Terri Schiavo - reported in Australia

[Paula from Sydney]

I have not commented on any of these threads as I have not had any knowledge of the case, which is clearly a very difficult one anyway. Yesterday and today it has hit the Australian print and TV media in a big way, as it has clearly become bigger then "Ben Hur".

I thought you would be interested to know that the angle taken by the print media (not the tabloid press, who always, as we know, go for the sensational) is that the issue has once again polarised America, with the right-to-lifers versus the right-to-die camp.

It seems that the divide that existed in America before the Bush re-election is still there and able to be re-kindled fairly easily.

I do not want to comment on the rights or wrongs of the whole sad affair, but I do believe that it seems to have got way out of hand - with a very private issue taking up a disproportionate amount of very high level legislative time.

Love to you all
Paula from Sydney

[Brenda (K-W)]

I agree, Paula. This is a private issue and should not be used as political fodder. I think President Bush is also making a huge mistake by getting directly involved. Our media are pointing out similar things, the polarization of the country--yet once more--on "moral" issues and who gets to take the high road there. It's too bad. This family has suffered enough. Let them be.

Love, Brenda

[Jeannie]

Hi Paula,
Our media are reporting much the same thing.
There are just no satisfactory answers to these very sad ethical questions, questions that arise every single day. I find it so distasteful to be intruding on this family's pain. It so smacks of tabloid journalism, doesn't it? At first, this was all just another painful ethical dimemma. Very gradually, it has become a political issue with predictable interests lining up on both sides. I cannot imagine this happening anywhere else on earth.
Love to you,
Jeannie

[jean214]

Dear Paula,
Oh, and our Congress could be spending its time reducing the deficit and working to get health care for all, but instead, spends its time grandstanding about steroids in baseball and interfering in what is clearly a state issue, as reaffirmed by three different courts including the U.S. Supreme Court. The Schiavo case presents Congress with a wonderful opportunity to grab the spotlight and take it off their own misdeeds, such as accepting $100,000 right into his own pocket money which was meant for a children's charity, by our very own conservative Christian House leader Tom DeLay. The hyposcisy is starting to make me ill. As you can imagine, it is front-page news here, day after day. I eagerly anticipate DeLay's indictment, which ought to shut him up for a day or two.
love to you,
jean214

[jean214]

Dear Brenda,
Just like his brother, with whom I am stuck as governor of my state, President Bush believes we are a nation of men, not of laws.
love,
jean214

[Georgia]

Hi Jean,

Not only should they be spending time on reducing the deficit and health care for the 45 million uninsured Americans, but these are the SAME people that support tax cuts for the wealthy at the same time they are busy eliminating social service programs for the needy, including HUGE medicaid cuts, which pay for care in people in such situations. They moved on this real fast, yet couldn't convene when the 9/11 commission report came out. If they get what THEY want, and this poor woman continues to be fed articficially, live a life of hell in a body, and make her a "policitcal pawn" in the game of the moral and self righteous by parading their self rightouesness behind her dignity, she will be dumped like the rest of people who need help from our government and the family will be left struggling to care for her. All the while, they spend billions of dollars to kill people in the name of Democracy for all. Not to mention the fact that this decision just overruled state's judicial powers AND the Supreme Court, who refused to hear the case after it went through numerous appealet court decisions and the Florida Surpreme Court over the last 8 years. Like you I am appalled at the lack of compassion, the transparency of this action...even using the faith of the greatest compassionate one of all, calling it the "Palm Sunday" something or other bill. A Nation that "cares" about the sanctity of human life, sure.
Love, Georgia

[Debra the Bassplayer]

Hi Paula,
I am heart sick about this travesty of Terri's life put on public display and being used as a political pawn.
Her parents are cruel and both Bush's are typical politicans toying with people for their own self-centered gratification. I guess "W" knew he had to pay the self-proclaimed "value voter" (a misnomer if there ever was one) piper eventually and it is morally sick that he is riding on the coattails of Terri's misfortune. Shame on him and the whole congressional bunch that upsurped the law once again.
I would ask everyone that believes he and congress have made the right decision to ask themselves one question, and then ask their child one question. For yourself, would you want your mother and father to do this to you if you were in Terri's physical condition? For your child, would (s)he want YOU to do to her/him what Terri's parents are doing to her.
This whole fricking circus just makes me sick. Cruel cruel cruel punishment being meted out to Terri.
Debra

Here is an article about the ethics of sustance and hydration as seen through the ideals of hospice care when dealing with cancer patients. Much of the article is appropriate to Terri's condition also I believe.

http://www.hospicecare.com/Ethics/MacDoc.htm

[Christine, Hong Kong]

Dear Friends,

When I first heard of the case in the evening news two days ago, I thought it was a one off. But yesterday there was an even longer piece on the case, and today there are three articles in the morning paper, one of them on the front page.

My heart goes out to this woman! What has she done to become a media circus in her present state? Why should her face in this condition be made as well-known as that of Mickey Mouse???

Who thinks of her dignity? Who thinks of what she might have wanted, could she have had a preview of these past 15 years. For all we know, being in a persistent vegetative state might be a continuos state of nameless fear and frustration! Let this woman find peace in Heaven where she will be loved and respected. Free her from this life where she is put on display for curiosity seekers, frenzied partisans of one thing or another. This is no way to treat a human being!

Janie, you believe Heaven is a better place, don't you? Why can't you let her go there?

Lots of love,
Christine

[Trisha in New Zealand]

Hi Paula,
It is all over the news here too. And I saw it on BBC last night - seems this poor woamn is world news!!
I just don't understand how all the footage of her is allowed to be shown. Privacy????? Seems her family does not care about that. Tragic - all of it.
I am glad I have spelled out my wishes for end-of-life care very clearly. I am so glad I am not this mother's daughter.
Best,
Trisha

[Anajo]

Well, after having been in ICU and in and out of the hospital for the past two weeks and seeing this story on the news, I'm going to go out immediately and get a living will. I would not want to have to go through what Terri's going through, nor would I want my family to have to deal with these tough issues.
I haven't read the other posts yet, but I'll bet there's more to do with this than meets the eye....things like money, politics....
Intentions are rarely pure...
Anajo
PS(It's great to see the soapbox again!!!)

[Jane in MN]

Hey, good to see your name. You were missed around here, dear. I was worried!

xoxox

[LindaC]

Dear Anajo,

It's great to have you back! I'm sorry you've been though such a rough time.

Love to you,

Linda