First of all, my prayers are with Terri Schiavo, her parents and her husband. I don't have the answer to what should happen in this case. I don't have all the information and I would imagine that few of us do. From what I do know, or think I know, I can't understand why, if her parents are willing to assume custody and responsibility for her care that her husband would object to that. He is either acting unselfishly, as her knight in shining armor, or being quite selfish, trying to get back to some kind of life of his own or to get the remainder of the malpractice settlement he would be entitled to receive. Only he and God know for sure his motivations. Again, my prayers are with them ALL.
Some have suggested that Congress has committed the most grotesque miss use of their powers by stepping in and bringing the federal courts in the middle of what is a family dispute. I believe, even if there were political motivations behind it, the bill is one of the most pure actions taken by that body. The greatest right in our Constitution is the right to Life. This late night bill gave the same right to federal review to Terri Schiavo, that is extended to prisioners or death row. Ending a life should never be an easy thing to do, criminal or medical, and having one more avenue, one more voice for both sides cannot be a bad thing.
There are so many issues in this case and others like it: Chance of recovery; medical diagnosis; is pain involved; what are the wishes of the individual, spouse, family; quality of life; motivation of the parties; what is best for the patient, need I go on? I guess the best adivice I have to offer today is "Get a living will."
We have become a nation of voyeurs! This Terri Schiavo mess is none of my business. It's none of congresses business, its none of W's business, its none of anyones business except for the family. Carl Rove has once again hijacked the governmental process from meanful business and the media from meaningful issues for shameless politcal gain.
Janet opines that we should dispense with the congress as a governing body and just have weekly national referendums on who should be removed from life support. At the very least we should have a national binding referendum on how to deal w/ poor Terri.
Whats my opinion on this mess? Nevermind! IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS!
Hey Rev Bob and Patti I hope all your snow is gone.
Posted by: jack | Thursday, March 24, 2005 at 02:42 PM