Terri would be sad at the bitterness
I am going to get a directive filled out stating my wishes concerning my medical care & burial wishes. I also think Terri Schiavo would be very sad that Michael & her parents are so bitter toward each other. Since Michael has seen to the care of Terri since her collapse in 1990, I think Terri would be very happy if he would do one last thing for her and that would be to give some of her ashes in an urn to her parents so they could then bury them in Florida . I think this would be something that would make her smile down on him from heaven & possibly be a start toward healing both families. People sometimes have only parts of bodies to bury so to me giving her family some of her ashes would be something that Terri would be very happy about. Then, Michael could finally feel he had done all he possibly could be asked to do...
Mary Jo DeVivo, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Nazi Germany
It seems wrong to deny anyone basic nutrition. I work with the developmentally disabled and there are many who receive their food through feed tubes. Maybe their quality of life is not our quality of life but would hope no one would suggest that we withhold anything they need from them. Wasn't this done in Nazi Germany?
Gary Rapp, Helena, Montana, USA
Let go of the anger
First off, I will be getting a living will. My opinion of Teri's situation is this: When her husband decided to get another life, he should have given Teri's guardianship back to her parents and divorced her and got on with his life. Personally, I believe money was an issue with her husband..the lawsuit.etc. I have a cousin whose's wife had the same thing happen to her, heartattack because of an eating disorder. Her parents are taking care of her and her husband is raising their child, whom, by the way was a mere infant at the time this horrible thing happened. It is just so sad....It's too bad that Teri's husband and her parents can't let go of the anger..they will have to answer for it sooner or later....I'm almost certain Teri would not have wanted this. My heartfelt sympathy is with all the family members and may GOD grace them with peace of mind.
Jean Davis, Athens, Alabama, USA
A solution
So maybe some new laws are needed .... how about this: When people apply for a marriage license they also must fill out forms declaring who they want their guardian to be (if needed) and what type of medical care and how long it is to go on if they cannot speak for themselves. that way most everyone will eventually have a living will in force.... no family fight for the news media to focus on.
M. Jones, Pendleton, Oregon, USA
Been there
Having once been very disabled, I can assure you that if Terri had any awareness she would not have wanted to live like that. That is only existing and it is very frightening. You are trapped by your physical body. To be kept alive artificially is against "God's Will", if one believes in a hereafter. It is sickening & criminal what has been done to her and her husband.
Roberta Newton, San Diego, California, USA
The right to refuse medical procedures
It has raised the red flag for those of us who believe we have an unquestioned right to refuse a medical procedure. That right should not be limited to those that successfully argue religious restrictions on certain medical treatments. It must remain our right to refuse, either verbally through our personal Agent, or through a "Living Will" document. The real question is "Quality of Life", not life itself. Moderate Republicans need to stand up and re-take our party in the coming off-year elections.
Martin Elmore, Littleton, Colorado, USA
Emphasize 'family of origin'
The greatest tragedy for me is how little influence the family of origin has on not only life and death decisions related to their sons and daughters and siblings but in their adult lives in gneral. That the spouse should be the ultimate decision maker seems wrong to me, especially when as in the case of Terri Schiavo, her husband has moved on to the exctent of fathering two children with another woman.
If only this case would re-examine these roles - recognize the importance and indeed the often more enduring love of the family of origin - in gneral, not only in crisis situations. Recognize that families of origin should remain a significant part of the family equation - which it is not in our parents and dependent children, nuclear family-oriented society. For the good of all generations, I pray this will change and the differences that often arise between gnerations and in-law members will be worked out and not allowed to fester as they so often are now.
Bette Dewing, New York, New York, USA
Practical, not ideological, solutions
The genius of America is based on our tendancy to see problems and solutions as practical, not ideological. That's why we are so good as solving problems that other nations find daunting. The Schiavo episode calls for practical, not impassioned or ideological solutions. Poor Terri didn't have a living will. To learn from this, Americans need to write living wills, name health care proxy's in the event of incapacitation, and establish the terms for their own end of life circumstances - and the rest of us have to respect our neighbors choices, just as we would want our privacy and self-determination to be respected. Mutual respect and minding one's own business is what allows so diverse a society to function so well.
