[Gathnet] A Ray of Hope

[Stuart D. Gathman]

In listening to the arguments of those in favor of killing Terri, one 
thing stands out.  They are assuming that Terri is, in fact, in a 
Permanent Vegetative State.  This is understandable considering how often 
it is repeated.  Perhaps we have not passed the point of no return.

If Terri were, in fact, a vegetable, then the Schindlers and their
supporters are ghoulish refugees from a Nathaniel Hawthorn novel.  If
Terris were PVS, then Florida law specifically gives her husband
the authority to "pull the plug" on her.  If, on the other hand, Terri was
still conscious, then those doing her in are cold blooded murderers to the
extent that they knew this.  Perhaps the officers enforcing her slow
painful death sincerely believed that she was in that oft repeated
"Permanent Vegetative State".  The guilt lies with those promoting the
deception.  If Terri was not PVS, then it doesn't matter whether her
husband told the truth about her request - Florida law does not allow
assisted suicide.

Rather than rail against the perpretators of this travesty, it would be
more constructive to educate the general public about people in MCS -
Minimally Conscious State, and help get laws passed to protect their right
to life.  Many such patients recover, and can tell us what it is like.  
The Mar 26 World Magazine features Kate Adamson - one such survivor.  She
had far less capability left than Terri, unable to blink or swallow.  
People talked about her as if she weren't there.  She wanted to scream,
but couldn't.  At one point, she had no food for 8 days, (they still gave
her water), and thought she would go crazy from the pain of hunger and
being unable to do anything about it.  She kept saying in her head, "Feed
me, please feed me."

Is/was Terri PVS?

3 court appointed experts testified that Terri is PVS.  33 independent
experts signed affadavits saying that she is not.

I am not one of those experts, but I understand that these facts are not
consistent with PVS:

1) Terri responds to spoken words.  She has very little control of her 
body, but is able to open and close her eyes when asked.  If her friends 
had been allowed enough time with her, they could probably help her work 
out a code for more complex communication.  Dozens of those 33 experts 
said that this should be tried and had a good chance of success.

2) Terri can speak simple words, with great difficulty, in response to 
verbal requests.

3) Terri can swallow liquids.  She cannot feed herself, but she could live
without the feeding tube if fed by hand on liquified food.  The feeding
tube was ordered by her husband.

4) Her eyes follow objects that are are verbally brought to her 
attention.

5) She recognizes people, becoming distressed in the presence of her 
husband, and expressing coos of delight at the sight of her mother.

http://terrisfight.org has some videos of Terri doing these things.


Here are some more arguments from ignorance (or deliberate missing the 
point):

1) Won't Terri be better off in Heaven?

   Certainly, Terri is (assuming she is in Christ).  The issue is whether 
   we who are left behind have become more like brute beasts, or more like 
   Christ in our choices and responses.  If bumping off the broken and 
   outmoded becomes accepted, we will become like Ratchet and his Mama in
   the new Robots movie.

2) Studies show that Terminal Cancer Patients are more comfortable in 
   their last hours if they don't eat or drink.

   Terri was not a terminal patient.  She wasn't even sick.  She was 
   mentally disabled, but otherwise perfectly healthy.  Terminal patients 
   also have the help of considerable quantities of morphine - Terri 
   didn't.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.