For some time, I’ve been trying to determine whether or not to post on the Terri Schiavo case. For those who may not be aware, Terri is a woman who has been in a (for lack of a better term) vegetative state for many years, on a feeding tube but not life support. Her husband, citing her wish not to be kept alive by articial means, has sought to have the feeding tube removed. Her parents have sought to prevent this.
There is a great deal of controversy in this case. At first blush, this appears to be a “right-to-die” versus “pro-life” debate, and I have endeavored to keep overtly political issues from this blog. Due to various lawsuits, the cost of the care is apparently not an issue, and there don’t seem to be any obvious connections to insurance.
So why am I posting about it?
If you’ll recall, I mentioned previously that I keep a little sticker close at hand. It says: May the action that I am about to undertake be worthy of You.” Generally, this has to do with how I treat my prospects and my clients. Terri Schiavo is neither, but I feel compelled to write about this.
I have concluded that this is not a conservative vs liberal issue. It isn’t even about the right to die. We can debate all day long about whether or not someone has the right to take his own life. And it’s not about “drastic measures;” she is not on a “vent,” she will not die immediately once the tube is removed.
She will starve to death, slowly, over the next week to 10 days.
As a human being, not a conservative or liberal, I find that unconscionable. It is decidedly NOT worthy.
Here are two blogs, one right-leaning, one left-leaning, that are following this case, and have constructive suggestions for how one can become involved, or at least learn about what’s happening. I urge you to click on (at least) one:
COBRA Primer returns Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Funny you should bring that up . . .
ReplyDeleteActually, I should say odd for there is nothing funny about this at all. In fact, it is very sad.
Avoiding the debate of a right to die vs right to live, my input is simply this.
The Terri Schiavo case is a typical example of procrastination evident in most of our lives. Very few adults, certainly the majority under the age of 50, have undertaken the task of "final" planning. Sources tell us that over 70% of Americans lack a valid estate plan.
Estate planning tools include (but are not limited to) testamentary will, power of attorney, health care directive, health care proxy and in some cases one or more trusts.
In this particular case, had a young 26 year old woman taken a few minutes to draft a legally binding health care directive, along with a health care proxy, much of the legal battle playing out in the media would have been avoided.
This is certainly not an indictment of this lady, nor is it meant to be insensitive or hypercritical. It is simply a matter of fact.
When final wishes are conveyed (in advance) in the proper manner surviving family members are spared additional grief over what to do.
Bob Vineyard, CLU
You are so right!
ReplyDeleteIn a way, this may have a silver lining; that is, if it gets more folks to seriously discuss their preferences, and to have those choices reduced to writing.
It's somewhat ironic to me to see the front page of foxnews.com this AM: in one column, the monster who abducted and murdered the little Florida girl is on a "suicide watch," while Mrs Schiavo's feeding tube is removed. If she is to be granted "her wishes," why not grant him his?
If Terri Schiavo dies, the evidence indicates that it will be a case of state supported murder. The husband's circumstances indicate that there is sufficient evidence that he has a severe conflict of interest in ths matter. That makes him an unfit guardian. If she is denied due process and the legal precedent is established, then I would suggest that there are many spouses and parents who should "watch their backs" in the future.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -
ReplyDeleteWhere is the evidence of a conflict of interest?
Bob Vineyard, CLU