I understand and agree completely with your rant about spouses communicating their wishes in medical situations such as Terri's, however, there is some information that you don't seem to have when you talk about this "poor man".
First, he was awarded an insurance settlement of $1.5Million for her rehabilitation. He had to make a claim for that to happen and the money is for her rehab, unless she dies, then he gets the money.
To date, he has failed to provide for any rehab for Terri, and in fact, has moved her from several nursing homes when doctors and nurses at those facilities started to treat her and started asking questions about rehab.
There are also some questions as to the sincerity of his assertions that she didn't want to live this way. I'll let you search for discussion on that if you're interested.
Finally, we don't even let animals starve to death, at least not if we are following the law. Criminals sentenced to death will die in a more human manner than this "poor man" is letting his wife die.
I wonder what the woman with whom he currently lives and has had babies with him thinks. If he'll let his wife die of hunger, what will he let his mistress die of? His children?
So, if you had ins. on your wife and she was in a vegitative stae would you waste the money? Afetr so many years would you still be alone? Jsut because you love your wife doesn't mean you have to remain in a "prison". Put yourself in his shoes. Many of the doctors are saying that it will be apinless state because she cannot feel her hunger....I guess that is why there is such a big debate. I would not want to "live" like Terri and I do not find it a stretch at all that she would not want to live that way. I think it is hard to let a person die that has their eyes open and can breath on their own. When do we stop? When do we say enough is enough? When do we quit wasting tax payers money on this one woman when there are things that is the business of our courts and our goverment. I think just like any other debate there seems to be articles to support both sides. I stand by my comment "this poor man". His wife has been unreachable for so long, people condem him for moving on, people make accusations....again what if it was your wife...would you never have sex again? would you never love agaon? would you spend all your money trying to keep a person alive who wouldn't want to live like that? Would you stop living along with her? I wouldn't. As much as we love, we must also live and move on.... Okay okay Now I am just rambeling....just my view...that is what makes our nation great...we can expreess it.
I will say, to me it seems he is fighting for what he feels Terri would have wanted....however I am open minded enough to say....if he isn't out for the money he should forfeit it to show he is genuine. I can see both sides...and I am for more tests to affrim she is in a vegitative state...let's take a few weeks to be sure, but I still say if it was my husband.... I would haunt my parents.
Last point I'll make on this subject:
You make valid points about moving on and still having needs and desires that a woman in Terri's condition is obvioulsy not able to provide, and I'm not talking about just sex. However, in this day and age in our society, divorce is neither uncommon as a whole nor would it be inappropriate in this case. I do believe that Terri's parents have asked the husband to divorce Terri and keep the money, or at least they will pay a million dollars...
Anyway, as you say, we don't know what plans or discussions Terri had with her husband, but a doctor specializing in the type of treatment and rehabilitation Terri needs (the doctor, by the way, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize) says that she is not in a vegitative state and can be rehab'ed to the point where she can live at home, eat, watch TV, go out to dinner and the movies... in short, have a life. Nurses that have cared for Terri in the past have said that she has responded to their presence, etc.
Again, there is so much discussion out there that I'm not going to go into all the details, but I will pose this question and then make a statement: if someone that loved you, parents, siblings, etc., wanted to keep you alive with the hopes that you could have some reasonable quality of life given the proper care and love, wouldn't you wish that they could have that chance? You of all people should know that the husband doesn't always do what is right... remember that long-haired freak that... well, you know.
The statement: write it down so that there is no misunderstanding as to what you want (talking to the world in general here, not just you, K.). Don't put your spouse in the same position that Terri's spouse is facing, regardless of his intentions. And be specific. Spell out what you want if you are a vegetable, partially brain-damaged, etc.
Another responsiblity we have as parents is to teach our children to do the same before they move out and get married. They need to communicate their desires (in writing, hopefully) in case something like this happens to them, God forbid.
Good point... I had not thought of the long haired freak..... I see the other side.
Commenting by HaloScan
