How horrible for this girl. :/ Please read this.

[TorosDead]

That is quite tragic.  I think that if it came down to it nobody will be allowed to let her starve to death, the doctors at least will not allow it.  They will argue that she doesnt need life support to stay alive so they must keep her alive.  I don't know if they can put someone to death if they are no on life support in the first place, but I'm quite certain that starving her to death is not on option.

[goingslow]

Im sorry to be the one to break this to people but since doctor assisted suicides are not legal.  (nor is giving them a pill or something to die) that is how Most people who are taken off life support end up dying.  Its sad but true.

I dont know the particulars of this case, but I do know there are circumstances where people think the fact a person blinks or their body responds to people they know isnt a high enough quality of life to "keep them alive".  Im not sure I'd want to live years like that, but it is a personal decision many people have to make.

Again I dont know the particulars of this case, but remember people always slant things to prove their point.  I dont feel comfortable commenting on a really hard decision I have never had to make.  However, I have people close to me saying they wouldnt want to live like that.  I dont think its fair to judge the guy for having a new life.  She has been unresponsive and in a coma for ten years. And yes people in comas can do those things.  Even if she isn't in a coma she is sitting there staring at a wall.  I'd prefer to think she's in a coma.

Ever read the book "Johnny Got his Gun"?  

Ive heard of a case before where it was expressed in writing the person wanted to be taken off life support if they were ever braindead or in a coma etc.  But the family wouldnt honor it because of religious beliefs.  Its a sensitive topic and things like this are never as cut and dried as they seem.  The media has a great time putting these stories out and discussing them.  They always take a side on these things.  I mean calling it murder?  So everyone who has had to take their loved one off life suport is a murderer?  

[Anonymous]

I believe the religious beliefs of a family should not interfere with the religious beliefs of the person whose life is at stake here. If the person's religious beliefs are that it's okay to be taken off life support, then I think that person's decision should be honored. If the family really loves their relative, they should do what that relative believed was right. What if you were a buddhist or a Muslim and you died in the woods and a group of Christians or some other religion came along, found you, and gave you a burial/funeral of their religion? I don't think your spirit would be too happy about that. You probably wouldn't be too mad about it either because you know they meant well, but it's still more respectful to honor another's choice.

As for the particulars of this case, sounds like Terri's husband is a real jerk. He doesn't have to kill her to move on with his life. Sounds like this is all about money to me. He should return the money to her, get a divorce, and marry this girlfriend of his.

I'm sorry, but my gut just tells me that it's wrong to kill her, so I'm going with that side of the argument.

[beavis]

"she can blink when you ask her to, she can follow stuff with her eyes, she just can't seem to move or talk."

10 years in that condition and I'd be begging to die.

[shadowatcher]

"for the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"

Albus Dumbledore

[Anonymous]

"for the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"

This may be true; however, there's a difference between assisted suicide and murder. Murder is killing a person against their will. If Terri wants to live, then let her live. If not, like I said, then pull the plug. Ultimately, it's her choice. She can blink, laugh, cry, etc. so she can obviously communicate.

You guys are forgetting that Terri's husband isn't allowing ANYONE to see her, which is unfair to Terri and her family. He wants the money that rightfully belongs to her. She has no will. This isn't just about her, it's also about her family. Her husband obviously doesn't love her anymore. I think he's just a selfish bastard who cares about only himself. I don't know what Terri thinks of him or how she feels about him, but I bet if he were in her position, he wouldn't be asking to pull the plug- he'd want the money.

Also, from a spiritual viewpoint, experience on the earth is necessary to obtain spiritual enlightenment and experience. This is how we earn our freedom. Yes, maybe she can reincarnate into a different body, but for now, her experience is still in progress. Yes, she has been like this for ten years. Maybe you'd be willing to die, but maybe she isn't. Maybe she was asked this question and blinked "no, I don't want to die." We don't know all the reasons that things happen. There is nothing for no reason. Nothing is an accident. The problem with the world is that it is perfect. It is perfect because everything that happens is for the reason the earth was made- experience, enlightenment, possibility, spiritual development and advancement.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Maybe her husband does not want anyone to see her because he knows that her family is uncaring and upset her. Maybe her family are the ones that only want her money. Maybe her hubby asked her if he could see other people and if she wants to die and she said yes. NOTE that there is one piece of information that is clearly missing from this, Terri's wishes. If she is so responsive why has no one asked what she wants. Or have they?

[Anonymous]

Well, in any case, it sucks for Terri. Maybe both parties are greedy and corrupt. Who knows? In any case, thank you for better stating what I was trying to get at FallenAngel. Nobody asked her what she wanted. Or maybe they did but they won't honor it. In any case, I hope that she can be healed enough to speak for herself and do something about all this. That's the only way it's ever going to be proven for sure. Maybe there are psychics who know about the situation who can give some input on this. Someone should talk with her telepathically so that at least someone outside of those involved know what's up.

[Jenadots]

Perhaps her parents can go to court and have her declared
incompetent, get legal rights of guardianship and power of
attorney - then file for divorce on her behalf.  Sounds like
they need a good attorney to see to it that the hubbie provides
health insurance and support.  

