Feeding tube removed from woman after 13 years

**Logan** · 11-13-2003, 08:32 PM

I understand from talking with medical people and doing a lot of reading that morphine is used and that this way of passing is painless to the patient. If only she had made her wishes known in a way that would have been recognized by the courts. I wouldn't have wanted to live like that either, but I have made sure that everyone involved knows that, and it is in writing, and witnessed.

**Soledad** · 11-14-2003, 08:23 AM

Lizbud - It really doesn't matter what kind of life I want or anyone else wants. What we're basically deciding here is whether or not severely disabled people have the right to live. I do not feel as though I'm in a position to tell other people if they have a right to live or not. And until Terri is able to speak for herself, I don't think it's right to assume she wants to die.

**lizbud** · 11-14-2003, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Pam
Is anyone familiar with the story of Terry Schiavo? She had a massive heart attack 13 years ago which temporarily cut off oxygen to her brain and she has been in a semi-vegetative state ever since. Story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/15/coma.woman/index.html

I think what bothers me the most is the little video snippets that I have seen of her on TV. She certainly does seem to have awareness of her surroundings regardless of what is being said. Somehow the idea of pulling a plug on a person on a respirator with a flat EEG seems to be in a different realm than what we have here although both are dreadful thoughts. Gosh this whole idea of making these types of life and death decisions just makes me shudder. In essence this girl will be starving to death.

I have spent much time in convalescent centers for the past two years and can attest to the fact that there are at least 2 people whom I have seen who might fall into Terry's category. It makes one wonder, who is next?

The dilemma is that we have made so many advances and are able to keep people alive who otherwise might have passed on their own away in times past.

Your thoughts?

I believe the original post asked for OUR thoughts.Don't think it
asked any of us to DECIDE anything, did it? I would certainly
never want to decide this question for anyone, but myself.

**Soledad** · 11-14-2003, 01:15 PM

Lizbud, no need to get snippy.

I was just saying that I'm not comfortable transferring my own preferences onto someone else. I mean, who gets to decide what is having a true "quality of life" anyway??

**lizbud** · 11-14-2003, 01:52 PM

Soledad,

Not getting snippy at all. Just pointing out what I thought was
the point of the orginal post.

"I was just saying that I'm not comfortable transferring my own preferences onto someone else. I mean, who gets to decide what is having a true "quality of life" anyway?? "

Seems to me from everyone else's posts on this question that
nobody else would feel comforable making decisions for others
either. As to who gets to decide, unless we do it ourselves with living wills, etc. , the courts will have to decide.