RE: Steering column question?
Sparky-Watts said:
People do not recover from flatline brain death. Terry Schiavo only has brain function at the brain stem, only enough to give her involuntary movements (such as breathing and uncontrolled motor function). She cannot swallow. She will not get better.
And, good Doctor, you base your diagnosis on what? The doctors paid by Michael Shiavo? She had not had an extensive MRI or PET (sp?) scan. I am no doctor, but there were several opposing diagnoses made by doctors from both parties, both of which had an agenda. What the congress was asking for was for there to be clarity and have all the testing done (with the tube being re-inserted in the interim). There is much evidence to suggest the woman was not in a vegatative state, I believe (as the President said today) that there should be no room for doubt and if there is doubt, we should favor life until that doubt is known. There was much doubt in this case, but it is done and those involved will have to live with their decisions.
And for the last time, she could swallow small amounts. There is documentation and affidavids. Why do you folks keep saying she couldn't? It is not true.
Just because someone is on a feeding tube does not mean they cannot swallow.
Sparky-Watts said:
Second: Terry Schiavo was called home by the Lord many years ago, but man's ignorance has kept her from that glorious reunioin. Man is disobeying God's call for Terry to come home to Him. That is what irked me about EMS, having to do CPR on people who were well into their 80's and 90's, and getting them back....just because they didn't have a DNR order or a living will. She's dead. Let her body finish the process. And that's all I've got to say about that.
If there is one thing I really am afraid of, it's when someone tries to explain or claims to know the will of God.
While you (as many do) may feel you have the ability to know when someone is supposed to be dead (God's will), I prefer to leave that to a higher authority. I do, however, feel very uncomfortable thinking it was God's will for her to be starved, dehydrated, and doped up on morphine for 14 days until her organs failed and her heart stopped because of toxins in her blood. I dunno, maybe I missed that chapter.
As I stated earlier, she was not on "life support" equipment. She was on FOOD. How many of you would live 14 days without food or water and alot of morphine?
Who are you to decide if someone's life is worth reviving and to actually resent giving treatment to someone because of their age? Certainly not someone who would have any idea what that person's future holds or what their wishes are. With that mindset I believe you made the right choice by leaving that line of work.
I've always liked you Sparky but those comments were very arrogant.
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I know I am part of a very small minority that feels the way I do, but I also know this is a right to life vs right to die issue with many. It is neither for me. I will say again that if she were on a vent or the like then I would feel differently, but with everything surrounding what happened to this woman there is no way I will ever feel that killing her was justified. And there was alot more surrounding this situation than by what means she was kep alive.