Terri Schiavo

Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
<div class="IPBDescription">keep it civil</div> I was wondering what the rest of the people on the forum think about this particular case.

I am really sad about this one. I personally think that Mr. Schiavo (the husband) deserves to be prosecuted for murder.

I have tried to think about this rationally - and what it comes down to is this: Terri said (according to the husband) that she wanted to die if such a scenario ever took place (brain damage). He claims she said that ~25 years ago - and now wants to fulfil that wish of hers, and have her starve to death.

On the other side of the story is her family, who want him to divorce her, and take care of her themselves. He refuses to do that - and claims that to do so would not honor her wish for death. He holds to Flordia law which gives him the right as the husband to decide her fate.

Now, I don't care about the politics - I'm not so sure I care about the Flordia law even. Rather, I try to care about what is "right"... and here is my perspective on the matter.

Lets assume that this guy really does love Terri - and wants what is "best" for her. How would that love look? I think it would look like him spending hours and hours at her bed side - even this far after the injury. I think it would involve remaining faithful to his maritial vows - if he loves her enough to kill her he should be able to love her enough to stay single for her.

Rather, when we look at this mans personal life, we see that he is engaged to another woman, with whom he has 2 kids. This is while being married to Terri - not the marks of a good husband.

I also look for evidence in the people arround Terri - the nurses. Here is a link to an account from one of the nurses. It is on Rush Limbaughs site (so if your a right wing hater, you might not want to go there) - but it is a good read and gives insight into the character of the husband.

<a href='http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_032205/content/stop_the_tape.guest.html' target='_blank'>Linky</a>

All in all, I think it is really sad. The law has failed this individual. For those of you who support this - may God have mercy on your souls.
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Comments

  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lets assume that this guy really does love Terri - and wants what is "best" for her. How would that love look? I think it would look like him spending hours and hours at her bed side - even this far after the injury. I think it would involve remaining faithful to his maritial vows - if he loves her enough to kill her he should be able to love her enough to stay single for her.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    But if he's telling the truth about her wish then it would be very selfish of him to keep her alive to satisfy his own selfish need to know shes alive. If he really loves her, then he will carry out her wish. Thats the way I see it.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Rather, when we look at this mans personal life, we see that he is engaged to another woman, with whom he has 2 kids. This is while being married to Terri - not the marks of a good husband.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Granted, but entirely irrelevent if he is telling the truth about his wife's wish. It is entirely possible to be polyamorous.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For those of you who support this - may God have mercy on your souls.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You know what? **** God. **** him and all his "You don't get to choose how to die" ****.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I don't think there's really any way to say the guy is guilty of murder if he cuts out his wife's life support, as there is nothing he can really do any more. However, it would have been nice if he had waited until his wife was officially dead before he got engaged.

    I would avoid passing judgement on the guy.
  • kill4thrillskill4thrills Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29506Members, Constellation
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    I personally think that Mr. Schiavo (the husband) deserves to be prosecuted for murder.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    no i think he should be congratulated for not bowing to radical right wing religious pressure. give the guy a medal for staying true to his convictions.


    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    On the other side of the story is her family, who want him to divorce her, and take care of her themselves. He refuses to do that - and claims that to do so would not honor her wish for death. He holds to Flordia law which gives him the right as the husband to decide her fate.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    the fact that he refuses to divorce should tell you that he is telling the truth. he could easily divorce and leave behind this mess, but he wants to carry out his wife's wishes: to die with dignity rather than live as a vegetable, looking like an idiot all day, with people having to clean up after you urinate and defecate, having to be force fed and bed ridden. i wouldn't want to be kept alive like that and become a burden to my family, the medical system, and society

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    Rather, when we look at this mans personal life, we see that he is engaged to another woman, with whom he has 2 kids. This is while being married to Terri - not the marks of a good husband.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    no, he wants to carry this through, and make sure terri's wishes are followed. this shows he has strenght of character. a coward would just walk away. as you vow in marriage. till death do us part. terri wanted to die. let her.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    For those of you who support this - may God have mercy on your souls.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    how dare you bring god into this. do not force your beliefs on other people. i for one do not believe in any of your mainstream "gods" or "souls". your "i art holier than thou" attitudes are sickening. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    You wanted civility, yet look how you ended your post.

