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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: jlallen who wrote (31691)4/5/2005 2:39:35 PM
From: Lady Lurksalot  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 90947
 
JLA, I believe that Michael Schiavo did not relinquish guardianship of his wife to her parents because he, as a caring husband, was dedicated to carrying out her expressed wishes. - Holly



To: jlallen who wrote (31691)4/5/2005 2:40:48 PM
From: The Philosopher  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 90947
 
while there was ANY doubt about her state....IMO there should be a presumption of making the decision is favor of preserving life.

There is ALWAYS SOME doubt. No reputable doctor will guarantee 100% accuracy in a diagnosis of that sort. They may go to 99.99%, but never to 100%.

If you really believe that ANY doubt means don't pull the plug, you're saying is that the "plug" should never be pulled on anybody. Everybody should be kept alive as long as they possibly can no matter what their condition.

I'm not supporting or defending that position. But let's be clear of the consequences of what you're saying.



To: jlallen who wrote (31691)4/5/2005 2:40:52 PM
From: Lazarus_Long  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 90947
 
His expressed view was that he was honoring her wish NOT to be kept alive in such a state and turning her over to her parents would violate that.

This is one of those "Hard cases make bad law" ones. There was nothing in writing expressing her wishes. She was in a "persistent vegetative coma", not actually brain dead, which would meet the legal definition of death.