I’ll admit I’m not completely up to speed on what follows. Before giving my own feelings and opinion on what I do know, as a parent, I will run through the facts as best I know them. Readers that know a lot more please feel free to correct the details provided in the next paragraph.

Terri Schiavo has lived for 12+ years in a vegatable status, being hooked up to machines and her husband has been fighting for mercy to have the tube removed, and thus starving her to death. Terri’s parents, however, are hoping some miracle will happen and are fighting to get the tube put put back after the state courts in Florida, after much review, ruled that the tube should be, and actually was, removed. For two days now the tube has been removed. Tonight, an emergency congressional bill was assembled and congress voted unanmiously (203-58) in favor of the bill and therefore against the state of Florida’s decision. What this means is now it will go to a federal court as to whether there will be a stay in the State case why the legal fate for Terri is resolved.

Al Barger is just one of many folks with a very passionate perspective about the tragic situation swirling aroung Terri Schiavo:

Dear Congress: Please mind your own damned business. Leave the Schiavo family alone. Who in hell do you presumptuous SOBs think you are? Let me be more specific. What part of your legal mandate, the US Constitution, gives you legal authority to interfere with particular individuals specific private medical decisions? By what authority do you overrule the state courts in this matter?

I’m a husband and parent. I’m looking at this through the eyes of a parent more than a husband though because IMO children trump marriage. My children mean more to me than anything in the world and I would do whatever I could do to protect them. I don’t ever want to make any decision like this with any of our children and I can just feel the gut-wrenching decision Terri’s parents must be going through. I really don’t think I could make this decision for my children. My wife says she could, and I’m glad she’s stronger than me on matters like this.

The decision for both my wife and I in a situation like this is covered in our detailed wills. We covered all situations including sustenance, power of attorney, etc. For me, this is an issue that should get folks motivated to revisit their wills and make sure this kind of stuff is covered there. No matter what anybody else says to the contrary, I strongly believe we can prepare for the inevitable.

God, I hope as a parent I never, ever have to make any call like this one concerning our children. I’m not a very religious person but I will still pray tonight for the Schiavo family and other families in similar situtations.

Hopefully many others will keep this family in their thoughts.

Update 3/22/05: PBS has a good look at living wills and whether or not if Mrs. Schiavo had a living will it would have made any difference:

I think it would have been considerably easier. It is always impossible to say what would have happened if things had been different. But it’s hard to imagine that it would have reached this level if there had been a living will in place. One of the other things that a living will does is it makes it so much easier for the team to at least come together somewhat, so in the first place, the proxy who has a very difficult role. No one should underestimate how difficult it is to be a proxy implementing decisions….

Did this post make you go hmm?

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