Dean's World

Both James Joyner and Chris Lawrence think Terri Schiavo should have her feeding tube removed. Joyner says:

While the issue of withdrawing life support is a messy one, I have a rough time getting too upset with the husband, who I consider the real victim in this case. His wife died fifteen years ago but, because of advancements in medical technology and the stubborn resistance of his in-laws to facing the truth, he's being cast as the villain for simply wanting to pull the plug and get on with his life. He shouldn't have to divorce a woman who died fifteen years ago in order to do that.

However, according to the folks at Hyscience, this viewpoint may be misguided:

I received this a few minutes ago from Bobby Schindler, Terri's brother, with a request to get it to Terri's bloggers.

- Press Release by Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, Feb 15, 2005.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Feb. 15 (UPI) — Terri Schiavo is not dying. She has no terminal illness. She is not in a coma. She is not on life-support equipment. She is not alone, but rather has loving parents and siblings ready to care for her for the rest of her life. She has not requested death.

A battle rages over whether she should be starved to death. Schiavo sustained brain injuries and cannot speak or eat normally. Nevertheless, the only tube attached to her is a small, simple, painless feeding tube that provides her nourishment directly to her digestive system. Her legal guardian is her husband, who already has another woman — by whom he also has children. He wants Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed. Of course, he could simply allow her to be cared for by her parents and siblings and get on with his life, but he refuses.

I have had two opportunities to visit Terri Schiavo, most recently on the first Sunday of February. I have been able to talk to her, to listen to her struggle to speak, to watch her focus her eyes and smile and attempt to kiss her parents. I have prayed with her, blessed her, and assured her that she has many friends around the country and around the world, who love her and want her to enjoy the same protections we all enjoy, even when we're wounded.

News articles have recently characterized Terri's situation by saying that some want to keep her alive against her husband's wishes. But Terri Schiavo is not dying. What does keeping her alive mean, if not the same thing as keeping you and me alive — that is, by giving us adequate food, shelter, and care?

You can view the complete press release here.

You can also see video of Terry Schiavo interacting with people by clicking right here.

If all of the above is true, then I have to say that I do not understand reasoning which says that Michael Schiavo is a victim. Nor do I see why going to court to get a divorce should be more burdensome to him than going to court to get a feeding tube removed.

To be clear, I am not in the least bit comfortable with some of the ways the man has been demonized; however, if Terri Schiavo has family willing to care for her for the rest of her life, with no burden on Mr. Schiavo except that he go away and live his life as he pleases, I see no reason why the courts should order the feeding tube removed--nor do I see how anyone can categorize that as the state inappropriately interfering.

* Update * Now comes this release from Terri Schiavo's father:

By now you have probably heard about a young woman who is threatened with starvation in Florida.

That young woman is my daughter, Terri. In 1990, through circumstances which are shrouded in mystery (and may involve a criminal act by Terri's estranged husband), my daughter was left severely brain-damaged.

But before I go any further, I must put an end to the lies and misinformation that are circulating around the country through the media concerning my daughter's condition.

Contrary to anything you may have heard, Terri is NOT brain dead; Terri is NOT in a coma; she is NOT in a "persistent vegetative state;" nor is she on ANY life-support system.

Terri laughs, Terri cries, she moves, and she makes child-like attempts at speech with her mother and me. Sometimes she will say "Mom" or "Dad" or "yeah" when we ask her a question. When I kiss her hello or goodbye, she looks at me and "puckers up" her lips.

This may not seem like much to you, but it means everything to Terri's mother and me. It tells us she is still here, she still knows us, and with therapy and time she can have some level of recovery.

Source: Hyscience.

In light of cases like that of Sarah Scantlin, I do not agree that the husband's wishes should automatically supercede those of the rest of Terri's family. Even "living wills" are not always binding if the family or even the doctors choose to contest them, and Terri didn't even have such a will.

Assuming that these press releases are truthful, this woman is being cared for by her family and they ask nothing of Mr. Schiavo except that he go away and leave her with them. I do not see what more needs to be said.