The Schiavo Battle II

[VulcanRider]

Looks like Michael Schiavo wants to put any rumors about Terri's "recovery" to rest once & for all. According to this article he's requested an autopsy will be done to prove the extent of brain damage. If it's proven as bad & irrevocable as he's claimed, anybody want to bet on if ANYBODY who publicly insulted him will publicly apologize?

[Azred]

No one will publicly apologize to anyone, but the autopsy would help Michael Schiavo's lawyer with all the slander lawsuits that could be filed against everyone who suggested that Michael assaulted his wife.

As I have said before, it is still such a damn shame that the situation has come to what it is. The parents--they are the ones at fault here--should have dealt with the loss of their daughter years ago rather than hanging on to a memory.

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by Azred: My suggestion to Michael would be that since the Schindlers have caused all this trouble, then he--as Terri's legal guardian--should completely forbid them from seeing Terri anymore and file a restraining order that would bar them from her eventual funeral. For being so selfish and refusing to follow the reasonable and rational course of action they can simply suffer; after that, they can just "get over it".

I think that's pretty harsh, He's going to stay by her side until she passes and because of that her parents and siblings will not be at the hospice, but I don't think I could ever tell Ruby's parents, if god forbid a similar situation occured, that I wouldn't allow them to see their child off, regardless of how nasty the court battles, public sentiment, slanted media coverage, etc. got. And he has not barred them from seeing her, which is one more thing I admire him for.

[Aragorn1]

I don't think its possible unless you have experince it, to relaize what they must be feeling. I cannot fault them for what they do in such a time of emotional strain. Everyone wants there loved ones to live. Perhaps this has blinded them as to the differnce between being alive and living. Again, although i rationally disagree with them i cannot feel anger towards them given their problem. They cannot start to greive until she is dead, but cannot let go for that would mean they would have to accept she is dead. They are clinging to a hope that is forlorn. I too admire Michael and think that he understands their pain but sees past his own to what is best for Terri. I hope that given time they will reconcile their differences. It is tragic that at a time when solidarity is so important the family is becoming sundered further.

[quietman1920]

I'm going to post here again. The decisions have been made, so it should be over with. At least that's what I'd like to think. Its not though.

People I know are getting Death Threats now. The best one? "If she dies, You DIE!!!". From a right to life supporters. (I'm sorry, my Irony meter just exploded.)

But keep in mind, these are just reletives who have NOTHING TO DO with this. And they think they speak for God???

[Larry_OHF]

The most recent news is that they have appealed again, swearing that the courts did not do their job right in hearing the "whole" evidence, and instead relied on state word or something like that. The appeals court went ahead and let it through.

Rev. Jesse Jackson is running up and down the streets swearing injustice...probably because their are now enough cameras on the street there for him to find it worth his effort.

[Cerek]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: If anyone needs a living will here is a site to do one: http://www.legalzoom.com/legalzip/li...procedure.html Mine took about 5 minutes to do, though I'm still deciding on some of the options so I didn't finalize the purchase. I also wonder if $40.00 is a good deal and if I can goto office depot and pick up a kit cheaper to do myself.

Chewbacca - You should be able to get a Living Will from your local hospital for FREE!!! Just call the Registration Office (or go by) and ask for a Living Will form. You can take the form home and fill it out at your liesure, then return it to the healthcare facility of your choice. The staff at the facility can serve as witnesses to your signature and most healthcare facilities usually have a staff member that is also a notary public. The document WILL be legal and enforceable at ANY facility (not just the one that gives it to you). After filling the form out and having it signed, I suggest you get several copies made. Give one to the facility you plan to use in case of emergencies, give another to the facility your family doctor has privileges at (if they are different) and any other facility you think you might use for different situations.

The form will have a place to list ALL the facilities that have a copy of your Living Will. I personally have mine on file with 3 different facilities and have a copy to give to a 4th facility because that is where the gastroenterologist I see has privileges.

Each facility will place their copy of your Living Will in their Medical Records department. It becomes a permanent part of your medical record file and is perfectly legal. I suppose it could be challenged - just as ANY legal document could - but it IS enforceable and will make having YOUR wishes for medical treatment much easier to recieve or discontinue, as the case may be.

I stronly urge EVERYONE to call their local hospital, ask for Registration, and tell them you would like to pick up a Living Will form. I'll guarantee that every hospital in the nation is recieving MANY requests for these forms thanks to the Schiavo case, so they are going to ensure their documents ARE legally enforceable and readily available to any who want them.

[Cerek]

Originally posted by ladyzekke: Thanks for the info Lucern. They are saying they are giving her morphine now to ease any pain she may possibly have -- most likely they are doing it for her parent's sake.

I saw an article on MSN about this issue yesterday, Lady Z. Apparantly, the parents claimed that giving Terri a "morpnine drip" (which means a continuous IV of morphine) would hasten her death. Because of the concern over possible legal actions, the doctors have only given Terri TWO morphine shots since the tube was removed.

My understanding of her condition is the same as Lucern's. I don't think her brain is actually capable of processing "pain" signals, so hopefully she isn't feeling any discomfort despite her condition. Still, it would be nice if the doctors were able to administer a continuous dose of morphine to ensure that she felt no pain whatsoever. It isn't go to do ANY harm at this stage. But her parents are unwittingly creating even more obstacles and perhaps denying Terri the chance to die peacefully by their actions.

As I stated before, I understand their anguish and despair. I don't claim to "know how they feel" under any circumstances, because I don't. But I DO understand why they are having such a hard time letting Terri go. Still, the more I read and hear about the case, the more it seems as if they are just in complete denial about her condition and the possibility of an eventual recovery. It is a sad and tragic situation with no "winners" on either side.

[shamrock_uk]

Hmm..having just watched Jesse Jackson's speech, he's just made it firmly on to my "annoying list".

The parents have just won a last-ditch legal victory by the way, allowing a court to hear their new case.

[Azred]

Sometimes I am a little harsh, Morgeruat. I can't always be perfect, you know. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

I wouldn't call the latest victory a "victory"; all it means is that one court has decided that they get another hearing for an appeal, it doesn't really mean that the appeal will succeed.

The parents should have dropped the case long ago and mourned the loss of their daughter. I will never feel sympathy for them or claim that I understand their position because their position in one of insanity, pure and simple. I refuse to enable them to flaunt their grief like some sort of prize.


edit: In an not-so-surprising development, "U. S. Court Again Rejects Schiavo Appeal". Still, they are going to try and appeal again to the Supreme Court, which will also fail. They might also receive a rebuke from the Supreme Court, presenting it with basically the same case in such a short amount of time. Insanity.

[ 03-30-2005, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: Azred ]