The Value of Terry Schiavo's Life

By now most of us have heard that Terry Schiavo's feeding tube has been removed.  Of the many things I have read on this, the following words from Common Sense Runs Wild are among the best:

If Terri were a murderer, she would be allowed due process before the state takes away her life. She would be allowed an attorney of her own, independent counsel from any concerned party. Her case would be reviewed at the federal level. She would be given a chance. Yes, if Terri w ere a cold blooded killer, she would have more rights than she does now because she is brain damaged.

If that doesn't sound right. If that doesn't seem to be what your perception of justice is, then maybe you can understand what this bill still being considering in Congress is all about. It is about giving those who can not speak for themselves just as many rights as we already give our most heinous criminals.

And this from a Florida senator:

"Here is $100 bill. If I were to crumple it up and throw it on the floor, If I were to wet and soil it, it would still be worth $100. Lives are like that. Some people's lives are crumpled and wrinkled and thrown away by others, some lives are soiled but they are all still worth it. Life is worth it."

What is Terri's life worth?

Read the whole thing here.

Update 3-24/05 @ 2:15pm:  Since I have been mentioned in an AP news story that has been featured on the websites of ABC News, Fox News, MSNBC, Yahoo and others I am getting lots of visitors reading what I have written about Terry Schiavo.  All are welcome here and all are welcome to leave comments, even those who disgree with me.  For the most part we have had respectful and helpful interaction from people on all sides of the issue.  However, today the comments are starting to turn nasty.  I've already deleted several comments from a gentleman seeking to incite violence against Michael Schiavo and others involved in this matter.  Others are resorting to name-calling, and at least one comment has been laced with profanity. I realize the emotional nature of this issue and I feel passionately about it, as do many of you.  But, this blog will not be a forum for threats, name calling, profanity or anything else I feel is out of order, no matter who it is directed against.  I will delete all such comments.  Again, I welcome comments, even from those who disagree with me.  But when you comment, stay on point, speak as passionately as you want to, but speak respectfully.

 

Comments

[Joel Thomas]

The Schiavo case aside, if someone has a living will that provides that feeding tubes are to be removed if there is medical concensus the person is in a persistent vegetative state do you agree or disagree that it is then moral to remove the tube?

I have agreed that Florida should have required written instructions or a living will. The fact is, however, that Florida's law didn't read that way and Terri's husband followed the law as written.

If the Federal Appeals court(s) upholds the Florida courts what will your position be?

[David Wayne]

Joel - hypothetically I wouldn't disagree with what you say in your first paragraph. I'm no expert but the living wills I have heard of usually included dnr orders and things like that - i.e. instructions to not use a ventilator or something like that. If someone wants to write a living will per your suggestions then I would have no problem with it, but it wouldn't have helped in this case as there is no medical consensus that Terri is in a persistent vegetative state. There are several doctors out there who think she is not. In the case you raise, "medical consensus" would have to be defined very carefully.

I will throw the last question back at you - would you agree that there can be such a thing as an unjust law? As for me, my position will be the same - if the federal appeals court upholds the Florida courts they will be upholding an unjust law.

[Joel Thomas]

Of course there can be unjust laws. The laws against sodomy were unjust. The laws providing for execution of juvenile murderers were unjust. I also believe that invading Iraq may have been unjust. However, people still have to abide by laws or be willing to face the consequences.

I should add that medical concensus doesn't require that each and every neurologist must agree -- only that most do. I agree here that there may genuinely be no such concensus.

The main reason I comment at all is that many people have made it clear that they believe anyone whose heart is beating, regardless of brain condition, must be fed. (That's the Pope's position, it seems.)

