# Farewell, Terry Schiavo **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419 "2005-01-24T16:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/1 "2005-01-24T16:01:52Z")
No link yet, but SCOTUS has refused to hear Gov. Jeb Bush’s appeal to keep Terry Schaivo on her feeding tube, clearing the way for her husband to disconnect her. Terry has been in a persistent vegetative state for years, and there’s been an ongoing court fight between Terry’s husband and her parents, who, despite all medical evidence, think their daughter will recover. I at first was horrifed that this poor woman was going to starve to death, until I realized she doesn’t have enough brain yet to feel hunger. Her body is finally going to meet her soul. Good night, Terry. You have suffered enough. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/2 "2005-01-24T16:02:59Z")
[Found a link.](http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0105/24scotus.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/3 "2005-01-24T16:28:20Z")
One can’t really be “glad” at any outcome here, but this is the best under the circumstances. I feel for her parents, but their delusion will never bring her back. –Cliffy ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/4 "2005-01-24T16:37:53Z")
Is there any advantage in Terri’s dying to Michael Schiavo? If her poor, deluded parents want to take custody of her, why not? That way, this mess could have been over a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/5 "2005-01-24T16:43:12Z")
Her parents claim that Michael wants her estate. Michael says her estate is long gone for medical care. I saw him on Larry King, and he came across as a man who loved his wife, and wants to do what she wanted. Her parents are claiming Terry never wanted to die, but she was a young woman when this happened. Who thinks to fill out a living will when you’re young and healthy? Michael is going by a passing statement she made while they watched a TV show about coma patients, which, under the circumstances, is the best they can do at this point. This may not be the end of it, apparently. SCOTUS refused to reinstate Terri’s law, which was custom fit for this one case, but I don’t think that means this is over. I have a living will. Do you? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/6 "2005-01-24T17:31:39Z")
I need to write a living will, I think. _shaken_ The poor woman. May she have a quick, peaceful, and painless end. ---
**Author:** ![zephyrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@zephyrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyrine)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/7 "2005-01-24T18:01:36Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > Is there any advantage in Terri’s dying to Michael Schiavo? I’d imagine that this is a similar situation to someone who loses a family member and does not have a body to bury. The finality of death and burial or cremation allows us to grieve, to achieve some measure of closure, and, hopefully, to begin the healing process. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/8 "2005-01-24T18:03:45Z")
I hate to say it, but I’m not going to hold my breath. EVERY time in the past where it has been said that she’ll be released, her parents find some way to stop it. I can understand their grief, but they need to let go. This woman has become a pawn for politicians, and it’s disgusting. Hopefully, this time it will actually happen. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/9 "2005-01-24T18:14:50Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > I need to write a living will, I think. _shaken_ No need to write one. They have forms on the internet, and I’m sure the local hospice care in your area has some forms. Don’t let your family fight over your shell after you’re gone. Leave explicit instructions. After Ivylad’s father became ill enough for hospice, we all filled out a form. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/10 "2005-01-24T18:19:13Z")
Good idea, **ivylass**. I’ll do that very soon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/11 "2005-01-24T18:42:53Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > Is there any advantage in Terri’s dying to Michael Schiavo? Yes. Micheal Schiavo has a girlfriend of a few years, with whom he has a child. I’ve often wondered why he doesn’t just divorce Terry so he can marry this woman, but I would be willing to bet that there’s more money from the estate than he’s letting the public know about, and if he divorces her, he might not get that money. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/12 "2005-01-24T18:44:11Z")
From what I understand, all the money has gone to Terry’s care, and Michael believes he’s doing what his wife wanted, and if he turns guardianship over to her parents, they will continue to keep her shell alive. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/13 "2005-01-24T19:18:12Z")
For your reference, [this website](http://www.uslegalforms.com/living-will-forms.htm) has living will/advance directive forms for all U.S. States. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/14 "2005-01-24T19:29:18Z")
My grandmother had a living will. Thank God it never came down to that, though. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/15 "2005-02-25T21:58:20Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > This woman has become a pawn for politicians, and it’s disgusting. [One more ‘hurdle’ cleared](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050225/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman_27) > [@](#): > > “The court is no longer comfortable granting stays simply upon the filings of new motions,” Greer wrote. “There will always be ‘new’ issues.” There’s something inherently creepy about a judge (who sounds like his patience has worn thin) making a life-ending decision like this. I don’t see her tragic existence as a pawn for politicians, but rather too much power being ceded to lawyers in robes. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/16 "2005-02-25T22:56:04Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > No need to write one. They have forms on the internet, and I’m sure the local hospice care in your area has some forms. > > Don’t let your family fight over your shell after you’re gone. Leave explicit instructions. After Ivylad’s father became ill enough for hospice, we all filled out a form. You can also register[?] your living will with the local hospitals by getting their registration/records division certified copies…I found that out when I was in the ER for this damned influenza…so I just got them a copy and mailed it off…I normally wear dogtags for diabetes/alergies and may add a line about check with records for a living will, or something like that. I am an organ doner anyway=) ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/17 "2005-02-26T00:42:51Z")
The latest interview I saw of the parents, they actually hinted that foul play was involved and the husband might have had a hand in it. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/18 "2005-02-26T00:56:24Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#): > > I’ve often wondered why he doesn’t just divorce Terry so he can marry this woman, but I would be willing to bet that there’s more money from the estate than he’s letting the public know about, and if he divorces her, he might not get that money. If he is committed to carrying out her wishes, divorcing her would put her care on her parents who would not carry out her wishes (assuming he is being honest). My question is: if her parents, and by extension those who want to keep her body alive, are so keen on keeping her alive, why don’t they pony up the money? Or at the very least, demonstrate that they have the financial potential to back up their moral arguments. If they did, I would take them much more seriously. As it is, they appear to me to be a lot of meddling people who do not wish to soil their hands with the ugly truth of her present medical condition. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/19 "2005-02-26T01:24:45Z")
I second Vlad’s thoughts on this. I know there will be a TV Movie of the Week and a book out of this in the future, but I wonder how much will come out in the wash that we don’t know about. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419/20 "2005-02-26T15:49:38Z")
Well, she will be alive until [March 18,](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48398-2005Feb23.html) to give DCF time to investigate claims of abuse by her husband. (In case the link requires registration, google “terry schiavo delay.” It came right up when I linked through Google, but on preview, it’s asking for registration.) I’m wondering if a DoperDoc can weigh in here. **DoctorJ** or **Qadgop** , what is your take on this? Are the Schindlers right, that Terri can recover with proper therapy? Or is her husband right, that Terri has no brain left? And how does the case of [this woman](http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-02-24-voa51.cfm) coming out of a coma after 20 years factor into this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farewell-terry-schiavo/286419.md?page=2)