The Terri Schiavo case analysis Terri Schiavo case http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/31/schiavo/ Review the posts of your fellow learners and respond to at l
The Terri Schiavo case analysis Terri Schiavo case http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/31/schiavo/
Review the posts of your fellow learners and respond to at least two. In your response posts, you must do one or more of the following:
Ask an analytical question.
Offer a suggestion.
Elaborate on a particular point.
Provide an alternative opinion supported with research.
Be sure to support your initial post and follow-up posts with scholarly examples from the module readings and additional literature where appropriate. You must cite all references according to APA style.
To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric document.
Classmate # 1 Charles
I do agree with the court’s decision not to order the re-insertion of Terry Schiavo’s feeding tube. Although the article does not make any mention of the existence of any kind of document by Terry Schiavo herself, clarifying her wishes, her husband made the decision stating that his wife would not have wanted to live in that condition. I agree that it would be selfish to keep a loved one alive in a vegetative state, with no quality of life.
Shiavo’s parents wanted to keep her alive, and I can understand the heartbreak, but I also understand the heartbreak of her husband seeing his wife in that state, considering it suffering. At one point, David Gibbs, Attorney for Terry’s parents stated that he did not understand why Michael Schiavo did’t just walk away. I believe he didn’t walk away, because he truly did not want to see his wife suffer.
I believe that a patient’s parents or spouse should have final say in the life decision, if there was no predesignated rules or wishes set by the patient, and if the doctors’ diagnosis and prognosis for recovery are in line with the withholding of life support measures. If the patient us not married, the parents should have the decision, because they are and have been responsible for the life of the patient for the fist half of their life. If the patient is married, it should be the spouse’s decision, because the patient bound himself to that spouse legally and, in most cases, spiritually and put their lives in the hands of the spouse.
As far as obeying a dying patient’s wishes in ending his or her life, personally I believe, if the patient is truly terminal, and it is a painful finish, they should have the say if they are able to communicate their wishes with a clear and lucid mind.
Classmate # 2 Daniel
The questions about assisted suicide and the right to die are very interesting topics to explore. I remember following the Schiavo case closely on the news when it was occurring. I firmly believe that, as our textbook mentioned in regard by the “Death with Dignity Act” in Oregon states, if a person is terminally ill, has less than six months to live and is of sound mind to make a decision (Criminal Law, 2015), they should be allowed to participate in physician-assisted suicide. This, of course, was not the case in regard to Schiavo, as she was not able to speak.
When it comes to a spouse or parent making the decision, I think the choice is certainly a difficult one, but I still think it should be allowed. I believe the reason that this rule has become so commonplace is that a spouse or parent, generally, knows that person better than anyone else and in most cases would know what the person would want to be done if they could advocate for themselves. I know I personally have spoken with my parents and my wife about their wishes should I need to make this decision, and they know my wishes
This country is founded on the idea of an individual’s rights. One of those rights should be the ability to make a conscious decision about their lives and whether or not, in the face of excruciating pain and agony that they might be able to end their lives on their own terms, with dignity. Making this decision has very little or no effect on anyone but the person making that decision and is another reason I feel it should be allowed. I unequivocally agree with the court’s decision to allow Schiavo to be allowed to be removed from life support. The idea that a person is kept alive simply by the use of machines, without the possibility of any recovery is very sad. There is really no way to know the pain and torment that may be occurring inside that person’s body if they are even aware of what is occurring. In these cases, it seems to me as if the person is being kept alive for someone else, rather than their own benefit.
In my opinion, we should ABSOLUTELY honor patients dying wishes. As I mentioned above, this county was founded on the ideals of personal freedom and the ability to make our own decisions about our own affairs, this should no doubt transfer to the end of life choices.