    This hooplah over Terri is nothing more than politics for the anti-abortion right which is using the issue to rile up the voters. To present a case for keeping Terri alive, you need to construct a ridiculous, MASSIVE conspiracy between the husband, the courts, and her doctors. Michael was offered tons of cash to turn Terri over to her parents, but he refused. He is not in this for the money, and regarding the fact that he has kids by another woman - that's because he wants to get on with his life, but Terri's delusional, ignorant parents refuse to let her die in dignity.

    I'm going to present some things, other than the ridiculous accusations put forth by Terri's delusional parents and the people they paid off to lie.

    <a href='http://www.miami.edu/ethics2/schiavo/timeline.htm' target='_blank'>Link documenting how Michael was providing Terri with care, contrary to claims made by the right.</a> Too long to past the whole thing.

    <a href='http://www.miami.edu/ethics2/schiavo/CT%20scan.png' target='_blank'>Brain scan, showing what she needs for higher brain functions, things that made her uniquely human, is gone.</a> <b>You cannot rehabilitate a brain that isn't there - this is something the pro-tube people won't realize.</b>

    <a href='http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/03/debunking_lies_.html' target='_blank'>Blog entry to counter the ridiculous lies by the right.</a> Pasted here:

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->

    03/02/2005
    Lies Terri Schiavo's parents told me
    The Terri Schiavo case has transfixed the right wing media while attracting comparatively little attention from the left. This is discrepancy is understandable. Once you know the facts, there's very little to argue about. The case is literally a no brainer.

    The Schiavo case presents no intricate medical, ethical, or legal dilemmas. Abstract Appeal's comprehensive legal chronology shows just how straightforward this case should have been. Michael Schiavo is Terri's legal guardian, the courts have determined that Terri wouldn't want a feeding tube, and Michael asked the doctors to take the tube out. That's really all there is to it.

    The Terri Schiavo appeal is a vicious and lavishly-funded propaganda campaign. Terri's parents and their allies are using pseudoscience and character assassination to destroy Michael Schiavo. The right wing is eating it up.

    If progressives don't counter these blatant misrepresentations now, the Terri Schiavo myths will be used against us for years to come.

    Myths about the Terri Schiavo case

    1. Terri is conscious

    Court-appointed, government-appointed, and private physicians have confirmed that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Schiavo suffered massive brain damage as a result of a cardiac arrest 15 years ago, and ongoing neurological degeneration interim.

    Patients in a PVS have no higher cognitive function and no chance of recovery.

    Terri is neither comatose, nor brain dead. She is in a vegetative state because her higher brain centers have been destroyed and replaced by fluid.

    1.' A recent study showed that patients like Terri are more conscious than we thought

    A recent fMRI by study found that two patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) showed slightly more brain activity during speech recognition tasks than would have been predicted based on the severity of their injuries and behavioral observations (Schiff ND, Rodriguez-Moreno D, Kamal A, et al, 2005). When the study was released, some commentators inappropriately cited this result as evidence that Terri Schiavo's level of consciousness might have been underestimated.

    Terri Schiavo is not in an MCS. According to the authors of the study, a diagnosis of MCS is reserved for a subset of patients who demonstrate "unequivocal, but intermittent, behavioral evidence of awareness of self or their environment." Unfortunately, Terri is even more severely disabled than the patients in this study.

    2. There are new treatments that might help Terri

    Despite what Terri's parents say, there are no new treatments that could help their daughter. Anyone who claims that he can improve Terri's level of consciousness is a quack. You can't treat a brain that isn't there.

    3. Terri's collapse is unexplained and/or suspicious

    In an attempt to discredit Michael Schiavo, Terri's parents and their supporters are circulating unsubstantiated rumors of abuse and even accusations of attempted murder.

    Former chief medical examiner for the city of New York and co-director of the Medicolegal Investigation Unit of the New York State Police, Dr. [Michael] Baden is often quoted in news reports and interviewed on television. [...] Dr. Baden, who has written three books on forensic pathology, told [Greta]van Susteren: "It's extremely rare for a 20-year-old to have a cardiac arrest from low potassium who has no other diseases . . . which she doesn't have. . . . The reason that she's in the state she's in is because there was a period of time, maybe five or eight minutes, when not enough oxygen was going to her brain. That can happen because the heart stops for five or eight minutes, but she had a healthy heart from what we can see." [Village Voice]
    Terri Schiavo was not a healthy young woman. Her heart stopped because of a potassium imbalance induced by severe bulimia nervosa.[AP]

    Hypokalemic cardiac arrests are rare in the population at large, but they all too common in young women with severe eating disorders. Michael Schiavo successfully sued Terri's doctors for failing to diagnose her condition. If there had been an alternate explanation for Terri's condition--like attempted murder by the plaintiff--you would think the doctors Schiavo sued would have brought it up.

