Re: U.S. House panel to seek to keep Schiavo alive

From: Anne Vasquez (annevasquez_at_NOSPAMhotmail.com)
Date: 03/19/05 

Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 08:36:08 GMT

That's what I've always wondered when people talk about removing feeding
tubes from terminally ill patients. I know so little about this sort of
thing, and I assume there is reason to believe that people don't suffer
horribly, since it is being done on a regular basis. Being the food
addict that I am, the thought horrifies me, but my feelings aren't based
on any kind of research or personal experience, so I certainly am in no
position to even think about being judgmental about others who are faced
with these decisions. I would certainly like to believe that these
people don't suffer gnawing hunger pangs, headaches, and all of the
things I associate with being really hungry.

Anne

RaeMorrill wrote:

>
> I gotta believe that. If you go w/o food for a period of time, you do
> not feel hunger pains like those caused by missing a schedule meal.
>
> I just watched this argued on Larry King. I am speechless at the "Moral"
> argument this is killing her. It's not like she can feed herself or
> drink or in any way protect herself from anything at all. These are
> heroic measures. Only a generation or so ago they would not have had the
> technology to keep her alive this long with feeding. People are allowed
> to refused medical care for any reason. They do not force Witnesses to
> take blood or Christian Scientists to accept medical care by holding
> them down. This same logic could be used to force any one of us to
> accept chemotherapy that would prolong a miserable existence with little
> or no hope of any cure, even if we did not want it.
>
> Big Brother is getting scarier by the day. I understand the MM feels
> majority should rule regardless (likely not if it abridges their beliefs
> of course - that would be different). I guess that means if the tide
> changes a little we'd be allowed to euthanize them when they get too
> sick to have any chance of life. There really is no difference. Either
> we all have rights to personal choices or none of us do.
>

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