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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (13536)	10/23/2003 5:45:06 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793608

You really ARE the first and only one! I don't know where one draws the line for others, which is why Dan and I are at last putting pen to paper on this. For some, like my husband, the idea of mental incapacitation is terrifying. He doesn't want to live like that, or for us, his family, to have to take care of him. I imagine his line is different from mine. I want them to at least TRY for a while-- just in case. I can't judge Terry Schiavo's condition from a few tapes or from what her poor parents say. On the other hand, there are some pretty questionable things being said about the husband, and what was and wasn't provided for her. My thoughts would be- (just thinking aloud here) to appoint the guardian ad litem, gather what evidence there is, make sure that she DID get therapy, that everything HAD been tried and then make a decision independent of the husband and the parents. Also I wonder if the parents are willing to take on the expense of her care. I can't imagine there is much left of the original settlement. If so, who could object to that? There's another touchy issue- who IS paying? Are we? And if so, how long do we use limited resources on a case like this?

To: Ilaine who wrote (13536)	10/23/2003 6:05:44 PM
From: KLP	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793608

...but where would one draw the line? My recent hospital surgery required at least the asking (twice) if I had a Living Will. (Yes) That is a good thing, IMO. But many many young people such as Terri don't (and obviously didn't) have one. I seem to remember she was in her 20's when whatever happened to her, happened. There is much we don't know about the case, at least yet, and about the husband. Why hasn't he divorced, especially if he is living with someone else, and has 2 children with the person? What happened that she had to have a food tube and not food by mouth? I wonder if she is on State Aid now? Why wouldn't her husband let her parents take care of her if they wished? The woman who wrote the article below writes from her heart about the situation with her Mom, and asks questions about how we handle elderly and disabled....and we should all remember bad things like this happen to children as well. 'She Won't Feel a Thing' Making the decision to remove a feeding tube from a terminally ill patient will haunt you, even when it's the right thing to do. By Diana Keough beliefnet.com >>>>>>>>>>>>My mom was terminally ill. Terri Schiavo is not.Though her brain has been damaged, her body is nowhere near the terminal shutdown in which food and water become immaterial. Removing Terri’s feeding tube is nowhere near the same scenario as that of my mom. In fact, removing Terri’s feeding tube sets a scary precedent and seems to say being disabled makes you a non-person. But as the courts and the governor of Florida continue to argue about Terri Schiavo's case, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that everyone of us could face similar agonizing choices some day. What is the difference between giving up and letting go? A few hours before my mom died, I whispered in her ear, "It's ok for you to go." She had fought so long, put herself through so much. I honestly wanted her to rest. I was so tired of her suffering too. But after she died, I remember yelling, 'I lied! I don’t want you to die! Come back!”I had thought that ending her pain would also end my own. I learned quickly how wrong that was. It was just the beginning. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

To: Ilaine who wrote (13536)	10/23/2003 9:04:48 PM
From: FaultLine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793608

I certainly hope it wouldn't last for 13 years, but where would one draw the line? I suppose you could have it both ways: living and dead at the same time. Put the patient in a Schrodinger's Cat situation where the quantum state of the cat (the patient) is unknown until you open the capsule. --fl@wierdnessisuponus.com

To: Ilaine who wrote (13536)	10/24/2003 4:41:29 AM
From: KLP	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793608

Some background on Terri Schiavo's situation... terrisfight.org More about Terri's case...Read these... Statement Concerning the Case of Theresa Schiavo The Trial Testimony of Fr. Gerard Murphy Lawsuit Charges Michael Schiavo with Perjury and Fraud Why Has Terri Been Isolated From the Public 8888888888888888888 Terri was 26 years old when she suffered brain damage from a sudden collapse. Terri receives her food and water by means of a feeding tube. Terri’s other bodily functions are physically stable. Terri smiles, laughs and cries. Terri recognizes voices and responds. At times, she vocalizes sounds, trying in her best way to speak. Terri is not a brain dead vegetable as characterized by her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo nor a houseplant as implied by his attorney. Terri is not on a respirator or any artificial life support. She is a living human being and needs to be granted an opportunity to recover. Terri has not had any progressive rehabilitation or arousal therapy in more than ten years. In a trial initiated by Michael Schiavo, Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer, issued a verdict delivered on February 11, 2000. Judge Greer granted authorization to discontinue Terri’s feeding tube. Judge Greer’s verdict will cause Terri to die in 10 to 14 days. Terri’s death will be by painful starvation. Background In a malpractice lawsuit, Terri’s husband personally received over $300,000 for his loss of consortium. Terri was awarded $750,000 from this suit and an additional $250,000 from a separate malpractice lawsuit. The money was awarded to Terri for her care and rehabilitation and to be placed in a Medical Trust Fund. Terri’s husband received his personal award money and Terri’s medical fund money in early 1993. From the date he received the award money in 1993, Michael Schiavo has denied Terri any rehabilitation treatment. Michael Schiavo has confined Terri to a nursing home (currently, Terri is in a Hospice facility) where she is 'maintained.' Her husband has directed that Terri only be sustained in a nursing home which is contrary to the intent of the award money. Michael Schiavo has on two occasions unsuccessfully attempted to end Terri’s life by instructing her caretakers not to medicate Terri for potentially fatal infections. The first occasion occurred less than nine months after her husband received the malpractice award money. Some Facts Terri has no will. Should she die, her husband will inherit what is left of Terri’s $750,000 medical fund. Terri’s husband lives in a house with Jodi Centonze. He openly admits that he has been engaged to this women for over seven years, have recently given birth to a baby girl, and has announced plans to marry her when Terri is no longer alive. Since receiving the award money in 1993, her husband has ceased and prohibited any new or aggressive treatment for Terri. He has only maintained Terri at a nursing home (currently, Terri is in a Hospice facility). He has totally ignored or denied rehabilitation therapy that could possibly assist Terri’s recovery. Since 1993, Terri’s husband has consistently and deliberately withheld all medical information and data from Terri’s family. Over the past eight years he has ordered Terri’s caretakers not to reveal any medical or neurological information Michael Schiavo will not permit any doctor to examine Terri other than the doctors he selects. As Terri’s legal guardian, her husband has used her medical fund money to offset the legal costs when his guardianship of Terri was initially challenged and to pay the current legal costs to have Terri’s life ended. Terri responds regularly to the presence of her parents and friends. Her husband's doctors testified Terri's cognizant responses to Terri’s parents and friends are simply a reflex action. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the terri schindler-schiavo foundation 4615 gulf blvd # 104-103, saint petersburg beach, fl 33706 tax id number 23-3031168 Medical Fund is Being Used to Facilitate Terri's Death