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 One word from either of those many Florida State judges and his guardianship could have been revoked.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.

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.

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.