# Let the poor woman die already! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029 "2005-03-17T19:11:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/121 "2005-03-18T21:30:18Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > It’s a form of mental deficiency that aflicts people that listen to and trust anything Glenn Beck has to say about anything. ``` Ghods, I made the mistake of leaving the radio on when Beck came on the other night. it was five of the most nausiatin minutes of my life, including Beck doing his "people who endorse Michael Schivo" skit which involved naming people like "Hitler" and "Stalin". Couldn't we just euthanize Glenn Beck? Does the would really need a less intellegent Rush clone? Otherwise I see this case as an example of the attitude that "All life, is better than all death" In otherwords, people who are so out of touch with the cycle of life that they belive that life should be prolonged, even as a drooling vegatable, rather than face the ultimate horror...Death. Oddly enough, these same people seem to belive in some sort of heaven, so why they would want to keep somone on earth past their time is beyond me. ``` ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/122 "2005-03-18T21:54:48Z")
Eh, even without Glen Beck, there’s always [Laurie Roth](http://www.therothshow.com). Yeeeeeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/123 "2005-03-18T22:02:36Z")
Triquental(?) Thread Titles!!! Apparently we can’t even die satisfactorily. I, for one, do not give a fuck about Terry Schiavo Let the poor woman die already! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/124 "2005-03-18T22:15:08Z")
Don’t try so hard, **Bruce\_Daddy**. It’s still _se_quential, no matter how long the sequence is. Still, a rare occurrence. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/125 "2005-03-18T22:38:00Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > It’s symbolism, since Terri can’t “eat.” Does this make anyone else think “Ellen James Society”? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/126 "2005-03-18T22:56:47Z")
The lies continue. The Schindler’s lawyer was just speaking to the press, and said he visited Terri several times today, describing her as **‘animated’** , ‘\*\*chatty’ \*\* (!!!) and **very responsive** when they turned on some music! Perhaps she has visited the Wizard of Oz and gotten a new brain! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/127 "2005-03-18T23:11:00Z")
Wonder what they chatted about. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/128 "2005-03-18T23:40:06Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > How should I know? My guess is that they have their preconceived notions and aren’t about to let facts get in the way. These people are the ethical version of creationists. Same made up crap, same refusal to face the facts, same fanaticism, same running away. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/129 "2005-03-18T23:53:54Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > These people are the ethical version of creationists. Same made up crap, same refusal to face the facts, same fanaticism, same running away. Oops. That came out seriously wrong. :smack: I meant they are to ethics as creationists are to biology - not that they are ethical in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/130 "2005-03-19T00:29:07Z")
Has James Dobson weighed in on this yet? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/131 "2005-03-19T00:41:15Z")
The Republicans are doing all legal efforts to save a life. To many of them, this has become a domestic version of Iraq. The Republicans should exhaust all efforts. If Shiavo dies while feeding tube is removed, as far as I am concerned, the Republicans have not done enough. I am ashamed of the Democrats who remain silent in this. This is a person who is wreaked with emotional and depressive pain, thinking of suicidal thoughts almost all the time. If euthenasia is allowed, they would go after me first. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/132 "2005-03-19T00:41:49Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > The lies continue. The Schindler’s lawyer was just speaking to the press, and said he visited Terri several times today, describing her as **‘animated’** , ‘\*\*chatty’ \*\* (!!!) and **very responsive** when they turned on some music! > > Perhaps she has visited the Wizard of Oz and gotten a new brain! I hope to God they actually wheel her bones down to Congress to testify. I’ll tune into CSPAN to watch the Representatives ask Terri questions as she stares off into space with a vacant look on her face and drooling on herself. No way this wouldn’t backfire on the Repugs. :eek: I mean, they have to intend to ask her questions, right? I’m sure our beloved Congressmen sincerely were hoping to have her testify, and are not just using this as an underhanded trick to keep Shiavo alive as some sort of political football. I’m sure they’re above such things. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/133 "2005-03-19T00:42:37Z")
> [@capacitor](#): > > The Republicans are doing all legal efforts to save a life. To many of them, this has become a domestic version of Iraq. The Republicans should exhaust all efforts. If Shiavo dies while feeding tube is removed, as far as I am concerned, the Republicans have not done enough. > > I am ashamed of the Democrats who remain silent in this. > > This is a person who is wreaked with emotional and depressive pain, thinking of suicidal thoughts almost all the time. If euthenasia is allowed, they would go after me first. Great. This should never have been political in the first place. Now it’s partisan. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/134 "2005-03-19T00:46:17Z")
