"Judge Orders Schiavo Feeding Tube Removed" - How do you guys feel about this?

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by jyl
My reaction is this is a private matter for the family, and unfortunately for the judge who was handed the unpleasant job of sorting out the evidence.

The more that other people get involved, the less it becomes about this woman and the more it becomes about furthering different groups' political agendas.

The idea of the Florida Legislature and the US Congress trying to pass legislation mandating what will or won't be done is disgusting. Do you think some US Senator gives a damn about this woman or her husband or her parents? He's doing it because he'll get brownie points from a bunch of special interest groups. Some political operative somewhere is preparing fundraising campaigns and attack ads to exploit the situation.

If I knew that I was going to end up like this woman, I would want the decision to be made by my family - even if they fought about it, and the final decision wasn't the one I would have chosen - rather than a horde of political opportunists.

Get a living will made. Get it in writing. It's very important your wishes are memorialized.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by cool_chick
Get a living will made. Get it in writing. It's very important your wishes are memorialized.

don't know if a will can do any good. if they wanted to, Congress would just pass a new federal law overriding any such "will" and they would find good reasons, only if it was "on the agenda".

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
No one has the right to judge anyone or decide for those faced with this kind of decision, especially when it comes to your children.

My wife and I had a decision to make and we made it, wasn't easy but you do the best that you can and hope to he11 you can live with it. And you do, every day, every minute and every second.

Until you've been there no one has a right to judge.

This thread should go away.

I lived it...can I judge?

(that's why we know we can't judge....)

Sidenote, I feel your pain and I'm sorry for your loss.

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by on-ramp
don't know if a will can do any good. if they wanted to, Congress would just pass a new federal law overriding any such "will" and they would find good reasons, only if it was "on the agenda".

Well I'll tell you this, if I'm ever in this situation and ANYONE contests it, when I do finally die I will come back and that person/people will be haunted by me.

This political manuvering is really bad, I agree.

[dd74]

Development:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/20/schiavo/index.html

Congress is now fully immersed in this woman's personal life.

[URY914]

Washington can pass a law in the middle of the night to keep a women and her husband from doing what they want to do.

But they won't pass a law to keep all of us safe from a pervert that took a 9 year old from her room and raped and killed her.

How about Federal manatory minimums for sex offenders (50 years would be about right) and letting the States deside on family law issues?

These two stories are about an hour away from each other here on the west coast of Florida.

Paul

[mikester]

From the latest CNN headline...

"Following the vote, Bob Schindler spoke with CNN's Bob Franken a short time after visiting his daughter in the Pinellas Park, Florida hospice where she is a patient.

"I asked her if she was ready to take a little ride, and I told her that we were going to take her for a little trip and take her outside and get her some breakfast, and that got a big smile out of her face, so help me God," he said.

"So, she seemed to be very pleased and we're pleased and we're very thankful for both the House and the Senate for passing this bill and literally saving Terri's life.""

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/21/schiavo/index.html

Of course - if she's smiling for anything cognative it's likely the pain killers they are giving her because starving to death is a painful way to go. Unfortunately we treat our criminals with more dignity.

The loss of personal freedom today is unacceptable. The concept of "power of attorney" has been drastically undermined.

[widebody911]

I still don't understand the husband's stake in this. One bit I read is that they technically can't get divorced because she can't physically execute the required documents. With all the legal horsepower being bandied about, that seems like it should be an easy formality to dispense with. Seriously, if her parents want her alive so bad, then have them cut the husband loose from his tenuous marital obligation. They can then assume the legal and financial obligations of keeping her alive.

[RickM]

Originally posted by widebody911
I still don't understand the husband's stake in this. One bit I read is that they technically can't get divorced because she can't physically execute the required documents. With all the legal horsepower being bandied about, that seems like it should be an easy formality to dispense with. Seriously, if her parents want her alive so bad, then have them cut the husband loose from his tenuous marital obligation. They can then assume the legal and financial obligations of keeping her alive.

First, I agree with the question "what stake the husband have?" But he insistes that she wanted this. That is what I questioned originally. I've never discussed this with my wife and I don't think it's a common discussion at a young age. I do have a living will but only because my mother was dying and I did mine along with her to make her more comfortable. The last thing I want to see are more rights taken away from men (husbands/fathers), but as mentioned a documented living will would have prevented this from happening in the first place.

