OK, I have to mention this.

[gridlore]

I've avoided ranting about the Schaivo situation in my journal. I'm sure most of you know, or can guess, my position.

But yesterday, several protestors were arrested for tresspassing at the hospice facility.. they were trying to bring Terri cups of water.

Which would have killed her. See, she hasn't had a swallowing reflex in a decade. Pour water down her throat, and it goes right into the lungs.

This shows the level of idiocy of the "save Terri" people. They don't care about the most basic facts of the case, prefer to believe in flights of fancy that this woman, lacking a cerebral cortex, will someday sit up and speak. It isn't going to happen.

Were I in charge at the hospice, I would have taken the trespassers into a conference room and told them in gloating terms how they almost committed murder, how they were idiots, and that they should all go finish grade school before making medical judgements.

Comments

[cleverthylacine]

Okay, you do realise that five people != the entire side of the equation?

Or perhaps you're using the same sort of logic you used when you decided that I don't respect your marriage because I don't respect Michael Schiavo's?

Anyhow, I personally graduated from grade school some 28 years ago, have a master's degree, work in health care, and agree that that was a stupid thing to do, but...still don't agree with starving this woman to death.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Yet over twenty judges, in a dozen hearings, have found that Terri did in fact state here desires regarding life on tubes. Evidently, all these judges, who looked at all the evidence, found that these five people were credible and that the medical evidence was clear.

[cleverthylacine]

I'm not talking about judges vs. judges or doctors vs. doctors, Doug, I'm talking about your writing that the fact that five, or six, or ten people broke in with cups of water makes everyone who disagrees with you stupid.

Personally I think people should only be denied sustenance if there is an advance directive in place, because having been a 26 year old who thought I was immortal and made similar remarks in passing, and then having faced death up close and personal three years later and finding that I had no idea how I really felt about it in the situation, I really don't think anyone knows for sure how they're going to feel when it *actually happens*, but if they take the time to write it up and get it notarised, I can respect the effort and forethought that went into that. But that's my position and it's different from yours which I can respect.

The fact that we have a few whackos on our side should not be used to discredit us all. Because surely there are no whackos on your side? I think not. Every important issue there IS attracts lunatics.