    Here's a transcript of the Greta van Susteren's interview with Dr. Baden on FOX News.

    In the interview Baden alludes to Terri's alleged "history of trauma" and suggested that her brain damage might have been caused by a "head injury." Dr. Baden's insinuations don't hang together. Both Terri's bulimia and her potassium imbalance are well-documented. Whereas there is no evidence that Terri Schiavo's brain was destroyed by any kind of trauma.

    BADEN: Yeah, your staff has provided me with a bone scan that you guys obtained ah from her initial admission in 1991 to the hospital. And that bone scan describes her as having a head injury. That’s why she’s there, that’s why she’s getting a bone scan. And a head injury can cause, lead to the vegetative state that Ms. Schiavo is in now, and it does show evidence that there are other injuries, other bone fractures, that on healing-stage, so that...
    Dr. Baden says that the bone scan describes Terri as having a head injury. The implication is that the bone scan reveals that she suffered a head injury. The paperwork requesting the bone scan describes Schiavo as having had a head injury, but the bone scan didn't show any evidence of head or neck trauma.

    The head injury hypothesis is utterly far-fetched. Believe me, if Terri had been bleeding into her brain on the night in question, the ER would have noticed.

    An even crazier theory of Terri's collapse is phantom strangulation. This one got a sympathetic hearing from both Hannity and Colmes. The evidence is that Terri was admitted with a rigid neck. So far, no one has claimed that Terri had any of the classic signs of manual strangulation. Patients who have been strangled tend to have bruises on their necks, petechiae in the whites of their eyes (blood spots), and bits of their assailant's flesh under their fingernails. Manual strangulation doesn't always leave marks, but why attribute to phantom stranglers what can be explained by hypokalemia?

    4. Michael Schiavo abused Terri

    There is no firm evidence that anyone abused Terri. A judge ruled the abuse allegation irrelevant years ago, but Terri's "supporters" are determined to keep meme alive just to destroy Michael Schiavo's reputation.

    Dr. Baden alleges that a bone scan taken in 1991 showed that Terri had suffered trauma. Here is the deposition of the radiologist who analyzed Terri's bone scan, Dr. William Campbell Walker.

    During the deposition, Walker acknowledges that the abnormalities on the bone scan could have been caused by Schiavo's collapse, vigorous CPR, an earlier car accident, prolonged immobility, or aggressive physiotherapy. Contrary to Dr. Baden's insinuation, the scan revealed no abnormalities in the head or neck.

    By the time the scan was taken, Terri had already been in the care of a nursing home for several months. For all anyone knows, Terri's bones may have been damaged by neglect or abuse at the nursing facility.

    5. Terri's brain damage was caused by a closed head injury

    The head injury claim has been repeated over and over in the right wing media. Here's the only evidence I was able to find for this bold claim: In his deposition, Dr. Walker says that Dr. James Carnahan, Terri's rehabilitation physician, wrote "closed head injury" on a form requesting a radiological trauma work up. Maybe Schiavo has a history of closed head injuries, but it is absurd to think that a closed head injury caused her current vegetative state.

    6. Michael Schiavo just wants to inherit Terri's fortune

    What fortune? Even the pro-tube Terri Schiavo Foundation reports that of the nearly one million dollar malpractice settlement earmarked for Terri's future medical care, less than $50,000 is left.

    The TSF is righteously indignant that a fair chunk of that money has gone to attorneys' fees. A judge authorized Michael Schiavo to spend that money on legal representation for himself and his incapacitated wife. It's odd that the TSF is so indignant, seeing as they picked the legal fight that depleted the account.

    The TSF also acknowledges that Schiavo offered to donate whatever money he stood to inherit to charity if Terri's parents would stop trying interfere with his right to make medical decisions on behalf of his wife.

    I just hope that these character assassins can be discredited before they ruin another person's life. Michael Schiavo has suffered enough.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    I'd rather believe the courts and doctors, not the quack nurses the parents have paid off.
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->the fact that he refuses to divorce should tell you that he is telling the truth. he could easily divorce and leave behind this mess, but he wants to carry out his wife's wishes: to die with dignity rather than live as a vegetable, looking like an idiot all day, with people having to clean up after you urinate and defecate, having to be force fed and bed ridden. i wouldn't want to be kept alive like that and become a burden to my family, the medical system, and society
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Follow the money - who has the multi-million dollar life insurance policy? - who would benefit from this?

