# Clearwater FL: The Schiavo case **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350 "2002-11-23T16:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/1 "2002-11-23T16:28:25Z")
I apologize if this has already come up, but I was interested in any opinions on this: [http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/22/coma.woman/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/22/coma.woman/index.html) The short of it: Mrs. Schiavo went into cardiac arrest 11 years ago. As the result of her heart stoppage, she suffered **severe** brain damage. She can’t move, other than here eyes, mouth, and head. She is not on a respirator, but has to be fed thru a tube. And while she is not in a coma or anything like it, doctors do not expect any kind of “real” recovery. Husband–this is the cold blunt truth–wants to “get on with his life.” Has a new sweetie, but obviously can’t get married. He has been fighting for years to get the tube removed and let her die. Her parents want her to remain connected. In my opinion, this is one of those cases with no easy answers. 1 ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/2 "2002-11-23T16:34:55Z")
He wants to get on with his life? Let him get a divorce. She should not have to die just because he wants to move on, especially given that her parents want her around. Is it likely that she will recover? No. Is it possible? Maybe. Before I got married, my fiance’s father collapsed and went into a coma. He was on life support with no sign of ever coming out for a week. The doctors talked to the family about pulling the plug as they gave him NO chance for ever waking up again. But before they decided to do so, he woke up, just like that. A couple months ago, the father-in-law of the guy next to me at work went in for lung surgery. He got several infections thereafter and soon went into a pseudo-coma (not quite a coma, but close). At least two neurologists said there was no brain activity, he was a vegetable, and he would never wake up. It’s time to pull the plug. Before they could do so, he woke up, just like that. Yes, both of these cases lasted significantly shorter than this woman’s. But the woman’s case is different in that she can, according to what you said, move her eyes, head, and mouth. So she’s not even unconscious. Starving a person to death is not pleasant… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/3 "2002-11-23T16:52:48Z")
From the article: > [@](#): > > Schiavo said his wife had told him and others she would not want to live on life support. > > But the woman’s parents argued she never would have said such a thing and have fought to keep their daughter from dying. This is the key issue. Is the husband lying? I don’t know. The article doesn’t mention divorce, so perhaps he simply could get a divorce if he wished, and he really is trying to follow her wishes. Or he’s dirt and wants to save money on a divorce. Although I guess if money is the issue then the hospital bills might be more of a motive than the divorce costs. I agree, there will be no easy answer on this one. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/4 "2002-11-23T16:57:28Z")
I guess the question is who these “others” are that she supposedly told. And if she made it so clear, why didn’t she have a living will? Sounds like a judge will have a fun time with this one… ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/5 "2002-11-23T17:27:13Z")
I may not recall this caseright, but here, I think the difference is that most of her brain has been liquified, and is no longer extant. She has just enough functionality to keep going. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Green\_Feather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@The\_Green\_Feather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Green_Feather)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/6 "2002-11-23T17:57:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > \*\* > She can’t move, other than here eyes, mouth, and head. \*\* > [@](#): > > _From the article_ > \*\*She breathes on her own and can open her eyes, but is fed through a tube. \*\* Was there another article that said she can move her mouth and head? > [@](#): > > _From the article_ > \*\*But the woman’s parents insist she is aware and responsive. Two doctors selected by the parents testified Terri Schiavo is not brain dead and can be treated. \*\* Does this mean she has been receiving treatment for 12 years? Or does it mean that after 12 years they have decided to _begin_ treatment? In any event 12 years is a very long time. It’s an extremly difficult descision. I know I wouldn’t want to live like she does (if you can call it living). I’d have to side with the husband on this one. It would have been easier on all parties if she had a living will making her heath care wishes known. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/7 "2002-11-23T18:59:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Was there another article that said she can move her mouth and head? That was not in an article. I saw that on some home video footage on CNN, probably shot by the parents. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/8 "2002-11-23T22:19:19Z")
AIUI, the husband has moved on with his life (for him, he lost his wife 12 years ago) and wants to get married. Her parents do not want to disconnect the feeding tube. I don’t know who’s paying for her care, but I would suggest if it’s the husband he let the parents become the guardians and take over her medical care and that he divorce her. IANAD, but I don’t know that disconnecting her feeding tube is the correct decision, though. That’s tantamount to starving to death, which will take several weeks and will not be pleasant. It’s not like turning off a respirator. I hope the parents win the appeal. This is a horrible situation, but I do agree the husband should be allowed to move on with his life. I think the parents are holding out false hopes, but they should not starve her to death. Question…does the feeding tube include a drinking tube? Would she die of thirst first? Really makes you realize you must make your wishes known to your family. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearwater-fl-the-schiavo-case/138350/9 "2002-11-23T22:48:54Z")
If IV or tube feeding clear fluids are continued (and they are in most cases) the death will not be one of dehydration, but rather one of heart or kidney failure due to malnutrition (actually relatively painless in her condition). Dehydration, OTOH, is one of the cruelest deaths. If I were in her situation, I would NOT want to be maintained on tube feedings. And I would not feel it to be an act of love by anyone who was trying to keep me alive. But that’s just me. **Make your wishes known, people!**