| Author | Message | ||
     Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 5656 Registered: 4-1997  |
http://slate.msn.com/id/2115015/ | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ajc, I believe I do have a connection to this case, one that most others don't have, in that I was involved with legal battles concerning a feeding tube. And I do have insight into what a person being kept alive via artificial feeding endures. Following are details I believe important for some people to know: (disclaimer: I'm talking mid-80's here, so things might have changed.) - the first feeding tube to be inserted is a nasal-gastro tube, which goes through the nose into the stomach (as opposed to a direct port into the ab). The tube is taped down to nose and cheek; nasal passage gets red and crusty; tube is pulled out and reinserted into other, less irritated nostril; skin on face gets sebacious and scabby from tape; - arms atrophy, bent at elbows and wrists, across breasts, existing traces of fat on hands dissipates leaving bony, veiny hands with stiff fingers pointing straight down the palm; - cushions placed between knees and ankles to prevent skin-on-skin pressure and abrasions; - hair gets institution trim periodically to remove tangles and matts; - glasses: gone (no use); - body repositioned once per shift to prevent bed sores (although, with her hi-profile case I am sure Mrs. Schiavo (thankfully) gets more movement; - oral hygeine: not an issue since most teeth have rotted and/or been removed (oral surgery on special patients is done under general anasthesia); - since a person with no muscle control cannot cough, a tube must be inserted down throat into chest to suction out mucus. As stuff comes up, the person who can't cough chokes, because flem that is so easy for most of us to 'ahem' away, they breathe back in; - the smell: Your loved one doesn't smell like they used to. Now it is a combination adhesive tape, rotting teeth, congestion, sebacious skin, hospital linen, disinfectant, etc. It's an offensive stench, quite frankly. In the case of my mom, who was given up as a ward of the state because my father ran out of money, she was placed in a state psychiatric hospital since there was nothing technically medically wrong with her (her brain plaquing and dying wasn't considered a medical condition at that time). She was in an open ward with bars, and lifelong psych. patients, completely defenseless against anyone who wanted to touch her dark hair, or take her things, or stand near her and make noises. I recall patients being left in their geri-chairs for hours on end, lined up in the hallway. Once I saw a patient eating her feces, and when the nurses realized it they kicked me out. Of course, I couldn't protest - what if they took out their frustration on my mom? As for money, it was up to the taxpayers. If my mom got a fever, taxpayers would pay for an ambulance to take her to a medical hospital, treat her, and bring her back. Court ordered brain scan? Taxpayers. I can't imagine how anybody would want this for themself, or how they would want to impose this on a loved one. Fill out your advanced proxy/living will. Update it, confer with your spouse, make your wishes known. Medcial treatment is your own, personal business, not the court's or the government's. | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 2965 Registered: 12-2001  |
"Listen, let me try and keep this as simple as possible; it doesn’t matter what her husband says, that’s just hearsay. If she didn’t put it in writing it didn’t happen. Maybe this will send a message to all you folks who talk the talk, but are unable to actually walk the walk. If you’re unwilling or unable to muster the courage to basically sign your own death warrant, then you shouldn’t be signing Terry’s either" Let me further simplify this. Terry Schiavo did not leave written instructions. So, it is her husband's responsibility now. It's that simple. Regarding the second point regarding living wills, I think it is procrastination rather than cowardice that results in most people not having living wills. To me, it takes no courage to leave instructions to let me die in the event of an injury that leaves me alive but severly brain-damaged while I am in good health. OTOH, it would be a more thought-provoking decision if I was already terminally ill when I made the decision | ||
| CFA Citizen Username: Cfa Post Number: 1321 Registered: 5-2001  |
I have a living will and it states that I do not want to be kept alive if I'm a veggie. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3619 Registered: 9-2001  |
Dear Andrew, If this was just a question of money, and it’s not; and if our nation was forced into making budget cuts in order to cover costs related to health care and life and death issues of our citizens, and it’s not; than I would think it may be time to start trading off our death row inmates one by one for keeping our law biding disabled alive… BTW, this morning FOX News reported that over 90% of their e-mail messages support allowing Terry to live. Oh, and thank you Dave, you’ve given some of us hope... Thanks for sharing Tjohn, but I wouldn't wait if I were you, and good for you Cfa. Las I have to run and will read your comment to me later this morning.} | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2323 Registered: 5-2001  |
BTW, this morning FOX News reported that over 90% of their e-mail messages support allowing Terry to live. And on CNN this morning, their quick poll revealed that 82% of respondants DISapprove of Congress interfering in this case. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3620 Registered: 9-2001 |
Who watches CNN anymore? They're on the way out and this is one of the reasons why... The only place in the world to get your news fair and balanced is on FOX News. | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 1476 Registered: 6-2003  |
