What disturbs me most about the Terri Schindler case (sorry I won’t dignify the lowlife of her husband by mentioning her married name) is how jaded and myopic the American public has become on some issues. I will admit that I sometimes will jump to conclusions on certain sensitive subjects, but usually I try to research an issue on both sides so I make sure I am making the right decision. This is something that the press and the American public has avoided doing in this case. And because of this they are dooming a young woman to a horrific death by starvation.
First off Terri is not in a PVS (persistent vegetative state). A perfect description of this is the following except from www.terrisfight.org:
Terri’s behavior does not meet the medical or statutory definition of persistent vegetative state. Terri responds to stimuli, tries to communicate verbally, follows limited commands, laughs or cries in interaction with loved ones, physically distances herself from irritating or painful stimulation and watches loved ones as they move around her. None of these behaviors are simple reflexes and are, instead, voluntary and cognitive. Though Terri has limitations, she does interact purposefully with her environment.
Throughout this case her husband (and I use the term loosely) has refused efforts to have Terri rehabilitated. He has also continuously refuses efforts to have her attempt to manually process food by swallowing. A nurse that used to treat Terri at a hospice in Florida (and whose blog I will refer to later) has stated that she used to feed Terri via bottle and spoon with thick liquids and pudding without her husbands knowledge. When her husband found out he ordered it ended immediately. You see if she can eat without a feeding tube then this whole issue is moot isn’t it. On another occasion this nurse walked into Terri’s room, after her husband left, and noticed that Terri seemed off. She checked Terri’s vitals and noticed that she her blood sugar levels where at alarmingly low levels. Upon further review she found a vial of insulin that was hidden in a trash can in the room. She also found injections marks under her breast, arms, and near her groin. Of course the goal of this was to cause her to go into a coma where pulling life support would be easier. On several occasions several members of the hospice staff have overheard her husband asking “When is that bitch going to die”.
Unfortunately attempts to have Michael declared unfit as a guardian have failed, largely because of a biased judge in the Florida system who refuses to consider the fact that Michael is an unfit husband and guardian.
I can accept the arguments that there are cases where people would like to not see themselves hooked up to machines keeping them alive. I watched my grandmother slowly die from cancer, so I understand the emotional toll a long drawn out death can take on a family. The problem is food is not the same thing, ESPECIALLY when there have been no recent attempts to try to feed her without the tube due to a refusal from the husband to allow it. This fact has so infuriated people that many have been arrested just trying to deliver her water.
Again to get back to my point, there is a lack of understanding of this case by most people. This is mainly due a biased media who assumes every case like this is dealing with some brain dead person who is on a ventilator. But that doesn’t excuse Americans from their duty. The Constitution claims that our primary right that we are given by our creator is the right to life. In capital cases the argument is always made that we should side on the side of life as much as possible because a jury/judge could be incorrect in a judgment. Isn’t this woman allowed that right? She has no signed directive, just the word of her husband. Her parents are willing to take care of her and take guardianship over. And besides we’re not talking about your typical heroic means argument here. We’re talking about food. This woman can breathe on her own and take care of her other major bodily functions. We may not think that is a great standard for life, but who are we to judge who has the right to live in what state? When does the state have a right to allow a persons rights to be stolen from her. And where does it stop. What if we determine that certain disabilities do not allow a certain quality of life?
This case scares me because it’s silence on issues like this that led to much greater problems in other areas of the world in history. It also goes against our founding documents.
I also am ashamed I have not done more to help this young woman out. And just consider the ironies. This woman could have her suffering and eventual death during the same time period as Christ suffered on the cross while a unsympathetic public looked on.
The most heart breaking portion of this story is listed in the following blog entry. After reading that I have no words.
Attorney Barbara Weller’s Last Visit With Terri
