The responses are flooding in.
Friday, 25 March 2005 by Jacob TomawA reader writes:
While I also do not know all the details, except what is being reported on the news, I know that I am not the person to decide what should happen. Neither do I think the government nor the president should be involved! One thing I do think is that removing the feeding tube and letting her starve to death is wrong and inhumane. I just think that whatever happens, there must be something a little better than watching someone you love starve when they have no means of communication! It also makes you realize how much you need to communicate and document what you would want to happen if anything should ever happen to you! Either way, I think it is a horrible case and I feel sorry for everyone involved..Especially Terri. Just think, she was our age when she suffered cardiac arrest..makes us appreciate each day we are healthily and well!
I agree that Congress and the President should not have gotten involved. This matter is completely up to the State of Florida. If Florida wanted to say that spouses can or cannot do this, it would be fine with me. In fact, I think each state needs to make a definitive answer to this question.
I also thing that pulling the tube would be a horrible way to die. Folks on TV have said that she does not feel pain. That might be. Some, have so far as to say that starving and being dehydrated is euphoric. I doubt that. Euphoria does not seem like it would be an evolutionarily sound survival instinct. I think that if we are going to allow people to choose to die, then we have to allow the use of medicines to kill them if they choose it.
We all should take some time to think about what you want done. Then tell your loved ones, tell everyone, say it on a blog what your wishes are. Make it clear. Everyone makes the off hand comment of not wanting to be hooked up to machines, but decide what you really want and let it be known. Then go enjoy the rest of your days, you know not the time nor the place.
As for me, as of right now I want to live no mater what. I think there are situations where I might want to be taken off of a machine, but I don’t know what those are yet. And I already want to qualify me wishes, that is what makes this so hard.