The doctors, a social worker, or even a priest or rabbi
could also file to have guardianship or make her a ward of
the state with an advocate appointed to oversee her medical
and legal affairs.  

If she is blinking, she is obviously not brain dead.  There is
so much we do not understand about our own brains that if there
is a chance she is alive within her shell of a body, I would hope
someone can intervene and represent her.  

The husband could easily divorce her.  He certainly doesn't have
to kill her just to be free to marry someone else.  

Let's all pray she gets whatever help she needs.

[goingslow]

Im not sure blinking is a sign of not being brain dead.  Also would you want to live 30 or 40 years being aware of your surroundings but completely unable to respond or do anything?  Which is torture?

In the book "Johnny Got his Gun" that I mentioned he can think etc but cant move.  He is thinking of a way to kill himself the whole time.  He has nightmares that he confuses with reality.. terrible itches and pains he cant tell anyone about.  In the end he finally uses morse code for a "SOS" signal.  They cant believe he can think.  They thought it was okay to keep him alive because they assumed he wasn't there mentally.

A nurse finally does something (I forget what) to try and do a mercy killing.  Which he is saying "finally" then she is stopped and you realize he'll be like that for decades.

Again its not that easy and I dont see how not being braindead would be a case FOR staying alive.

[goingslow]

with that said I really do feel sorry for her family.  It has to be torture.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, Goingslow. I think the most important thing is to give Terri what SHE wants, not what others want for her. We are making amazing advances in the medical field, and hopefully someday (very soon) someone will find a way to give people like Terri back their bodies. Of course, that's my naturally optimistic view. On the other hand, I would say that if they haven't tried alternative medicine already, I think it's worth a shot, especially accupuncture, dealing with the nervous system. I think that she should get all the treatment she can. Ten years is a long time and I hope that she's gotten all of the Western medicine treatment she deserves.

I also agree with you, Jenadots. I think that her parents (or pretty much anyone) would be a better judge than her husband. That kind of legal action would likely be more effective than anything else they've tried. You can write her parents a letter on the website.

Anyway, I gotta get some sleep. I hope that the best thing happens for everyone involved in this situation.

[Syke]

well i think if she can blink, move her eyes, and make noises at will then that means she's still concious and still able to make decisions. therefore they wouldnt be able to do anything without her permission...
If i was in her place i would want to end my life, but not by starvation. id prefer to go somewhere that Euthenasia is legal. at least then she'd be free and the family could be at peace that she is not suffering anymore.

-Syke

[WalkerInTheWoods]

goingslow, is that book fiction or nonfiction? If nonfiction, how was it written?

For me personally, if I had to spend more than a few months in such a condition I would want to die. Starvation might be a slow way to die, but it is faster than decades. I see little to learn in such a terrible condition. It does not benefit anyone. You are miserable and your family is left with a large debt, all for what?

But, what about us? Those of us that know about AP? If in such a condition we would have plenty of time to perfect our skills in leaving the body. What else are you going to do? It seems that after awhile, we could just stay out of the physical and never return if we so wished. Our consciousness would have no need for the body, and the body would have no need for the consciousness.

[goingslow]

I should have made it clear that its fiction.  But it still gives a very plausable account of what a person might go through in that situation.  Ever heard the song "One" by Metallica.  They actually wrote that about the book/movie.  

The other thing you wrote was interesting about APing.  John Edward once contacted a woman's mom.. the woman finally told him "no shes not dead shes in a coma" but he was right on on the details.  Whether you believe in John Edward or not I think its possible they might spend much of their time away from their body out of necessity.  At least I'd really hope so.

[Treaty_Angel]

wow, thats bad. they should find someone with telekinese powers. i read ounce that there is a way to get peopel out of sleep, comas, ect.
then that would show the world wut is right under there....well skin.

[Risu no Kairu]

Well, I listen to Talk Radio all day. It's local news at 5AM, Glenn Beck at 9AM, Rush at 12PM, Dr. Laura at 3PM, Tom Marino at 6PM, and Coast to Coast AM at 9PM.

Well, the third day that I heard Glenn Beck mention Terri Schiavo, I decided to go to his site to see what was up.

Well, turns out, ten years ago, she had a heart attack, or stopped breathign or something.

Well, for ten years she's been in a "coma."

Well, her husband won't let anyone see her, has all her money from lawsuits on the doctors, has a girlfriend of seven years with a kid and plans to marry her, and is trying to MURDER his wife, Terri. Terri's family is trying to prevent this.

The doctors and Gov. Bush say that she's in a coma, so it's ok to unplug her and let her starve.

But, there's videos and testimonies of her responding the best she can to people. She perks up when she's with her dad, she can blink when you ask her to, she can follow stuff with her eyes, she just can't seem to move or talk. She can make some noises, but she can't talk. So, they say she's in a coma. I've never heard of coma people doing this.

There's more and better information at www.terrisfight.org and a petition to Gov. Bush. :/ They want to let her starve to death for a few weeks. That's quite inhumane to do to someone who is aware. Hell, even to people in comas.

You'd get arrested if you did that to an animal, but it's all right on people? Don't let anything bad happen to me in Florida.