinion.

 

[David Gould]

The issue is not as clear cut as people make out.

Terri's "wish to be free of artificial life support has been proven by clear and convincing evidence" according to the submission by Governor Bush to try and prevent this from occurring.

The right to refuse medical care is part of Florida legislation.

What is not clear is whether this wish:

1.) equates to a wish to die and
2.) automatically will result in death.

If Terri can swallow food then it will not automatically result in death. Whether she can do so or not is unknown.

Whether the wish equates to a wish for death is the key point. The court believes so at this present time.

So for people calling this murder, think about that point: if she has the legal right to refuse treatment and she is exercising that right AND she is aware that this will likely lead to her death how is this murder?

The court has yet to consider Governor Bush's intercessory words. But if they reject them then the only conclusion I can draw is that the court believes that Terri has made a decision in this regard.

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

if sucide is wrong, we should not let her die even she wish to!!!

 

[David Gould]

if sucide is wrong, we should not let her die even she wish to!!!

There is a legal difference between the right to refuse medical treatment - and I am sure you would not want the government to force you to accept whatever medical treatment it wanted to give you - and the right to kill yourself.

There is no legal right to kill yourself under Florida law.

But there is a right to refuse medical treatment (as there should be!)


This issue is about the right to refuse medical treatment and what that means.

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

Shouldn't we, fight for the inustice in this world. She, should continue seeing the world, of beauty, of grace. Not let her feel as if the world is made of darkness, but light. Sould we deprive her, of a chance to live on, should we deprive her of her life.
Immagine you are that women, falling into darkness some 13 years ago. Now, your husband, your supossitely most loved one, wants to kill you, in short, for just a fe pethtic grands.
Friends, lets fight for this injustice, brng the world from darkness. Save a life, increase your chance of going to heaven, support the website terrisfight.org

 

[David Gould]

Shouldn't we, fight for the inustice in this world. She, should continue seeing the world, of beauty, of grace. Not let her feel as if the world is made of darkness, but light. Sould we deprive her, of a chance to live on, should we deprive her of her life.
Immagine you are that women, falling into darkness some 13 years ago. Now, your husband, your supossitely most loved one, wants to kill you, in short, for just a fe pethtic grands.
Friends, lets fight for this injustice, brng the world from darkness. Save a life, increase your chance of going to heaven, support the website terrisfight.org

Your accusation that the husband wishes to kill her for money is unsupported by the facts. (And is possibly grounds for legal action by him is he ever became aware of your accusation - be very careful about accusing someone like that without evidence.)

If you read the documents provided on that web site - particularly the appeal put in by Governor Bush - Terri has requested that her feeding tubes be removed AS IS HER LEGAL RIGHT.

The court has to decide whether in this particular case such removal amounts to suicide/murder or whether it is simply a refusal of medical treatment, which is the right of everyone.

At the moment, the court's decision is that it is simply a refusal of medical treatment.

 

[feral]

Her husband just wants to get rich and is willing to commit murder in order to do so. How anyone can legally kill someone by removing their life support when the parents are willing to care for her is beyond me.

 

[David Gould]

Her husband just wants to get rich and is willing to commit murder in order to do so. How anyone can legally kill someone by removing their life support when the parents are willing to care for her is beyond me.

Umm, have you even read any of the legal documents to do with this particular case?


I repeat: Terri has requested that the feeding tubes be removed.

... her wish to be free of artificial life support has been proven by clear and convincing evidence ...

(taken from Governor Bush's amicus curiae submission to the court, available at www.terrisfight.org)

Terri is the patient in question.

Do you understand this?


In addition, accusing someone of murder is a serious issue. You do not even know the facts of the case. You understand what libel and slander are, do you not?

 

[feral]

Her husband desires that she be taken off of feeding tubes despite the fact that she is semi-responsive and has parents willing and able to care for her. That is murder. It may be done out of trying to save her dignity or even because she does not want to live as a vegetable, but it's still murder. Yes, I am quite aware of libel and slander. If her husband would like to sue me for my posts regarding this publicized case on a christian chat, tell him to email me. He can have my '87 car, two cats and black boots. Oh, and I've got $45 in my jewelry box. This being an opinion board I am posting my opinion that stopping any measures that keep someone alive is murder. So Terri requested the tubes be removed. She is hardly able to respond or even keep herself alive. She is not of the right mind to make that choice, sorry. I was placed in a hospital against my will for a suicide attempt. It was my choice to die. However, someone bothered to intervene, as I wish they could have in her case.
A bit late now, I guess...

 

[David Gould]

How do you know she was not of right mind to make that choice? What medical opinions have you examined on this issue?

The courts (and those who were trying to save her, such as Governor Bush) accepted that she was of sound mind when she made that decision.

It seems to me that you have simply jumped to a conclusion that is not tenable on an examination of the facts.



As to you posting your opinion about preventing medical procedures in general being murder, that is not what you said. You specifically accused the husband of wanting to kill her for her money. It must be nice to be able to read people's minds. It also must be nice to be able to ignore the fact that it was Terri, not the husband, who requested the removal of life support.

Do you agree that people have the right to refuse medical treatment or do you think that people should be forced to accept any medical treatment that the government wants them to have?

 

[David Gould]

In addition, it is not too late for her at this stage. She is no longer being fed by tubes. That is all.


With regard to her parents being willing to care for her, that is fine. But Terri does not want the tubes anymore. So the situation is the same.

And with regard to her being able to do things, such as respond to her parents, that is one of the points in favour of her being able to make decisions about her future, is it not?

 

[Lynn73]

I agree that this is murder. I was just telling my husband that if the law allows this, then what's to stop them from removing all feeding tubes from those laying in nursing homes unable to feed themselves or to take food by mouth? If it's wrong to remove those tubes, it's wrong to remove this woman's. I don't understand these people! I can see removing life support if there's no hope, but I don't believe in withholding food. This is just plain wrong. Now, unless God intervenes, this girl's parents are going to be forced to stand by and watch their daughter starve to death. This is totally disgusting!

 

[David Gould]

Lynn,

Do you think that people should be allowed to refuse medical treatment?

... her wish to be free of articial life support has been proven by clear and convincing evidence ...

Taken from Governor Bush's amicus curiae submission to the court, available from www.terrisfight.org

 

[Sarah :)]

Do you think that people should be allowed to refuse medical treatment?

That decision was made 13 years ago when they put the feeding tube in, so it's too late for hubby to change his mind now. If Terri really did have a living will, she wouldn't have had the tube inserted in the first place.

I also disagree with the claim that she is in a "coma." She is aware of her surroundings and she is responsive, so she is not a vegetable.