RE: Terri Schiavo

Behethland B. Clark responds to Andy W. Rogers:

But a feeding tube is still artifically extending her life. I sometimes think that modern medicine has made things harder for us.

Removing the feeding tube won't be painful. She won't be aware that she's starving to death. Morphine can be given to ease any discomfort she might have. The same decision was made for Uncle Bill. He was suffering from Alzheimers and his bodily functions were shutting down. He hadn't recognized his family in 3 years and had been put on a feeding tube because he no longer knew how to eat. After a few weeks with no improvement, the family made the decision to remove the feeding tube. Nanny's life could have been extended indefinitely had we agreed to a feeding tube. Instead, she stopped eating on her own and died peacefully within the week.

I don't think it is fair to fault her husband for remarrying and going on with his life. The woman he married no longer existed. At least he still cares enough to try and honor her wishes.

The point is that it is a very personal decision. I feel this woman is being exploited by bringing her into court. Her parents are selfish in wanting to keep her alive, and I don't mean that to sound cruel. None of us want to lose our loved ones, but when their lives become so full of pain that they don't enjoy living, it is selfish for us (the family) to want them to stick around. We will miss them and don't want them to go. We forget about what they might want.