Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Terri Schiavo

The condition of Terri Schiavo has been in the news now for several years, and in particular, the last several weeks. It appears that all legal steps have been taken and the family is not allowed to reinsert the feeding tube. One can understand the depths of depression, discouragements, and heartache that the family is going through. One can also understand the frustation of the husband who has not had a wife for the past fifteen years. I do understand he has a common law wife.
How is this to be decided? I have advised my wife and family that if I should ever become permanently incompacitated to the point that I am no longer productive and must be supported either mechanically or electronically, or any other means, to let me die. I am not talking about euthanasia, nor assisted suicide. I am just saying, when my time comes for me to die, let me die.
There is one way in which this Schiavo situation could be solved, it seems to me. The husband could renounce his power of attorney overTerri, get a divorce, and turn the responsibilities over to her family. They , then, would have the responsibility of taking care of her and deciding when the feeding tube shold be removed.
There is no easy moral or legal solution to this situation where both or at odds. And no one knows the mind of Terri. All medial opinions say that Terri has no hope of recovery. Medical science does not have all the answers. Miracles have happened. However, the husband and family have apparently not approached this from a spiritual, moral and scriputral standpoint. At least, I have not heard them say so. Only God can give the family a solution to this situation.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home