Terri Schiavo's Case: The Quality Of Life

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There was a woman named Terri Schiavo who was declared in a permanent vegetative condition by doctors for 15 years because of severe brain damage she received. Her husband, who was her legal guardian, claimed she voiced her opinion that she never desired to be kept alive on life support if anything ever happened to her. In order to keep Terri alive she was required to be nourished by force feeding her through a feeding tube, which her parents were doing to keep her alive in a vegetable condition. Her parents desired to prolong her life and keep them from having to suffer losing her by continuing to do this so the husband was not hampered with taking care of her. Terri’s parents tried to use religion as a way of keeping their daughter alive …show more content…

Shortly afterwards, with her quality of life severely diminished and her future goals and desires swept away, Joni went into severe depression and had serious thoughts of ending her own life. This scenario is difficult to make an ethical decision based solely on the facts provided. As readers we do not know her religious believes or what kind of help and counseling she has received after going through such a traumatic life altering event. The obvious decision is that it is Joni’s life to do as she pleases and if she desires to end it then she should be allowed to do so. As we see in 1 Samuel 31:4-5 that when faced with the option of being tortured and living in excruciating pain, eventually dying a slow and agonizing death, Saul and his armor bearer both end their lives. If Joni does this she is making her own ethical decision. When life becomes so burdensome, death becomes a sought-after refuge. Schopenhauer affirmed: "They tell us that suicide is the greatest act of cowardice... that suicide is wrong; when it is quite obvious that there is nothing in the world to which every man has a more unassailable title than to his own life and person." The other option is that Joni tough it out and hope that she can find a purpose and meaning to this new life she is forced to live. When looking at her ethical decisions for this she will need to …show more content…

She may continue to be unhappy and fall in to a deeper depression as well as making those around her miserable because of her attitude and possibility of lashing out at them. Her family could become divided over how to best take care of her and possibly lead to divorce or estranged relationships between family members. If she out lives her family she would become a ward of the state and thus a burden on the taxpayers who would have to fund her medical care, hospital services as well as the cost of a care center. Joni could also face the possibility of abuse by her care givers, whether it is her family or care center staff. Some of the alleged benefits Joni could have by following the Christian worldview would be the prospect that she would praise God for allowing her to live and become a role model and inspiration to others who are going through the same kind of circumstances. She could prosecute the state for not having warning signs about the shallow waters or no diving signs posted. The lawsuit could facilitate her to live comfortably in her condition and have private attendants to take care of her. By living, Joni may one day find someone who will love her for the way she is and marry her and they could have a happy life together. It is

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