[Catez]

Good post David. Joel - can you see this one woman - Terri Schiavo? Sorry - I don't understand why when bloggers write about her life you seem to constantly take the negative. The medical info is not in consensus - but most disturbing is the fact that the court has ignored the report of the world's leading neurologist, Dr. William Hammesfahr. He examined Terri and her medical records and found the following:The patient is not in coma.
She is alert and responsive to her environment. She responds to specific people best. She tries to please others by doing activities for which she gets verbal praise. She responds negatively to poor tone of voice. She responds to music.
She differentiates sounds from voices.
She differentiates specific people's voices from others.
She differentiates music from stray sound.
She attempts to verbalize.
She has voluntary control over multiple extremities
She can swallow.
She is partially blind
She is probably aphasic and has a degree of receptive aphasia.
She can feel pain.

That is not some-one in a persistent vegetative state. A persistent vegetative state is some-one who has only a sleep-wake cycle, is unresponsive, cannot distinguish people or environment and is unable to interact. Sorry Joel, but you seem to never actually look at this one woman. So what are you saying about Terri Schiavo? Because to be honest from your comments both here and elsewhere I am getting the impression you think she should be killed. And considering the evidence, only part of which I have included here, that is a terrible conclusion.

[Catez]

Ok now for the comment I meant to make first time. Congress have agreed on the legislation. President Bush has changed his schedule to return to the White House so he can sign it Sunday (20 Mar) - today! He's not my President and I haven't agreed with everything he's done - but I respect him on this one. He made a statement saying life should be defended and preserved. The legislation will mean that Terri Schiavo's case can go to a Federal Court for appeal and that her feeding tube must be in place for the duration of that process. It's looking positive. I hope this happens - how on earth one obstinate Judge with an agenda could get this far is incredible - but hats off to the world's most powerful leader for considering one woman, a woman whom those with callous hearts or lazy consciences would see die.

[Joel Thomas]

Catez,

I'm tired of your despicable dishonest lies and distortions about my position. I've even written that laws should be changed to require written instructions in cases where family disagree.

I write now because a great many are using the case of Terri Schiavo for the idea that anyone who has a beating heart, regardless of brain condition, must be kept alive with feeding tubes. That is reductionist vitalist philosophy, not faith, in my opinion and such notions should not be imposed on society at large.

[Dennis Swanson]

Here are my thoughts on this case at my blog. http://www.narnia3.com/index.html

[Catez]

There's no need for name-calling and insults Joel. Your comments are here, as are mine - and people can read and make up there own minds. So - what are you specifically saying about Terri Schiavo? That was my question.

[Terry]

Not your president? What is this a play ground where we are choosing captain of the baseball team? I think the NRA folks said something about Charlton Heston being their president when Clinton was in office but then again, that was the wrong, Wrong, WRONG thing to say. I just had to rant a little. I served in the military under President Clinton. I'm a Republican but Clinton was my president. W. is now my President. I do live in America.

[Terry]

Sorry about not realizing you were an New Zealander. It is a hot button issue. Many apologies. Still, we need to get rid of those bumper stickers.

[David Wayne]

Good recovery Terry, I was about to jump in there and do what I could to protect Catez from you (that's an inside joke for the rest of you). I knew right away what she meant when she said that Bush wasn't her president - thanks for catching that.
Catez - don't mind him, he's really pretty harmless ;-)

[Catez]

We don't play baseball...
Lol. We play rugby (it's a real sport)
OK, fire at will.
(You know I'm kidding you, right?)

[Catez]

Congress have passed the bill and President Bush has signed it into law. It's expected that a Federal Appeals judge will rule today to have Terri's feeding tube reinserted.
All together now... This is not the new reformation, this is not the new reformation...
True indeed - but it's a wonderful privilege.
President Bush is not my president, President Bush is not my president....
But he's OK!
I'm not offended Terry - you did that lovely blog interview with me some time back. Now if you lot would just take up rugby...

[Terry]

I'm so embarrassed.

[David Wayne]

Rugby is not my sport, rugby is not my sport, rugby is not my sport, rugby is not . . .

[Ervieira]

In my country we don't kill the disabled people.