    I can think of much less noble reasons for someone to want her dead - and read the link, it will give you more to talk about.

    Also, being as there is no documentation of her "wish" to be dead - no living will - to me that looks like his opinion to have her dead is being given way to much weight.

    He is unscroupulous in his marriage, there is money to be had - heck she is practically dead already (according to him) - why not just claim to be "doing what she wanted" and have her starve to death? - it is the perfect crime, and perfectly legal.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    dude, don't be so hasty. it's possible that his motives are crap, but what do you know about them? you don't know the guy.
  • MedHeadMedHead Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11115Members, Constellation
    <a href='http://dhpersonal.com/#32205' target='_blank'>http://dhpersonal.com/#32205</a>

    My thoughts.
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-MedHead+Mar 22 2005, 07:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MedHead @ Mar 22 2005, 07:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <a href='http://dhpersonal.com/#32205' target='_blank'>http://dhpersonal.com/#32205</a>

    My thoughts. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Your blog entry is nothing more than grandstanding and moral posturing. You don't have a shred of evidence to support your argument. You're ignoring seperation of powers, the judgements of all those courts, and the doctors finding that she had PVS. In other words, pure christian feel-good BS.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"?
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 07:56 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 07:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Who is this directed to?
  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Pepe Muffassa+Mar 22 2005, 07:41 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Pepe Muffassa @ Mar 22 2005, 07:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->the fact that he refuses to divorce should tell you that he is telling the truth. he could easily divorce and leave behind this mess, but he wants to carry out his wife's wishes: to die with dignity rather than live as a vegetable, looking like an idiot all day, with people having to clean up after you urinate and defecate, having to be force fed and bed ridden. i wouldn't want to be kept alive like that and become a burden to my family, the medical system, and society
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Follow the money - who has the multi-million dollar life insurance policy? - who would benefit from this?

    I can think of much less noble reasons for someone to want her dead - and read the link, it will give you more to talk about.

    Also, being as there is no documentation of her "wish" to be dead - no living will - to me that looks like his opinion to have her dead is being given way to much weight.

    He is unscroupulous in his marriage, there is money to be had - heck she is practically dead already (according to him) - why not just claim to be "doing what she wanted" and have her starve to death? - it is the perfect crime, and perfectly legal. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    But there are much easier ways. In fact, the man was offered much more profitable ways out of this mess, but didn't take them. And you'd know that if you read all the posts.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its one of those christian moral concepts that gets tossed asside when theres an agenda to be had. Just like "Turn the other cheak"
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    edited March 2005
    Well, I want to apologize for the last bit on my first post. I shouldn't have irritated 3/4 of the forums with a religious jab. It was in bad taste, and I'm sorry.


    I want to pose another question. The evidence for her death depends on a comment by Terri to her husband to the effect of "if I am a vegetable, let me die". Correct? Now this statement being made over 20 years ago (suposedly) is what her life is depending on.

    What if she had made the statement "If you ever cheat on me I want a divorce". Would that be grounds for a separation from her husband? Should he do right by her in honoring such a wish?

    *at skulkbait - I was writing while he was writing - I went back and re-read all his links.

    While interesting, they mostly dealt with matters outside the issue at hand. One link addressed "myths" about the case - and the only one that I found pertinant to our discussion was the one about the money - and so far the husband has made over 300k off of terri. The rest have to do with "how brain dead is she" - which doesn't have that much to do with the argument of weather or not she should live. If we start quantifying humans by giving them a minimal threshold on brain activity (some number other than 0) then we cease to put value on human life. Are we going to start using the doctors tests to determine her value? Why not the state test - ACT or SAT - score too low and your value as a human decreases exponentially. Pretty soon were going to be doing late term abortions for physical abnormalities (oh wait, that happened already - one less kid with a cleft pallet in the world).

    This is a land mark decision and will determine the value of humans in America for decades to come. Right now it appears that your value is determined by an off hand comment you may or may not have made 25 years ago.

