Commentary - "Death Without Dignity"

“Death Without Dignity”
By Darren Eliker

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore has refused to order the reinsertion of the feeding tube that was keeping Terri Schiavo alive. Rather than looking at the evidence, he as the other 19 state judges before him looked merely at the ruling originally made by Justice Greer. And with that decision, the outlook begins to appear bleak for the Schindler family.
A recent poll of Americans showed that six in ten adults believed that the tube should be removed and that Terri be allowed to die with dignity. But how would those same adults feel if they knew the facts of the case? Before Michael Schiavo is touted as demonstrating Million Dollar Baby heroism, lets review a couple of things.
First, define what is a persistent vegetative condition. Under Florida law, this state is defined as one who shows absolutely no voluntary interaction to outside influences. Terri Schiavo does not meet that standard. Over 30 neurologists, physicians, and nurses have testified by sworn affidavit that she is not in this state. The court-appointed doctor that is most quoted saying she is, is one who supports euthanasia.
Second, define life support. While ventilator machines and heart pumps qualify as life support, a feeding tube does not. If it did, every elderly person in every assisted living facility and nursing home across the country who depends on a feeding tube would be considered on life support. Should we remove theirs as well and save a few dollars? It should be pointed out that the Schindler family has been forbidden from providing any food by mouth and that she was capable of doing so as shown by one nurse’s testimony who had fed her by a spoon. Early before she was denied therapy she was also heard saying the words “Mom”, “Dad”, and “Help me.”
Thirdly, there is no will, living will, or any other extant document expressing Terri’s will. For the first time, hearsay will be the deciding factor in a court of law concerning the life and death of a human being. Is it not disturbing that we afford terrorists constitutional protections and violent criminals more latitude that our weakest and most vulnerable citizens??
Fourthly, the hearsay we are expected to believe is coming from Michael Schiavo, a man of hugely questionable character. Ask yourself, why would a supposedly loving husband suddenly remember his wife’s dying wish 7 years after her collapse and after he had been awarded a $2 Million settlement? And why after that settlement, did he immediately get engaged to his girlfriend? And why after that settlement did he immediately cease and forbid all rehabilitation for Terri? After all, the money he was awarded was legally supposed to be for her rehabilitation. Why was all but the remaining $50,000 used to pay attorneys to try to get her feeding tube pulled out over the last seven years? Does a loving husband do that?
Does a loving husband deny a family member from brushing Terri Schiavo’s teeth? Or from putting an ice-cube in her mouth? Or deny a nurse from putting a washcloth in her hand to prevent it from balling up into a fist? Or walk into a room and say, “When is this bitch going to die?”
The answer is no, a loving husband does not do such things. But a monster does. Why is Michael Schiavo so intent on killing Terri Schiavo instead of simply divorcing her, leaving her in the care of her family who loves her and wants to give her the therapy she’s been denied all these years? Why can’t he simply move on with his girlfriend and the two children he’s had by her? It’s the second girlfriend he’s had by the way, since Terri’s mysterious collapse in their home. The first left because she said she feared for her life. And that reminds me, what were all those broken bones Terri had when she was found? What does he have to hide?
And finally what about Judge Greer? Local Sheriff John McDougal knows something about him. He dealt with a case where a woman went to Greer pleading for protection from her husband who she claimed had raped and assaulted her, and burned her clothes. Greer refused the woman who was obviously terrified according to McDougal. Two weeks later, she was dead of stab wounds by her husband.
This case is not about death with dignity. It amounts to nothing more than state sponsored execution of a human life. And may God have mercy on our souls.