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Published on March 28, 2005 By relswick In Medical Technology
Well, I am sickened, probably like the rest of you by the fiasco of what the Politicians have been doing with the publicity surrounding the Terry Shivo case.

As to my opionion as to if she should die or not, I am torn. On one side, I respect her parents wishes to see their daughter live and would like to see them succeed.

On the other, if Shivo's husband has pursued this through all the 10+ (15?) years, doesn't it make sense that he truly feels it is her wish and what she wanted. Why else would he alienate her parents, who I guess would be willing to take over her care and expenses. Why would he willingly suffer the wrath of a significant amount of people hating him because he is trying to see her wishes completed?

I would not wish to be in place and would rather die myself. One of the best things to come out of this will be the increased awareness of having a Living Will in place. I have one, but only because it was done for free on my exit from the US Navy.

Of course the worse part will be continued legislation for something that already has existing methods of recourse. When are Politicians going to learn to stop trying to Legislate everything and start enforcing and eliminating Junk laws? It is like enacting laws against young adults doing something thier parents should be teaching them about before hand and their use of moderation in such activities.

Am I way out in left field on some of my views?

Comments
on Mar 28, 2005
Great Article!!

Actually, I think the politicians did pretty well in the final chapter of this fiasco. They looked at the existing laws, and acted within the confines of them. The doctors hands were pretty much tied because it was the wife killer, Michael Schiavo who cancelled her therapy and further testing, not them. A pox on the judges for allowing "hearsay" and other illegal testimony into the case; and also for allowing Mr. Schiavo (a proven liar and according to evidence they turned a blind eye to, a wife beater) to continue being her "guardian". One word from either of those many Florida State judges and his guardianship could have been revoked. However, they chose to be spineless.

I would not wish to live like that either, but then again, if we were to start defining life by how we "wish" to live, we are headed down the road of mercy killing much quicker than I fear.

Either way, you did a great job of expressing your views in the matter.
on Mar 30, 2005
ParaTed2k, thank you for the response. After having read Draginol's article and how he illustrates the fact that there are many others out there, who are also mentally challenged and wouldn't live without sustance provided to them, such as Shivo, then we could have the same issue with them as well.

Makes even more sense for Shivo's parents to have been granted custody.
on Jun 15, 2005
The doctors that delivered the autopsy report to the press were very certain in their answers. They were not evasive or political...they simply stated the facts, as had the doctors caring for poor Miss Shivo prior to her death.

The 'right-to-lifers', sorry 'culture-of-lifers' would have that poor woman still today strapped to a machine until the political climate was such that her story was no longer relavent and her parents could spend the rest of her days caring for her body.

If a team of heart surgeons tell me I need surgury or I will die then I will take the advise of those trained professionals and go under the knife. It is their job and their life pursuit. I am sorry that Terry had to die, but truthfully...she was already dead as confirmed by the doctors that performed the autopsy. OK...not technically dead, but beyond the help of modern science...a fact.

I feel for her former husband and I also feel for her parents, but the best they can do for her now is let her rest in peace and cherish the memories they have from when she was 'alive'. I feel the coursta and the medical professional all acted appropriately and that the outcome was inevitable.

However...the uneducated (OK...medically uneducated) politicians that weighed in on this situation in an attempt to stop the inevitable outcome should be held accountable for the money spent in that pursuit. Number one on the list...George Bush, how much did it cost to bring back congress early to change the laws to suit their agenda? If Terry could speak...would she be pro-life, sorry again, pro-culture-of-life or would she ask that we let her die with dignity. Well we will never know, but she is at peace now.

Keep politics out of family affairs and let the professional do their job...it's that simple. Thankyou for taking the time to read my thoughts.