Terri Schiavo Case

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Recommended: Physician assisted suicide, the right to choose

This was a difficult case for me as I sympathize with both sides. I feel that the husband was most ethically correct but there should have been a way to provide for Terri’s wishes not to be kept alive by artificial means other than making her die of starvation and dehydration. Unfortunately, that was the only course available to her husband. I don’t know if she ever specifically said they should “pull the plug” were she ever in that situation but most people have made comments when stories are on the news and a discussion ensues. Parents may not be the best source of that information; for as parents we cannot imagine making a decision that will result in the death of our child even if we know it is what they would want. On February 25, 1990 Terri Schiavo suffered a cardiac arrest for an unknown reason. Her brain was without oxygen for an unknown length of time. She never recovered any measurable level of function. Many people claim that she appeared to recognize them and responded appropriately however I was unable to find any medical testimony that documented that. From February of 1990 …show more content…

I think it took way too long for it to happen and this made it harder for all concerned. For 15 years her parents convinced themselves that she was aware and it gave them hope that she might recover even though there was never any measurable improvement. The autopsy report says that her brain showed all the signs of severe hypoxic brain injury. To me this means that she never had a chance to recover and my hope is that she truly was unaware. I applaud Michael Schiavo for fighting to stop the senseless continuation of a life that could not ever again be productive or meaningful. I am about quality of life, not quantity. I don’t want my family to sit and grieve at my bedside if I am unaware and have no hope of recovery to a productive

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