Quality of Life Laws Decided Terri Schiavo's Fate

Quality of Life Laws Decided Terri Schiavo's Fate
by Janice Sanford
justice1949@aol.com
"Maybe, I am missing something, but, Bob and Mary were pleading for their daughter's right to live with a disability. They were not begging that a stranger's life be spared from being executed."
This bears repeating over and over again, until those who continue too defend the killing of Theresa "Terri" Schiavo realize that "the whole Schiavo case evolved around taking away parents' right to be involved in their child's end-of-life matters" regardless of what their disabled child would want, and regardless of whether or not there is a written directive.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo was said to be in a "persistent vegetative state." But was she?
Florida law defines "PVS" as a condition in which there is no evidence of responsiveness.
In court, the medical experts were divided. Fl. Circuit Judge George W. Greer said she had not demonstrated sufficient actions to prove "cognitive function" because her actions were not "consistent" or "reproducible."
“My sister was not dying. She was physically as healthy as you and me,” -Bobby Schindler
Everyone, who defended Michael Schiavo did so on "quality of life" grounds [with the exception of the few who supported him on economic grounds].
The Schindlers were verbally abused and condemned for acting the way any "normal" parents would act under the circumstances,and for begging for their daughter's life to be spared.
Bob and Mary Schindler loved and wanted Terri to live as she had done for 15 years "under their loving eyes": a disabled woman who like thousands of brain-injured Americans across our country can/and do communicate their feelings to their parents [and other loved ones] in ways that those who have healthy children can never know or understand.
I think, it is clear now, that the Terri Schiavo Case was never about what Terri wanted. It was about putting another nail in the coffin of "family values"...... It was about people who seat in positions to pass judgement, who even if they agreed[as a personal matter] with the parents of Theresa Schiavo on moral grounds-would still pass judgement in favor of in just laws.
If we as caring Americans are to stop the wanton killing of the disabled, and insure that never again will our children have to witness the public execution of an innocent helpless human being on national television, we must work to rebuild the respect for human life that prevailed before the evolution of the 'bio ethicist."
How many times did the courts remind the Schindlers that they had no business being involved in the decision that ended with their daughter being denied food and water and dying from starvation-dehydration on March 31, 2005?
In my opinion, the first time was one time too many.
“It’s time; there’s nothing there. What are we doing — creating quality of life for her parents?” This statement was made by a person who made the choice for himself not to be put on life support if his surgery failed because he viewed laying there [like Terri] as having no quality of life. U of M - The Manitoban - 13 April 2005
Somewhere in all this, those who feel that life is not worth living unless one is 100% healthy mentally and physically have missed the boat in the Terri Schiavo case.
They chose for her what they would have chosen for themselves, without considering that just maybe Terri Schiavo would want to live, and be with her family, even if it meant living a quality of life others may not choose for themselves .