It's a good thing the poor woman's brain dead and can't see what's going on. She'd probably die of disgust. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 395 Registered: 8-2004 |
Terrisfigt.org is a biased website. Do you know Bob and Mary collect donations on their website but not ONE CENT has gone for Terri's care? Bob does not have a job, Mary works part time in a gift shop. She takes a bus, despite Bob having a newr Vette. Her parents are in denial. Terri is NEVER going to get better!!! Wake up people. If Bush gets away with forcing medical treatment on someone who didn't want it, namely Terri, it can happen to YOU!!! If this goes through YOU can be FORCED to have chemo, etc, even when you don't want it, if an 'interested party' feels you should have it. | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 1714 Registered: 6-2002 |
"IMHO, what all reasonable people need to consider is that some judge has taken it upon himself to kill this woman against her parent’s wishes. FWIW, this is akin to murder in my book." You would think some Judge woke up one morning and decided to interfere! As I understand the husband and the hospital went to Court to ask permission to remove the feeding tube and that this was in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. The Courts had to decide one way or the other. If the decision went the other way someone could have said: "Some judge has taken it upon himself to order hospital officials to force feed a brain dead woman against her husband's wishes and what she may herself have desired." "Allow me to get the ball rolling... I want to be kept alive until they find a way for people to live forever. Therefore, I don’t have a Living Will." Exactly why you should have a living will. Otherwise if, God forbid, you end up like Terri Schiavo, someone could go to Court and ask permission to remove your feeding tube. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 3483 Registered: 5-2001  |
My husband and I have living wills. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5212 Registered: 5-2001 |
My husband and I have living wills too. I can't believe that Congress has so little on its plate these days that both houses agreed to vote on whether the case should be referred for yet another judicial decision. This is a highly personal matter and the Federal legislative process really shouldn't interfere. | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 1718 Registered: 6-2002 |
Joan: With the country now enjoying peace and unprecedented prosperity, with the budget balanced, social security and medicare in good shape and all our children getting a great education, what else does Congress have to do with its time? | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2327 Registered: 5-2001 |
Anon - Pander to the Christian Right? Like these legislators really care about Terri Schiavo. I thought that Republicans supported States Rights and getting government out of the lives of its citizens. It shouldn't interfere with the right of some bozo to have 32 AK47s for a little hunting but it should interfer in a man and state courts decision on letting a brain dead woman stop artifically existing. | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2328 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hey, AJC, is 1010wins on its way out too? A little closer but the majority still rules, right? WINS WEBPOLL - Do you agree with a judge's order to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube? Yes 55.49% No 44.51% | ||
| msmith Citizen Username: Msmith Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2005 |
To me, this case comes down to a very simple issue: in the absence of a living will, who gets to make medical decisions regarding extraordinary measures to sustain life? She was married; therefore, her husband does. Interesting that politicians who are so hell bent on protecting "the institution of marriage" want to disregard it here. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3621 Registered: 9-2001 |
Las, I’m sorry this issue has become too personal and problematic. I agree with you and Anon, this is personal business, not for the court or the government to decide, and everyone should have a living will. Library Lady, you’re right, the majority does rule… and we’ll have to see how that plays out tonight. | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 1478 Registered: 6-2003 |
If she was a lesbian they would have killed her off long ago. It's all relative. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 992 Registered: 8-2002 |
Its very unfortunate. AS much as I now (healthy and well) can say that I would NEVER want to "live" like that -- that's much easier to stand for when it happens suddenly and without warning, like it did for this woman. OTOH -- if I were slowly dying, I'd say its much much harder to decide where the line is -- when is enough enough? In any case, the sudden activity from the Washington politicians is disturbing to say the least. /p | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 397 Registered: 8-2004 |
I am watching CNN and can't believe what I am seeing! This is such bull!!! FIVE MILLION DOLLARS for Bush to butt into a family matter!!! Trying to FORCE someone to exist in a condition she doesn't want to be in. FIFTEEN YEARS she has not responded or gotten better! For those of you who buy into Bob and Mary's garbage ask yourselves 'WOULD YOU WANT TO EXIST IN TERRI'S CONDITION?' Think about it!!! Which one of you would trade places with her? Are they going to do this for any other family this happens to? And do you know how much money this is costing? The value of life? BULL!!! Then why is Bush not doing something to stop partial birth abortion? Do you think if this was any state other then Florida this would have happened? I hope the Federal Courts do the right thing!!! EVERY COURT so far has sided with removing the tube. Make me ashamed to be a Catholic and American!!! |
