Garvey's Ghost: Black Talk

Teri Shiavo and You

Even though most Americans polled, and I mean upwards on 70% indicate that they would not want to be kept alive in a vegitative state. Even though upwards of 80% do not agree that the State should interfere with their medical wishes as expressed to a husband wife or other confident or legally appointed person, the Congress and Senate are posed to attempt to pass legislation that would allow the Federal Government to bypass the wishes of Terri Schiavo as expressed to her husband, and force the medical facilites to re-insert a "feeding tube" in order to keep Terri alive. That is that her bodily functions may continue even though she cannot do anything even remotely approximating "living."

Folks. That is a huge problem. The issue is not whether you agree with whether Teri should or should no be given nutrients through a tube. It is about the intrusion of the government into your private life and the right of a patient to refuse medical care and/or to instruct someone on ones wishes in the case that you cannot verbalize those wishes yourself.

It is contradictory that a set of people who claim that they want government "off the backs of the people." to use the very same government to impose the wishes of a few so called Christians, who aren't even related to the persons who are directly affected by this case. This is EXACTLY why I have repeatedly stated my objections to the increasing influence of Church and state. It is clear from the "talking points" circulated by Republicans that this is about the so called "Right to Lifers" and "Conservive Christian" agenda and NOT about the rule of law or respect for the Constitution.

Says the President of Family Research Council:
"Today it's Terri, tomorrow it's another disabled person," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, one of many groups pushing Congress to act. "We've tolerated abortion in this country for the last 30 years, and now we're talking about eliminating those who cannot speak for themselves."

How is it that terri could not speak for herself? She told her husband what she wanted. They had this talk. This combined with the fact that he is her legal guardian and therefor has the legal and moral right to speak on her behalf.

And lest you think that leaving a Living Will will help you, think again. NightLine, on Friday showed that there are increasing cases where living wills are being ignored by medical staff. Never mind that YOU wrote it. You had it notarized. Someone can still force you onto some machine or leave you alive but non-functional for the rest of your life (and so long as you can recieve nutrients, water and respiration, you can live as long you your telomeres last).

And don't you think for a minute that it will stop at Teri. Should this piece of garbage pass do you think these people will stop at dictating your health care?

So again, it doesn't really matter which side of the fence you are on regarding the specifics of feeding tube removal. You should be very very concerned when the state steps in on a private family matter.

Oh and for the record, Should I be put into a vegetative state I want all forms of artificial life support removed after 36 hours have past.

Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/20/politics/20debate.html?hp&ex=1111381200&en=f96bb0c3a744b9d2&ei=5094&partner=homepage