Russell Golkow, MD, New York, New York, USA
'In sickness and in health...'
The conservatives either used the Schindlers for political purposes O R the Schindlers used the conservatives as allies to continue the malicious, cruel, mean spirited treatment of Michael Schiavo. Terry Schiavo voiced her wishes to at least 3 persons. And Michael - through the sanctity of marriage - had the legal right to make decisions for his wife. Michael and the mother of his children - which he and Terry could not have - have behaved in an admirable manner. Michael fulfilled his promises to his wife to take care of her in sickness and in health even the death process. On the other hand, her family of origin behaved in a disrespectful manner toward their daughter's wishes and the man she chose to marry...
Jeannette Carol Smith, Gibsonville, North Carolina, USA
How we can learn from this
I wonder what we, as a society, could do to prevent Terri's fate for others. How can we lessen the number of families who have to struggle with the life-and-death decisions which Terri's family had to face?
One theory about Terri's illness was that it was brought on by a serious eating disorder. Can we do anything to reduce the number of eating disorders and other ailments brought on by the pressures of a materialistic society?
Is there anything we can do to create a "culture of life" in our society which, in every day life/practice, would help people feel acceptance of and contentment in their physical individuality?
Perhaps in this "gentler and kinder" atmosphere, people will not endanger their own lives with unhealthy diets and unnecessary cosmetic surgeries.
Or, is it too late in this land of plenty and technological miracles to renounce an artificial standard of air-brushed, physical perfection which is constantly aired by all the media?
Anyone?
J. M. Flowers, Houston, Texas, USA
15 minutes of 'fame'
I think the family's (husband's, parents and siblings) conflicts reflect that of America's. I know that I would rather be allowed to die, I would reluctantly honor my wife's decision, but I would struggle with that same decision for one of my children. I would wish these circumstances on no one. What I find most appalling is how politicans and others used this trying situation to gain attention for their personal religious / political agendas and gain their 15 minutes of "fame" at the cost of compassion for all involved and adulteration of truth.
Keith O. McWithey, North Manchester, Indiana, USA
'I know how hard it is...'
My husband passed away a year ago. He was diagnosed brain dead with no chance of survival .... I was not put in the position to make the decisions that all of those in this case had to, because my husband's kidneys failed. The doctors told me that I could have 48 hours and they were going to take him off of life support. The doctors took that choice away from me, but if he would have been the way Terri was, I would have never, ever disconnected anything, because he would have been alive. I know how hard it is and I pray for the parents of Terri.
Charlotte Brandstetter, Troy, TX
Does the 'right-to-life' crowd care about Medicaid, poverty?
Government has (had) no business involving themselves in this very personal matter. If they truly care about the "right to life" and protecting those who cannot protect themselves, they should do something about Medicaid, poverty in America, child abuse, and all the other social and physical ills the less fortunate in our society face.
Sue Menegat, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Several hours on the couch
After spending several hours lying on my couch, not moving, speaking or anything (I did have a couple of itches that simply had to be scratched) I came to several conclusions. Others decided what was watched on television, conversations were had without my participation and I wanted some chocolate. Christopher Reeves had enough money and the ability to ask and receive all that he wanted, except movement, but he could ask to be moved. I'm sure that he had a full time caregiver and I mean the type that is available 24/7 and not off in another room assisting someone else. Terri Schiavo on the other hand, if she did in fact have any mental functions would have to have been as frustrated as I was. After my experiment I called my parents and told them under no circumstances (even if I could talk like Christopher Reeves - I don't have the money for the kind of service that he had) was anyone to assume that I wanted to live. Try the experiment I did and you will know exact!
ly what I mean. I also decided that her parents were selfishly keeping her body alive for them. God didn't keep Terri alive, others did. Starvation is natural. But then I always thought Dr. Kavorkian (spelling) did good work. I want the right to choose my own death when it is iminent and painful or if I have to be like Terri Schiavo.
