Terri Schiavo

Who would you rather decide your fate, your closest-of-kin or the government. I am happy this issue was resolved fairly. This selection looses 2 stars since it refers to the Terri Schaivo that existed after being declared Permanently Vegetative. Of course the Terri Schaivo that existed up until the accident would be the best option, but was no option at all during the controversy.

Actually, stating that she has no say has no basis in law. She has the only say. The fact that she cannot speak for herself doesn't necessarily mean that it's ok to pull the tube. She's alive. She didn't sign this authority over to her husband, fortunately or unfortunately for her. UPDATE: This is where I think the courts failed: as Mike Schiavo walks into the courtroom, his conflict of interest should have been apparent to a blind man. The court should have been painstakingly careful that Terri's interest be represented, as her continued existence hung on the decision. Mike's sudden change of heart and attitude, after winning the malpractice suit, is clear and should have hung heavy over any decision, particularly a decision to terminate a human life. Instead, it was elevated to the status of the only legitimate testimony and viewpoint. As Americans, we should expect much greater care to be taken by our legal system, and we should call judicial arrogance by its rightful name.... Read more

Why did Michael Shiavo not allow Terri's parents to be in the room when she passed? This guy is truly an A$$hole!

i dont understand why this is even an option. the whole argument is about who should decide her fate BECAUSE SHE CANT DECIDE HER OWN FATE in her current state. I dont get it.

That poor womans broken body is speaking for her. If we weren't compassionate people, she'd be dead already. Let the woman die with dignity.

Sundiszno, I cannot add a single thing to what you said.

Terri would not have wanted to live in this vegatative state for 15+ years. God bless those that let her will be carried out.

As a comment to the several posts that state that unfortunately Terri can not tell anyone what her wishes are, the really unfortunate thing here is that perhaps, just perhaps, if Terri had been given therapy over the years, she would have been able to speak for herself. She has not, as one reviewer stated, been in a coma for all these years. There have been cases where people diagnosed as in a PVS have recovered and have said that they were totallyconscious of everything that was being said, but could not communicate at all that they were cognizant. I'ma always leery of statistics, but I heard something a couple of nights ago to the effect that about 43% of people diagnosed as being in a PVS eventually recover. So, if that's true, there is about a two in five chance that Terri is not (or probably soon it would be more correct to say was not) in a permanent vegetative state. Unfortunately, the damned judges refuse to give her any kind of fighting chance. It truly is a shameful sit... Read more

As Eschew has pointed out, in law she has the only say. In the absence of her making or having made a clear statement, the precedent of law is that she would wish to live. A poster child case for a living will.

First of all the laws should not allow hearsay on such cases- period. But more importantly individuals should not be able to lay claim to any desire and have that act executed at future dates if the act is a violation of the most essential right granted by the laws of Nature- and our Creator. We simply shouldn't allow individuals to commit suicide no matter what their wishes. Nor should such decisions be left up to physicians who's job it is to save patients not kill them. In no way should it be construed that nutrition is under any circumstance an extreme measure to keep you alive. Nor should our laws allow the courts nor a dirtball husband- or even the individual- to decide what qualities life should have for it to be worth living. It is natural for people to lay claim to positions they soon dismiss when the mitigation factors have actually change. We as a civil society need to protect life collectively and create laws that reflect the sanctity of human life in all its stages.... Read more

Definitely a person's individual wishes on what should happen to them deserve the utmost respect. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to draft a living will for these wishes to be respected. But the sad wrangling behind Terri's case demonstrates that without a certifiable document, close family members may disagree in a small or large ways on your verbally stated wishes, and the most appropriate way to honor them. This can painfully divide a spouse from in-laws (and sometimes children from a parent), especially when people don't trust in each other's honesty. At least we can say that Terri Schiavo's life has not been in vain, because a higher percentage of people are certain to get living wills now, which I believe will spare many other families from similar prolonged drama and grief. If you'd like to be in control of your own fate, this Web site might be useful to you: www.uslivingwillregistry.com/

she has no say. but ask yourself: would you really want to live like this? this is not life.UPDATE: yes! everyone should be forced to live on this planet, regardless of their state of mind and function until they reach maximum age expectancy. because that's what a civil society would allow; no mercy, right?

no living will, only heresay by a possible abuser. She needs a new trial with new evidence entered a attorney appointed by her parents who have no conflict of interest such as her husband

This poor woman will never be able to voice her own opinion. She has been in a coma for 15 years for crying out loud. Having Terri decide for herself would be the best option but this is not possible because she is basically brain dead and this isn't going to change. Her original wish should be granted.

I got a kick out of this

Terri Schiavo should have had the say. Now she cannot. She most likely DID say something about not wanting to have to live under these conditions. I doubt if she would want to be on national news right now. It sure has renewed my thoughts for getting a living will. It really shows that unless her wishes are on paper,such as a living will, it is one persons word against another.

It's her choice. It's her life. Although she's ill, she can still decide what to do with her own life.

It would be nice if she could decide,but since she left no proxy instructions and is brain damaged,this is not possible.I think that's the crux of the problem here....

If only she could it would make this ordeal much easier but she can't and it does not appear that she ever will.

This would be the ideal situation, but unfortunately she did not plan for this and is now unable to make her own choices. This should be a reminder to people to not let decisions like this wait until you are older.

It's too late for that I believe. It's only her estranged husband's word against her parents. A good argument to leave a living will.

Well, considering it is HER life, perhaps she should be the one deciding her fate. Of course, that's not really possible because she hasn't been given the speech therapy that could give her the ability to voice her decision.

Well, if she COULD, that would be the best option. Unfortunately, this is not the case. This is an awful situation that has spiraled into a complete mess; who do you trust more as far as having the woman's best interest in mind, the husband or her parents? Even the doctors are undecided on her status, who do you trust? Somehow, this case is now being handled by Congress and the President himself. How did this happen? Well, I guess that whole living will idea doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all. Do yourself a favor: it sucks to talk about death and other unfortunate occurances, but let your family (not just your spouse, but your parents, or your kids if they're old enough) know what you want done if this kind of thing happens to you. Even if you've got it in writing. Yeah, odds are, it probably WON'T happen to you, but if it does, wouldn't you want your loved ones to not have to go through this kind of mess?

Like others have pointed out here, Terri is the only one who has the ultimate say here. Unfortunately, there really is no way to determine whether or not she would have wanted to live under those circumstances. Since there is no will, it has been left up to her family to determine her care, and they completely disagree on what her desires would have been in such a case. The husband believes she wouldn't have wanted to live because of certain conversations they had and the parents want to keep her alive, awaiting some sort of a miracle to happen. Bottom line, without some sort of document or a living will, its difficult to ascertain the individuals desires in such a situation.

I agree that Terri should decide her fate. Unfortunately, and contrary to what her manipulating, self-serving parents claim, I've seen cabbages with more brain function, so I guess we have to rely on her husband.

Castlebee summed it up well. Not leaving a living will can be a catastrophe, and this sad case will be remembered for a long time.

In theory, this is the best answer. In reality, she is not capable of making such a decision. Therefore, this option is not relevant.

Yes, this would be ideal, but it didn't happen so where does that leave us? And sadly, no amount of speech therapy is going make this lady talk - the lights are on but nobody's home. Time for the courts to earn their keep.