Re: Schiavo -- I linked an essay earlier by Joan Dideon that I thought raised some very good points. One of the things she says that I agree with, and I am paraphrasing, is that for most people, and I think this includes you, the natural tendency is to jump over Terri's actual wishes, as expressed by the witnesses, and go straight to an idealized argument about individual rights, e.g., the right to refuse medical treatment, or even whether the state has superior rights when the quality of life of the individual doesn't justify the expense of maintenance, in the eyes of the taxpayers.
The controversy, in my mind, wasn't about the right to refuse medical treatment, but whether the evidence in this case was sufficient to meet the standard imposed by law, "clear and convincing," and, if not, what was to be done about this?
nybooks.com |
