Rest In Peace Terri...you left an impression on us all...
This case...without a doubt...has indeed left an impression on us all...Most of us that read the daily news bulletins to see what was the latest took sides for the husband or the family...
I am glad at least for the most part that there will be an autopsy...but one has to wonder that if it shows that she really did not have any hope or chance of recovery...will her parents accept it? Or will they demand to have thier own doctors look over the data...saying that they don't agree with what the medical examiner said in his report...The reason I say this is that thru out this whole drama her parents insisted that she wouldn't have wanted to die but yet not only her husband but 2 other people (It's in the court records) had heard her state her wishes...so from that...I can only wonder if they would accept the report showing she had no chance of recovery since they ignored everything else...Well we will know in a few weeks I guess...I hope that it at least puts this particular issue to rest....
But it does raise other issues...and valid ones...The Right To Die with Dignity...I personally think they need to really look at this issue and make some changes...While I sided with the husband and felt that the evidence supported that this is what she wanted...I really didn't like the method...Starvation...When our animals are old, haggard, health failing, etc...we never hesitate to make that choice and to put them down...We hold them as that needle goes in knowing that it will bring them to a better place...If it is good enough for them...why can't we do the same for us??? I mean think about it people...Is it really that bad? You have the patient that has terminal cancer...he is suffering tremendously and cannot wait for the end to come so he doesn't suffer anymore...What is so wrong with ending it before that happens??? I try and I try but I cannot see any logical reasoning for prolonging that life...To what end would it serve???
I am reminded of a Star Trek Next Generations episode...Counselor Troi's mother had fallen in love with a man from a planet where a age 65 you take your own life in a wonderous ceremony with your family and freinds around you to celebrate your life and help you in death...The idea is so as not to become a burden to your children and to go with dignity...You know what...There's odd logic there....While I don't think we as a world should try this but the idea is not all that far fetched...
Here's what I am suggesting...For those that choose to do so and this is what they want...let's let them end it with Dignity and grace...Yes I realize that there's s lot of questions that come into play...Who get's to choose if that person cannot speak for themselves and have no living will...Well if they are married...it the spouse who decides...Yes...the spouse...this is what they took vows to do...that right does not belong in the parents hands...(Or the courts for that matter) I am sure that there are other things to consider but you get the gist...For me...I can tell you that should I ever be diagnosed with a terminal illness...I will go while I can hold my head up high...think of that what you will...but the idea of Mike or my kids changing my bed or me...isn't how I want them to remember me...Let me gather them around...hold them and love them...say all the things I want to say....and say good bye......and smile as I go to the next world....
3 Comments:
Tig -- while I agree with you in theory, it won't work in reality.
People act from many, many conflicting motives. There is no way to safe guard helpless people if they have no way of speaking for themselves.
For instance -- a man or woman who tries to kill a spouse so that he/she can be with a lover. Let's say that person is a judge or a doctor who has the ability to "create" a terminal illness as an excuse to kill off a spouse.
Or a child who kills off an aging parent because they don't want the cost and aggravation.
There are thousands of scenerios in which the ability to "put down" another human could be abused and used to kill people who don't want to die.
A prime example is the thousands of people years ago who were put into insane asylums by cheating spouses who wanted a husband/wife out of the way ... it happened.
And, yes I agree that Mrs. Schiavo should have been allowed to die with dignity, I'm not sure exactly what way would have been best. *sigh*
I don't think there are any easy answers here.
I think that the parents will accept the autopsy. They came to accept her death....just not how they wanted nor the time for her.
ALL Mom's have a bond with every child they bear. I'm sure that if my daughter was dying like that...I'd hang on to any sign she gave.
I read an article recently on how when it comes down to it...ALL people are pro-life. Think about it!? Who truly wants to die? Who wants to see their loved ones go? NOBODY.
We all want that last time together. Most people get that, but some do not.
To me, life is not fair some times.
I agree Rhonda...there are no easy answers here...I just would like to see a more humane way for those that do not want to suffer in thier final days to suffer...
Stormy...I can understand how you feel...You're right...no family member really wants to see another pass away...but I will disagree that we are all pro-life unless you mean the quality of life...there are far to many organizations out there that deal with end of life choices...The Hemlock Society is one of them...These organizations deal with compassion and dignity in the end of your life and how best you want to deal with it...For me that choice is a no brainer...Let's say I have terminal cancer...Okay I will deal with it as long as I can possibly deal with while still maintaining some quality of life...Will I try chemo and Radiation...you bet...cause these may prolong the years I have left with my family...but when it becomes all to apparent that there is nothing left to do...and that pain is too great...and while I still can...I will choose to go peacefully...The mere thought of myself lying in a hospice somewhere...nurses doing everything for me...in tremendous amounts of pain that strips my ablilty to enjoy my time with my family doesn't thrill me at all...There are a tons of different senarios for this as well...But as Rhonda stated...this will be really hard to regulate...Kinda like a really nice concept but no way of making it acutally happen...Too many people out there that would abuse it to thier own ends.......
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