    Top of my list on ways not to die:
    1. Starvation
    2. drawn and quartered
  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Pepe Muffassa+Mar 22 2005, 08:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Pepe Muffassa @ Mar 22 2005, 08:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> What if she had made the statement "If you ever cheat on me I want a divorce". Would that be grounds for a separation from her husband? Should he do right by her in honoring such a wish? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Does this hypothetical question go anywhere or are you just trying to salvage some piece of the dignity that was destroyed when you made this post?

    To answer your question: Yes, sure. However, the woman was brain dead before he began seeing annother woman (from what I understand). For all intents and purposes she was no longer "alive", her body is just going through the motions.
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Pepe Muffassa+Mar 22 2005, 08:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Pepe Muffassa @ Mar 22 2005, 08:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I want to pose another question.  The evidence for her death depends on a comment by Terri to her husband to the effect of "if I am a vegetable, let me die".  Correct?  Now this statement being made over 20 years ago (suposedly) is what her life is depending on.

    What if she had made the statement "If you ever cheat on me I want a divorce".  Would that be grounds for a separation from her husband?  Should he do right by her in honoring such a wish?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Do you honestly think someone would want to survive for 15 years as a vegetable with a liquified brain? There is no reason to doubt that she confided to her husband that she wanted to be let go if such a thing happened. The only problem from this is that she didn't have a written will. This kind of thing happens and serves as a warning to spouses, etc, who havn't made a will.

    The whole thing about cheating is a cheap jab and irrelevant, but I'll bite anyway. She's been a living corpse for over ten years. He tried for 7 odd years to take care of her and improve her condition. Understandably he gave up, realizing that she'll never recover, and she certainly cannot because her brain is gone. He wants to move on, yet is constrained by Terri's idiotic parents. He is screwed no matter what he does.
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    Walk away - divorce her - it has always been an option for him.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-SkulkBait+Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its one of those christian moral concepts that gets tossed asside when theres an agenda to be had. Just like "Turn the other cheak" <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hey now.. I think you shouldn't make such sweeping generalizations. I'm a Christian, and I never claimed we were perfect, and sometimes we tend to forget ourselves. I mean, that's the whole reason we're Christians in the first place...

    Anyway. I don't think we have any right to comment on this. Unless one of our forum members is close to that situation, I would suppose that no one here knows anything except what the media tells them.

    Spacer is right. The guy is in something that seems like a no-win situation. If Terry's family is willing to pay and care for her and keep her on life support, then I think it might be better to let them do so, but I'm not in his situation.

    I think it was mentioned earlier that she has a life insurance thing. Well, you have to pay a premium for it. And hasn't he paid it for the last <x> years? Why wouldn't he have pulled the plug earlier?
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-SkulkBait+Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its one of those christian moral concepts that gets tossed asside when theres an agenda to be had. Just like "Turn the other cheak" <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hey now.. I think you shouldn't make such sweeping generalizations. I'm a Christian, and I never claimed we were perfect, and sometimes we tend to forget ourselves. I mean, that's the whole reason we're Christians in the first place...

    Anyway. I don't think we have any right to comment on this. Unless one of our forum members is close to that situation, I would suppose that no one here knows anything except what the media tells them. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The only people wanting her to keep her on the tube are her crazy parents and opportunistic politicians who want to beat democrats over the head with this case after they get legislation passed, all the while throwing seperation of powers down the toilet.

    This certainly matters to me and we all have to right to discuss it.
  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-SkulkBait+Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Mar 22 2005, 07:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->what the hell happened to "judge not lest ye be judged"?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its one of those christian moral concepts that gets tossed asside when theres an agenda to be had. Just like "Turn the other cheak" <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hey now.. I think you shouldn't make such sweeping generalizations. I'm a Christian, and I never claimed we were perfect, and sometimes we tend to forget ourselves. I mean, that's the whole reason we're Christians in the first place...

    Anyway. I don't think we have any right to comment on this. Unless one of our forum members is close to that situation, I would suppose that no one here knows anything except what the media tells them. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wasn't generalizing. I didn't say "always", I said "tends to", and its unfortunatly all too true.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Walk away - divorce her - it has always been an option for him.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So, just ignore her wishes? What kind of a husband would he be if he did that? How can you ignore the final wishes of someone you love?

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think it was mentioned earlier that she has a life insurance thing. Well, you have to pay a premium for it. And hasn't he paid it for the last <x> years? Why wouldn't he have pulled the plug earlier?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    From what I can tell, hes been trying, and her parents will have none of it. Besides which, if you read the blog exerpt, you'd know that all but $50,000 of that money is gone.

