This is sad. I’m not sure who’s side I’m on – I can understand that her family loves her and they want her still to be alive. I can also understand that her husband needs closure and that he needs to get on with his life. I also see that by removing her feeding tube you are in essence killing her. So, in respect for Terry, her family and her husband, I’m going to keep my personal opinions to myself. However, I think this is a huge wake up call for us all, if there is anything to be learned from this, it is that we should all think about how we would want to be treated in a similar situation and sign a living will. Afterall this could happen to anyone of us.
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I already opened my mouth about it so I don’t need to repeat it here. What I will say is that I don’t think the government has any right playing any role in it whatsoever. Its such a bad precedent to set.
The frightening part about it is the legal battle. If the courts are making decisions on this, then it creates a precedent for courts to have final ruling on you last will. With a court case like this, it leaves any living will or “do not resucitate” order open to dispute in court.
The whole thing is horrible and sad. I can see both sides and there is no easy answer. If I were forced to make a choice, I personally would not be able to order someone’s source of food and water removed, whether they were coherant or not.
The most searched items in google and yahoo are living wills.
It is a very sad situation
You are right about the wake up call– we are being inundated with client requests. So maybe terri’s ordeal will help save other’s from a similar dilemna.
Yes, having a will is so important especially a living will. Here in California, you need a further document to direct what should happen to you.
It IS sad. Very sad.
And you are correct about the wakeup call.
My dad and his brother are no longer on speaking terms because of what happened when their father died. It was painful for everyone. And it could have been avoided with a living will.
honestly? i don’t think this issue should be getting the press it’s getting. i get the feeling that the govt is doing some shady things right now, because it’s easier to get away with. you know, like maybe sending prisoners to be tortured.
don’t get me wrong – it’s not like i don’t care about Terry Shiavo… but from the perspective of the entire world, the torture of prisoners (who haven’t necessarily been found guilty of anything) is more important.
This is an extremely difficult situation. I totally feel for Terri’s parents but I can understand why Terri’s husband is carrying out her wishes. I would never want to make that decision for anyone. The best thing is definitely to have a living will prepared.
Very sad. I think just about everything has been said. What a mess. That poor woman and her poor parents.
My honey and I have discussed this so often – that we want the plugs pulled. However, we have yet to update our wills (because we’re lazy procrastinators).
One thing I would never want is to be a big vegetable that is a burden to any loved one. What would be the point in keeping me alive. And I would hope that my kids would understand that too.
I want to be put out of my misery if I’m in a coma for even 15 months, never mind hanging around for 15 years.
It’s a sad, sad situation to keep someone alive in the hope of their recuperation some day or out of guilt. I gotta get something legally done up.