Thursday, April 19, 2007

Euthanasia - Should we pull the plug?

Defined according to the American Heritage(R) Dictionary
Euthanasia is the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition.

The case of Terri Schiavo (read case here)


In a nutshell, Terri collapsed one day due to breathing and sudden heart failure. This lead to insufficient delivery of oxygen to parts of her body, unfortunately including her brain. Subsequently she suffered from brain damage and hence remained in a vegitative state ever since then.


For 15 years, she lived off a feeding tube. Her husband took a nursing course so that he could care for her, but in the later years requested the court to disconnect the feeding tube. The reason for this is (so he claims!) is that Terri would rather pass away than remain in this state.


Opposing this are the in-laws. Terri's parents claim that Terri would hold on to life because she's a catholic. Although ironically they pushed for a divorce between Terri and the husband. Reasons for this? The husband had an extra-marital affair and had also fathered a child, and they would like to have legal guardianship over her since they believed that she could recover with enough care and therapy.


What do the doctors' think? Chances of recovery are very very slim.


The whole thing became very dramatic, politicians jumped on the bandwagon claiming to be advocates of life, people think that the husband wants Terri's inheritance, the monster-in-laws edited videos to make it look like Terri was responsive.


So class, in your honest opinion, what does Terri want?


Was Terri truly living for the past 15 years? I know she was breathing, but I asked whether she was really capable of living. She can't worship, she can't feed herself, or move around, she can't communicate. She stared at the sky so much that it blushed.


She couldn't love, nor receive love.


If it was me, I would've wanted it sooner for myself.
Thank you Terri, your brave struggle has inspired me.


Could neither laugh, nor cry...
could never find my peace;
O God, please grant me thy...
eternal, ... mercy release.

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