Terri Schiavo
Obviously the story aboyt Terri Schiavo has been a big one. And I started thinking about how I would handle things if God forbid I was ever in a position like her family.
From what I've read, I think Terri's siblings and parents are a bit dillusional. They seem to think Terri communicates with them. But as I understand it, basically the only part of her brain truely functioning is down by her brain stem. This is the part of the brain that controls involuntary functions like breathing and the beating of someones heart. So when she smiles at one of them, the way I understand it, it's not because she is happy or because she is trying to communicate, it's just an involuntary reflex. Much in the same when a baby is first born, they will sometimes smile while they sleep.
There are a lot of dangers surrounding Terri Schiavo's fate. Many don't like that the government is getting involved in a families personal affairs. I tend to agree. Then there is the quality of life issue. If someone has a stroke and they can no longer speak, no longer walk, and they require daily medical attention to just function, what kind of life is that for someone? What kind of existance is it for someone who can't communicate verbally, or through written words? Someone who is basically a prisoner in their own body. Where do we draw the line. And when a person gets married, does their spouse have a legal right to decide their fate instead of their "blood" relatives. Who's really to say who has the patients best interest?
I think the big issue that is being overlooked here is how inhumane it seems to let someone starve to death. Removing someones only means of sustanance seems overly cruel to me. There has to be a more humane way. Injecting Terri with a large dose of sedatives so she drifts into a deep sleep and never wakes up again seems a whole lot more humane. But maybe that's just me.
Personally I wouldn't want to live the way Terri has been living for the past 15 years. But I understand why her parents and siblings are having a hard time letting go. As long as Terri is in that bed, they have someone to visit, someone to see, somone to hug. They can still hold her hand, and brush her hair. With the finality of death that all goes away. If she dies, she gets burried and that all goes away. So I can understand why they would want to keep her around. Just so they have a little piece of Terri still with them.
From what I've read, I think Terri's siblings and parents are a bit dillusional. They seem to think Terri communicates with them. But as I understand it, basically the only part of her brain truely functioning is down by her brain stem. This is the part of the brain that controls involuntary functions like breathing and the beating of someones heart. So when she smiles at one of them, the way I understand it, it's not because she is happy or because she is trying to communicate, it's just an involuntary reflex. Much in the same when a baby is first born, they will sometimes smile while they sleep.
There are a lot of dangers surrounding Terri Schiavo's fate. Many don't like that the government is getting involved in a families personal affairs. I tend to agree. Then there is the quality of life issue. If someone has a stroke and they can no longer speak, no longer walk, and they require daily medical attention to just function, what kind of life is that for someone? What kind of existance is it for someone who can't communicate verbally, or through written words? Someone who is basically a prisoner in their own body. Where do we draw the line. And when a person gets married, does their spouse have a legal right to decide their fate instead of their "blood" relatives. Who's really to say who has the patients best interest?
I think the big issue that is being overlooked here is how inhumane it seems to let someone starve to death. Removing someones only means of sustanance seems overly cruel to me. There has to be a more humane way. Injecting Terri with a large dose of sedatives so she drifts into a deep sleep and never wakes up again seems a whole lot more humane. But maybe that's just me.
Personally I wouldn't want to live the way Terri has been living for the past 15 years. But I understand why her parents and siblings are having a hard time letting go. As long as Terri is in that bed, they have someone to visit, someone to see, somone to hug. They can still hold her hand, and brush her hair. With the finality of death that all goes away. If she dies, she gets burried and that all goes away. So I can understand why they would want to keep her around. Just so they have a little piece of Terri still with them.
4 Comments:
The arguement that her family is using kept making me mad every time I heard it. they kept saying that doctors are telling them she could be cured. So if she could be cured whty has she been that way for 15 years.
The only thing that made me madder than that is the fact that congress came back into session to pass a law saying that a federal judge had to hear the case. Though it took three years for them to approve having a 9/11 commission. IT's all bullshit.
I agree that starving and dehyrdating is a realtivly cruel way to die. But at least she'll be at piece and out of the cell that is her body.
Well said buddy.
I just read an article on my lunch break. Basically her cerbral cortex is severely atrophied, so there is no change of recovery for her. Fortunately thats also the part of the brain that registers pain. So they insist her death won't be painful which makes me feel a little better
In a werid way the whole situation reminds me of the song and video for Metallica's ONE.
Amen and very well said!
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