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[tasryan]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRAIN_DAMAGED_WOMAN?SITE=FLPAP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
thank god they are finally going to let the poor woman die already.

Comments

[shmeedapirate]

yeah i saw that on the news

i think they should have let her die awhile ago...i mean, imagine being her...it's crazy

how long has it been already? 12 years?

[tasryan]

15 years. and the people opposing it say that "she is improving". she's been in a persistant vegitative state for 15 years with no visible signs of progress. its time to let go.

[shmeedapirate]

woah 15 years. i heard that she does respond...but she only squeezes her hand or something. her husband knows that she doesn't want to live like that, and it's selfish of her parents to be keeping her alive...

i mean if in 15 years, all the poor woman can do is squeeze her hand, how long would it take her to actually get up, and live a normal life? keeping her alive is only making things worse in her situation. and if she did improve, then how long would it take?? how hard would her life be? it's like starting all over again, and that's not fair to her.

you're right, its definitely time to let go.

[tasryan]

the thing is, she can't respond. the only part of her brain that's working is her brain stem which regulates basic bodily functions. her entire cerebral cortex is gone; replaced with spinal fluid. its impossible for her to improve because most of her brain isn't even there. her responses are inconsistant at best. it takes multiple tries for her to even "respond" and her brain can't process the signals because the cortext isn't there.

another thing is its not her parent's decision whether she lives or dies. its her husbands choice. he's the next of kin so the parents can't actually do shit. the thing is, she can't improve. that's why her husband is trying to keep the feeding tube out.

[shmeedapirate]

oooooh...i understand now

but what i don't understand is that her husband has been trying to get her off life support, and all, since 1998...so why has it taken so long to keep the feeding tube out?

i know that there's been all these trials, and appeals, and such...but isn't it his decision?

[tasryan]

its taken so long because her husband has been trying to take the tube out for years but her parents say that they should be able to take care of their child if he doesn't want to. the only problem with their thinking is its not their decision, its his.

[sakurabutterfly]

"Terri's husband, his brother, Scott Schiavo, and his sister-in-law, Joan Schiavo, all testified that Terri had previously stated her desire not to be kept alive artificially. However, her parents have stated that they would not allow her to die even if she had put it in writing."

There you have it!

[shmeedapirate]

hmm, intriguing.

[tasryan]

her parents are dumb. they obviously don't understand the next of kin thing and a living will. this shouldn't have gone as far as it has and it has to end now.