[quote] _Originally Posted by_\*\* duffer[/q] What I don’t understand is if the guy is so much in love with his wife, why is he already set to marry the woman he’s engaged to when Terry dies? [quote] It seems to me, that in order to sign papers for DNR or to remove the feeding tube or the air tube of someone you love, you have to believe that person is dead. At the point he signed those papers, all those years ago, he had let go. I really wish that Terry’s parents could do the same. I am not the praying sort, but it seems to me that if there is a God, that being is not under obligation to answer prayers the way the people praying want it to. Terry’s parents could have found ways to fill the loss. Possibly they could have been part of the lives of future children of Micheals. Maybe God answered their prayers, but they have been so busy they missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/135 "2005-03-19T00:49:27Z")
> [@capacitor](#): > > The Republicans are doing all legal efforts to save a life. To many of them, this has become a domestic version of Iraq. The Republicans should exhaust all efforts. If Shiavo dies while feeding tube is removed, as far as I am concerned, the Republicans have not done enough. > > I am ashamed of the Democrats who remain silent in this. Count me as someone who thinks that the value of life is dependent upon more than having a pulse. > [@](#): > > This is a person who is wreaked with emotional and depressive pain, thinking of suicidal thoughts almost all the time. If euthenasia is allowed, they would go after me first. Please. Take me down this slippery slope of yours. Tell me how we go from removing feeding tubes from permanent vegetables to “going after” people like you. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/136 "2005-03-19T00:51:15Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > Has James Dobson weighed in on this yet? :dubious: [You have to ask?](http://search.family.org/query.cfm?qt=schiavo&style=family&Search.x=0&Search.y=0) ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/137 "2005-03-19T01:10:00Z")
I’ve read through this entire thread, thoroughly enough I think (I’m tired), and so far I haven’t seen the issue brought up of what folks think ought to be done with _other_ people with similar handicapping conditions. I’m a social worker in an agency that serves little kids 0-3, and some of my clients are extremely low-functioning MR/DD and multiple handicapped - no speech, limited movement, seizures, etc. etc. Every argument that Ms. Schiavo is no longer a person/no longer alive because of lack of brain tissue/function brings to my mind these severely disabled children, of whom each and every one would starve to death if people stopped feeding them. Those of you who feel that Ms. Schiavo is not alive, how do you deal with the issue of a child who has similar functioning? Should their parents be allowed to stop feeding them as well, and “let” them die? Flame all you want. I just believe that severely handicapped people are still people, not items from the pantry or non-entities. Having interacted with them, I can’t imagine thinking of one of those kids as a “rutabaga” or referring to them as already dead. Any opinions on this? ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/138 "2005-03-19T01:12:00Z")
Correction - some clients that I _see_ from time to time - _not_ my clients. Didn’t want to misrepresent myself. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/139 "2005-03-19T01:17:55Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Please. Take me down this slippery slope of yours. Tell me how we go from removing feeding tubes from permanent vegetables to “going after” people like you. :dubious: Not to mention that the government isn’t going after anyone; they’re allowing the woman’s husband/caretaker to act on what the court has agreed were her wishes. > [@ggurl](#): > > Those of you who feel that Ms. Schiavo is not alive, how do you deal with the issue of a child who has similar functioning? Should their parents be allowed to stop feeding them as well, and “let” them die? The difference being that Terri is an adult, and before she had her heart attack and went into this condition, she said she didn’t want to be kept alive this way. Someone who is a kid and was born in that condition is pretty different. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/140 "2005-03-19T01:19:16Z")
Grossly deformed newborns who have no real chance at life are often DNF–do not feed–or at least they were when I graduated from college in 1984. I don’t do pediatrics so have no recent data. Again, this decision is made by those who presumably have the pts best wishes at heart–the parents or similiar. If the parents want everything done, those wishes are respected–and if not–those wishes are also respected. What don’t you understand about this? We have some idea that TS would not want to continue in this state. We have decent knowledge about PVS–which, again, is NOT the same as profound retardation, despite the fact that both sufferers may exhibit similiar “behavior”. TS is lacking anything but the most primitive brain functions–she has no higher functions at all. Let’s turn this around–why should she be kept in such a state? What purpose does it serve? Is it best for Terry? Feeding tube or no, she will eventually succumb to a either a nosocomial infection or pneumonia. Or her FT will be removed and she will die more quickly. She feels no pain; she has no awareness of life–she is in a PVS. Why should she be required to stay that way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=8)