Friday, March 18, 2005
Needless Death
Earlier today, Terri Schiavo began the process of slowing starving to death. A feeding tube, which had brought water and other nutrients into her body, was permanently removed per
I’m sure many of you are aware of this case, at least to some degree. Briefly, however, in February 1990, Terri Schiavo collapsed and slipped into a coma. Soon thereafter she awoke but remained it what is generally considered a “persistent vegetative state.” There is no argument that she is severely brain damaged. Although she is able to breathe on her own and make simple voluntary movements, albeit not without considerable difficulty, she currently uses a feeding tube to ingest water and nutrients into her body.
Michael Schiavo, Terri’s husband and legal guardian, for many years has sought the removal of the feeding tube. Though such an action would lead to her starvation, something which would most likely be excruciatingly painful to the average person until the final hours when the body releases ameliorating chemicals, he claims that she would have wanted it that way.
Her parents (the Schindlers), who are devote Catholics, have waged a legal battle to keep the feeding tube in, stating that Terri would have wanted to live and that she could be helped with various rehabilitation exercises that Michael Schiavo has refused to allow. Further, the family claims that Michael Schiavo formally declared Terri’s intentions seven years after she first slipped into her present state, not immediately after which would seem to have been the more appropriate time. Some family members, though perhaps moved by anger at Michael, have suggested that Michael may even be the reason she is in her present situation. Evidence of any such foul play has not been made public, however.
In any case, since 2003, Terri Schiavo’s legal battle has been routinely making national news. Various
Terri can obviously have no say in her own destiny. Since she had not written down her intentions (and, really, how many of us ever have) for such a situation, and since she cannot communicate any such wishes now, her fate must be left to her family. But what do you do when the family cannot decide?
I have no doubt that Michael Schiavo loved Terri. He may still love her on some level. But the fact remains, since as recent as 1997, Michael Schiavo has been living with another woman with whom he now has two children. He is still legally married to Terri. I don’t blame him for starting a new life. That may or may not be what I would have done, I don’t really know. But once you start a new life you necessarily leave part of your old life. This does not mean that he has no connection to Terri. Rather, it means that his natural position as legal guardian of his spouse must be reconsidered. Unlike her parents, he has not been at her side. And, unlike her parents, he has refused to provide for the rehabilitation services that might help her. I’m not sure what the legal precedent is for such a case, but I have to wonder why his status as legal guardian has not been successfully contested.
Maybe Terri did tell Michael that if she was ever in such an unfortunate medical state that she would want to die. However, one cannot reasonably understand how a man who has started a new life with a new family is so desperate to make sure his wife’s “wishes” are honored that he would, for ten years, fight her immediate family members who have been by her side everyday. He has moved on, why does he care so much that she die? To me that says there is something else going on here. I don’t know what it is, but it just does not add up to me. Let the family members take care of their sister/daughter, and he can go on with the rest of his life. Seems like a simple solution to me.
In any event, Terri will probably die within two weeks unless the feeding tube is brought back. I for one, believe certain politicians will step in and make sure that she lives. At least, I hope so.
