The Quality of Life or Death

It is difficult to sit here and write about this. Deciding the morality of an issue requires an in depth inquiry into all of the minute details of the matter and ultimately being able to live with a decision. In some instances the decision to take a life must be made in a nano second. While one may relive the decision many times over, there is no doubt that the decision was correct. Some life and death decisions are not always that clear. Morality and semantics sometimes cloud our assessment of the situation and cause doubt.

Legal wranglings once again caused delay in the fate of Terri Shiavo. Terri has existed in a persistent vegetative state for fifteen years. She has been kept alive through the means of feeding tubes, an artificial means of life, during this time. Legal proceedings have resulted in twice her feeding tubes being removed only to have them reinserted. Naturally her parents and family members want to keep her alive. They don't want to lose her. Her husband contends that Terri's wishes were that she never be kept alive through artificial support. The discussion on the subject coming long before the incident leading to her situation. The parents claim that the husband has ulterior personal and financial motives for wanting the feeding tubes removed and the resulting certainty of death. The husband denies these claims and asserts that he is merely responding to the requests of his wife. The courts have held that the husband and not the parents have the right to decide when to pull the plug.

The medical issues of the case are much too complex for the average person. Does Terri feel any pain or emotion while in this vegetative state? The removal of the tubes will result in starvation, but will Terri suffer in any way considering her state of being? The arguments run left and right. Experts give conflicting views. We turn to our religious beliefs. We turn to the Constitution. Ultimately we turn to our gut feeling.

The latest attempt to intervene comes from the Congress of the United States of America. Gaining votes in the race to replace the FCC as the most intrusive agency of the federal government, the Government Reform Committee has issued subpoenas for the parties involved, including Ms. Shiavo, to appear before the committee so that it may investigate the issues surrounding the matter. Talk about a disrespect for the dignity of life and death, the Committee lumps the tragic events of this case with those of the baseball steroid fiasco. The honorable Representatives of the U.S. try to utilize the backdoor sleaziness of an ambulance chaser. What has obviously been an issue for the state of Florida to resolve, the feds feel that usurping the authority of the state is once again a necessity to save us from ourselves. This Committee has oversight of any issue that is legislated or could be legislated and if not reigned in will make 1984 look like a Three Stooges comedy.

I have stalled long enough. The Florida judge in the case has denied the requests of the government and ordered the removal of the feeding tubes. The deadline passed more than two hours ago and it has just been announced that the tubes have been removed. An appeal will be made to a federal judge before anyone reads this. Will the tubes again be reinserted making this the third time? Let us stop the madness and decide this case once and for all.

To prevent this from happening to you and your loved ones, contact your local Bar Association for Advanced Directives which will give you the ultimate say so in your medical decisions. They are easy to fill out and an attorney is not a required ornament.