Physically she's not too bad off. The brother went on yesterday and said that with therapy a few years ago she was eating without the feeding tube and could speak a few words. However, the therapy was terminated. Her brain is capable of motor function but not of "awareness". Her state of apparent awareness is what makes this such a tough call.

Also, the parents did attempt to cut the husband loose...to the tune of up to $10 mil (through a (edit: purported) donation). He refused.

[widebody911]

I couldn't find anything to corroborate the $10M step-off bonus other than his say-so. There was a $1M offer that expired 3/14. If his motivation is purely ideological, then it's going to be an ugly fight.

Is there any financial incentive from either side? Who is paying the medical bills? I've read rumors about the hubby getting a phat insurance settlement when/if she kicks, but can't corroborate that, either.

It seems to me like the family is going thru a lot of effort for what is the human equivalent of a Betsy Wetsy doll.

[mikester]

From what I read - and I'll go looking for it - They got a malpractice settlement after the injury of I think $1 million of which the majority was set aside in a trust fund to pay for her care.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by mikester
From what I read - and I'll go looking for it - They got a malpractice settlement after the injury of I think $1 million of which the majority was set aside in a trust fund to pay for her care.

Right - of which $50k is left, after a good chunk went to lawyer's fees. There's a breakdown the 'save terri' site.

[RickM]

The 1 and 10 mill are being thrown around in many of the news reports. The 1 mill offered by a (unnamed) businessman. Then "reports as high as" state 10 mill has been offered.

I should have said these amounts have been purportedly offered.

[lendaddy]

If it's true that he waited seven years to announce she once told him she didn't want to live in this situation, then he's a pretty big prick for allowing it for so long, no? Anyone know if he denys not speaking up for 7 years? There's just too much here that is unknown.

[widebody911]

You know, with the way some guys have been taken to the cleaners by their x-wives, you think a guy would jump at the chance to punch out for $10M. I know I would!

[mikester]

Originally posted by widebody911
Right - of which $50k is left, after a good chunk went to lawyer's fees. There's a breakdown the 'save terri' site.

I haven't had a chance to look for my source article but from what I recall the amount that went into trust was 700k.

[mikester]

This isn't the article I was originally looking at but it discusses ALL of the finances in question including attorney's fees.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/11151438.htm

[Deschodt]

Ironically, while visiting a buddy in my newly acquired 73 in St pete, I ended up by accident on that very street where the hospice is (damn yahoo map). It's a zoo out there... I almost got a ticket for doing 30 in a 30 because my car "sounded" fast and I did not slow down for a temporary speed bump right in front... Cop was worried I might run over a demonstrator...

That would have been a ticket to remember.... Anyway, there was quite a bunch a folks with nothing better to do with their lives arguing for and against with signs.... Meanwhile she's still inside in a vegetative state while politicians are having a ball with this... Regardless of how you stand on this, I think this makes a great case for writing your own living will and making sure it's filed with your doctor...

It's just silly now... They've inserted-removed the feeding tube so many time they should install a racing-type quick disconnect... I don't mean to be sarcastic, it's sad how many times they've done this and you know it's far from over...

[Moneyguy1]

It is simple political pandering.

When a person marries, they "forsake all others". THe parents no longer have legal jurisdiction. ANd, the puerile argum,ent that the husband will profit once the wife is dead is precisely that. Most couples have insurance policies covering the mate.

And, for the "religions right"... Isn't keeping the person alive somehow keeping her immprtal soul in a stae of suspension? Can that soul wing its way to its eternal reward?

Keeping her alive is a selfish act on the part of the parents and now a governbmant that can;t even solve domestic security problems.

Cool..As for the "living will", my mother had one. At the age of 87, in the nursing home, I had to sign a waiver to prevent a feeding tube from being installed. The doctor would not accept the duly signed and noterized living will.

We treat sick pets better than we treat people who are in pain or brain dead. The administration will involve themselves in permitting people to die in our southern deserts crossing the border, but instead spends its time preventing a brain dead person from dying with dignity.

Ah, nuts. Where are our priorities? Why can't we concentrate on important issues? Is it because they are so difficult to address? I would certainly like to hear a cogent well thought out reason for keeping someone who has been in a vegetative state for 15 years alive. I haven't head on yet.

Pandering. Hypocritical.

And we are promised less intrusive government?

[mikester]

I suppose the real question is when was the last honest attempt at rehab and what was the outcome? Should she be reviewed again by new doctors choosen by the courts and not the parents or the husband. You can get a professional witness to say what ever you want from what I understand.