don't wish to live as a quad... but I accept it and all the problems and benefits that come with it. I know others who truly would wish to be allowed to die under these same circumstances, even given all the opportunities and assistance for independence that exists. i know people who could not handle being a para! To me, that's unbelievable... but should anyone legislate to force them to live "like that" against their wishes?
So you don't believe there should be any laws against suicide and/or assisted suicide? Those laws force people to live when they don't want to.
To answer Jim's question, the "harm in letting them" (care for a person if they were willing to) would be the nearly intangible harm of inflicting a forced, unwanted existence upon a person who might have already expressed the desire to not exist in such a condition.
I don't feel anyone should violate that desire as it runs contrary to the "pursuit of happiness" of that individual.
In Terri Schiavo's case, we don't know what her wishes really are. We know she is Catholic, so she might believe that life in all forms (from embryos to a vegetative state) should be protected and saved. But we don't know what she believes when it comes to her own life, so I think we should error on the side of Life. (Remember "Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness")
I don't think Michael Schiavo has Terri's best interest in mind while he has been off in "pursuit of his happiness" with the new family he made, while remaining married to Terri. In his lawsuit he sought to get millions to care for Terri the rest of her life. No mention at that time that she didn't want to live that way. After he was awarded the money and continued in "pursuit of his happiness" he put her in a hospice to die. If Terri's parents had not taken it to court Michael would have gotten wish (and more money) years ago.
We are suppose to have 3 separate but equal branches of government. So why is everyone going along with the ruling of the judicial branch when both the executive and legislative branches at both the state and federal levels have made there stand on this issue quite clear?
Check out this article about Terri Schiavo from August 2003.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33877
I found this part disturbing:
- At an appeals court hearing in August 2001, Felos set a high standard for personhood. "The litmus test is whether or not a person can bring a spoon to their mouth," he said.
Jim