    Edit: oops, my bad, that was the malpractice suit money. I have no idea what the situation is with the insurance money.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2005
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    Her brain
    <img src='http://img217.exs.cx/img217/8978/catscan8cg.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
    Any questions?
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:22 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> @Sizer: prove it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well, technically her parents and the opportunist republicans aren't the only people wanting her kept alive, you're right. We should count certain ignorant members of the public who think it's better for the woman to live as a corpse and take up bedspace and cost the state hundreds of thousands once the fund money runs out.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-moultano+Mar 22 2005, 08:29 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (moultano @ Mar 22 2005, 08:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Her brain
    [IMG..]
    Any questions? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    what about the part where you crack an egg in a frying pan and go "this is her brain on drugs"?
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> what about the part where you crack an egg in a frying pan and go "this is her brain on drugs"? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> more like, this is her brain full of spinal fluid.
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    I thought the job of congress was to pass / change laws. It is the law of the judicial branch to enforce them. It makes sence that they want to do it quickly (she'll die in a few days).

    I find it strange that her parents are the cooks - they raised her for 20+ years, and she was married for 4 before the accident - yet somehow there the ones that are nuts? There not the ones trying to kill her!

    As for her brain being liquified - hmm, bit of an over statement. Brain damaged, yes, brain dead, no , liquified - you haven't seen how a blender works have you...
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Pepe Muffassa+Mar 22 2005, 08:33 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Pepe Muffassa @ Mar 22 2005, 08:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I thought the job of congress was to pass / change laws.  It is the law of the judicial branch to enforce them.  It makes sence that they want to do it quickly (she'll die in a few days).

    I find it strange that her parents are the cooks - they raised her for 20+ years, and she was married for 4 before the accident - yet somehow there the ones that are nuts?  There not the ones trying to kill her!

    As for her brain being liquified - hmm, bit of an over statement.  Brain damaged, yes, brain dead, no , liquified - you haven't seen how a blender works have you... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Honestly, what in the world is your problem? Do you have to ignore the previous posts that discredit all this pro-tube garbage?

    Her parents ARE kooks, there is no question. Their daughter has a liquified brain, leaving only enough of a brainsteam to allow low-level reflexes. With all your higher brain functions gone, you can't live as a human being.

    Her brain is practically liquified. Her brain matter died off, necrotized and dissolved away, so now the cavity is filled with spinal fluid. This has been conclusively shown.

    There was absoltely no legal basis for all this garbage with congress and Jeb to happen. It is clear-cut, the husband is the guardian, he should be able to make the decision.
  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Pepe Muffassa+Mar 22 2005, 08:33 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Pepe Muffassa @ Mar 22 2005, 08:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I thought the job of congress was to pass / change laws. It is the law of the judicial branch to enforce them. It makes sence that they want to do it quickly (she'll die in a few days).

    I find it strange that her parents are the cooks - they raised her for 20+ years, and she was married for 4 before the accident - yet somehow there the ones that are nuts? There not the ones trying to kill her! <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Pay attention now, cause I'm not going to say it again:

    SHE IS ALREADY DEAD FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES!

    Her parents are either A) So emotionally disturbed that they are in denial and actually think that she is somehow not already pretty much dead, or B) Helping to push some stupid assed agenda. Neither of those is a justifiable reason to deny her her wish of being allowed to die if in a vegetative state.
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    Just to clarify, what exactly do you want to happen to her?
    Is the remnant of her body worth keeping around as a sick characature of her life?
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Well, if she is already for all intents and purposes dead, why are you making such a fuss if her parents want to keep what's left of her?
  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, if she is already for all intents and purposes dead, why are you making such a fuss if her parents want to keep what's left of her? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO "LIVE" THIS WAY!

    Seriously, are all religious zealots incabalbe of such basic reading comprehension?


    Hell, even if she nevver did make any such statement and her husband made it up, what does it matter? She's not going to get any better, shes just going to continue to lay in a bed and do nothing but waste money.
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wheeee+Mar 22 2005, 08:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wheeee @ Mar 22 2005, 08:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, if she is already for all intents and purposes dead, why are you making such a fuss if her parents want to keep what's left of her? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Typically its customary to honor the wishes of the dead regarding their property. One could make the same case for ignoring wills. (Well he's dead, what does he care what we do with his stuff?)

    The secular moral argument for this is complicated, but I think we can probably agree on this without getting into it.
This discussion has been closed.