Schiavo Vs the State, Ethics Vs Law

I've been following this case for a while, since the withdrawal of the feeding tube. Well, not really long considering that I didnt know who Schiavo was, what happened before the withdrawal, the numerous appeals sent to the state courts, etc etc. My first impression when I heard it over the news was, is this person related to the Schindlers' List? Since they had the same name and that's why its all over the news??

Nope, the articles on the Schiavo case did not mention anything about the Schindlers' List, nor any historic links. It's just about a woman, who suffered brain damage when her heart stopped beating momentarily 15 years ago. Throughout the years, she relied on the feeding tube for her intake of nutrients to survive and remained in a vegetative state, unable to control her physical body and reactions.

What really brought the world to this case was that, other than being publicised widely and regularly recently, the federal courts had a hand in someone's private life. A very powerful hand, I should say. A hand that can control the destiny of a life, a living thing. Up to this point, you might be thinking that you have a powerful hand also, destining the fate of that ant or that mosquito which irritates you. Yes, most of you brand those things as pests and its a living thing.

But Terri Schiavo is a living HUMAN, just like you and me, other than the fact that she's lost her ability to talk or behave normally. Another so called "vegetable human" lying in the hospital, being kept alive artificially. Do we hear about the Mr or Ms so and so who's lying in the hospital due to an accident, unable to converse, and being kept alive by a machine, on the news everyday?? NO! Because its all the family's problem, whether they decide to pull the tube or not, its not really our business. But for Schiavo, its splattered all over the news everyday, protestors camping outside the hospital, people risking to bring her just a drop of water. Due to Bush's intervention, it became a world issue, touching hearts of news readers, forcing them to take sides unconsciously. I'm one patient of this "epidemic". Its a debate of Ethics and Law, Should She Stay or Should She Go.

The long feud between Schiavo's husband and her parents has brought Schiavo to a world's stage, a stage where most families would not want their suffering kins to be placed on. Schiavo's husband insisted that she does not want to be kept alive artificially while Schiavo's parents brought up cases where they persist she wants to live on, and showing signs of recovery. Schiavo's husband is standing more on the Logic's territory, to end Schiavo's sufferings and also the financial burden while her parents is under Emotion's wings. Its not easy when you have to decide to end the life of a loved one or to prolong her sufferings when she is unable say what she wants. Emotion will throw all Logical thoughts out of the window.

Now the court has decided to stand on Schiavo's husband, and also Logic's side. But is the passed order really Ethical?? Starving a defenceless women to death, depriving her of the luxury of painless and beautiful death. Imagine you have been forced to withdraw from all food and water supply, and you are not able to hunt for food or even a simple task as taking a sip of water from the tap. Its pure torture, ancient way. Isn't it better to treat her like a dangerous criminal and give her a lethal injection? 30 secs compared to 9 torturous days and counting. It could probably be too late even if the court wakes up to their human side now.

If I were the one who had a say in deciding the fate of the poor lady, I'll give her a quick death. Yes, it'll make me a hatred target for the parents and also the supporters from all over the world. Maybe I'll receive death threats just because I had to end the suffering of the poor lady humanely, but it'll be better to give her a quick death, ending the tortures for the parents and the supporters in a quick 30 secs. Let them cry for a while at their loss than watching her fade away day by day, protestors becoming more aggressive as they receive news of Schiavo becoming weaker and the increasing the sufferings of the helpless parents as they watch their beloved daughter dying slowly.

In the aquatic world, there's a commonly used method called euthanize. Quoting from Encarta Dictionary, it means "to kill an incurably ill or injured person or animal to relieve suffering". Schiavo's husband and the doctor had stated that Schiavo is beyond recovery state. So what's stopping the courts to give her a lethal injection?? Some law passed earlier on? Times had changed, people's mindset had changed. I perceive they'll be more willing to accept the euthanize decision than to make her suffer for 9 days and counting. Keep the tube in, persuade the parents that it's the best way for their daughter to go while they send their appeals. For with the situation now, even if one of the "decider" approves the appeal to keep her alive, she might be gone and too late for the celebration of the successful appeal.

I'm standing on Logic's side, to let her go PAINLESSLY, though somewhere in my heart, I'll love to have the courts allow the reinsertion of the feeding tube but its all too late.

As of now, Schiavo's parents had given up all hopes on their appeals and remain at their daughter's side to accompany her for her last moments. She received a drop of wine on her tongue as Easter communion, allowed by her husband. The only nutrient she's received since last week.

Law vs Humanity, Law won, cruelly.

Be strong, Terri Schiavo.