I'm not trying to stir up controversy here. I'm a pro-life Christian. But can someone explain to me why the standard line on this case among most pro-lifers seems to be that it's beyond obvious that this woman should be artificially kept alive?

Growing up, I always got the impression from Christian family members and friends that, just as it was wrong to kill innocent people, it was also wrong to keep people alive on life support when it was clear that their time had passed. Isn't that basically what's being done to Terri Schiavo? I mean, it's not like she's a quadriplegic who could still have some semblance of a life as long as people were around to help her. Not only can she not feed herself, she can't even eat--put food in her mouth, she doesn't chew or swallow. Unfortunate as it is, she's a total vegetable.

Most if not all of her cerebral cortex is gone, and an independent medical expert concluded that she could never return to consciousness. How is this case different from someone keeping their 90-year-old mother alive on life support in the ICU when it's clear she's a goner?

It sounds like there was definitely wrongdoing in this case. Toward the beginning, it seems fairly obvious that her husband just wanted to off her so he could get some money and remarry. So I know this is a complex case. I'm not trying to be confrontational, I really just am a little perplexed as to why pro-lifers consider this to be such an open-and-shut case in favor of the "keep her in a hospital bed on a feeding tube for the next 30 years."
Jake | 08.31.04 - 9:47 am | #

Sorry, that last bit should read:

the "keep her in a hospital bed on a feeding tube for the next 30 years" side.
Jake | 08.31.04 - 9:48 am | #

Jake wrote:

Not only can she not feed herself, she can't even eat--put food in her mouth, she doesn't chew or swallow. Unfortunate as it is, she's a total vegetable.

Most if not all of her cerebral cortex is gone, and an independent medical expert concluded that she could never return to consciousness.

Jake, you ask some reasonable questions. But all of the above assertions are at least debatable, and some of them are just plain false. Not that I'm faulting you - this is what the mainstream media has put out about Terri almost in lockstep until recently.

If you want to get more familiar with the facts of the case, I would urge you to read the following:

Killing Terri Schiavo (Crisis Magazine, January 2004)

My blog posts on Terri, starting here:
"Terri Schiavo Is Scheduled To Begin Dying Tomorrow", and continuing here, here, here, here, and here. That should keep you busy for a while!

I have been involved in the fight for Terri's life since last summer, was there (thanks to the generosity of St. Blog's) during the feeding-tube episode last fall, and have become quite close to the Schindlers. I am very familiar with the issues in Terri's case.

If, after reading all that, you still have questions or disagreement, you can always feel free to e-mail me!
Fr. Rob Johansen | Homepage | 08.31.04 - 10:47 am | #

Thanks, I will be sure to read those sources.
Jake | 08.31.04 - 11:33 am | #