Jean Bradshaw, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Too much doubt to come out on the side of death
I think there was too much doubt to come out on the side of death, especially since she had a family that was ready, willing, and able to care for her. Mr. Schiavo should have relinquished his guardianship. This would have freed him to move on with his life with his new family, while affording Terri's blood family the opportunity to care for her. By all accounts, Terri was not suffering, so this scenario could have worked for all concerned. Instead, everyone in this situation is a loser, with the possible exception of Terri, but we'll never know, will we. The laws of Florida need to be changed to address the facts of this case where there is more than reasonable doubt as to the wishes of the patient. Society needs to do a better job of protecting the helpless and disabled, from unborn children to people like Terri.
Patrick Dinwiddie, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
How can those who believe in an afterlife call this "murder"?
It astonishes me how so many people who supposedly believe in God and an afterlife yell "murder" in a case about which they know only what the media have told them. Christians teach that when we pass from this life, we go on to be with God, and all of these "conscientious" people want to keep this poor woman trapped in a shell of a body just because they think she shouldn't "die"? This shows very little faith in God's plan. Without a feeding tube, Terry would have been dead fifteen years ago and the case never would have gained the attention it has. I hope that she's able to rest in peace, wherever she is, even though the people who "support" her did everything they could to keep her confined to a bed with no end in sight, and they certainly did not allow her a peaceful ending to her life.
Tom Walsh, Keene, New Hampshire, USA
Family responsibilities
The Terri Schiavo controversy has changed us by bringing death and the issues of who, what, when and where decides (if needed) to the forefront of family responsiblilties.
Ernesto Stolpe, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
Active measures for death and killing?
Kind of odd that the Republican party--the party for LESS government intervention was the one to intervene in a private matter. I agree with Ann Nunn. I am happy that the judical system stood for what it believed was right.
I am now listening to Limbaugh's take on the matter...He seems to interpret all of this as active measures for death and killing...Too bad the conservative right cannot be honest when it looks into the mirror.
Theresa Lynn, Lexington, Virginia, USA
Live through it first
I understand the loss for all in the family. I would stand by Mr. Schiavo's side in his fight. I lost my wife of 30 years to breast cancer. She was at home under the care of Hospice and myself for her last weeks till the end. To have seen her suffer more because her parents wanted it different (they didn't) would have been unbearable. I think it's very hard to have an accurate opinion of how you would go forward here without the experience of doing it first. My wife didn't have a living will but did tell me ever since we started dating about how she wanted to die and be buried (cremated). Some of our children remembered the cremation requests of my wife but not all.
Harry McCully, Muskegon, Michigan, USA
"Those who claim to respect life must also respect death ” and one's right to die with dignity and without pain." Howard, New York, U.S.A. |
Time to come out of 'the closet'
Both of the Albuquerque news papers added "living will" forms to their e-editions of their daily papers. I hope many families will now discuss the end of life issues and complete those forms as they see fit. The best thing, out of a horrible situation, is that now people are talking about a dilemma that used to be assigned to the "closet."
Carol Nordengren, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Remember when Republicans meant less government?
God rest her soul, and comfort all those who mourn. This is a personal tragedy, one which the Government has no business. I don't want congress, Tom DeLay, Ted Kennedy et al...deciding whether I live or die. Remember when Republicans meant less government? It's very sad, I am going to get fitted for my Burka next month.
Barbara Ellen, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
The darkest corner
I think we just witnessed the legalized murder of an individual who was doing no harm to anyone. The law is supposed to be helpful to people, yet here we have an example of where true humanity was thrown out to allow a man to legally murdr his wife. The court systems, our justice system has turned the darkest corner yet, and I don't think morally that our Country will continue to thrive. There is no justice in what was done here.
Jas Nelson, Syracuse, New York, USA
"I think we just witnessed the legalized murder of an individual who was doing no harm to anyone." Jas Nelson, Syracuse, New York, USA |
Hope for increased support for 'due process'
This tragic case has clearly prompted many people to explore their own attitudes about the subject, and take legal measures to increase the likelihood that their own circumstances will be influenced by their personal objectvies. It is too early to tell, but one might hope that there would be a general increase in the public's awareness of and support for "due process".
Philip Murphy, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Judicial branch the only defense from the religious right
The Schiavo controversy has certainly changed our views of the Republican Party. Until this happened we were in denial about how much influence fundamentalist Christians had upon our government. Now we know. The secular Constitution is in great danger from the religious right, and only the judicial branch defends it ” so far.
Ann Nunn, Gulfport, Miss., USA