The right to die

Terri Schavio, remember that name.
She has been in the hospital for 15 years ever since she suffered a stroke at the young age of 26 and was left without oxygen to her brain for five minutes, she has been in a vegetative state ever since, fed through a tube and all this time her husband has stood by her side, fifteen years he has been there for her watching her fade and finally he had enough.

Mr Schavio asked the courts to let his wife die and a few days ago after seven years fighting over this in courts he has the right to end Terris life. Perhaps in order to grasp what this life entails here is a description of what a vegetative state entails.

This term is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as "brain-death." It can follow a coma.
People in a persistent vegetative state cannot think, speak or respond to commands and are not aware of their surroundings. They may have noncognitive functions and breathing and circulation may remain relatively intact.

They also might move spontaneously and even grimace, cry or laugh.

In the seven years since the fight to let Terri die has been going on the feeding tube has been removed three times, last time in 2003 but at that time Jeb Bush, Florida Governor, intervened and legislated a right for him as governor to continue the feeding. This law has now been overturned by the US Supreme Court and the feeding tube is yet again sceduled to be taken out.
However, latest news are that the republicans in the senate has created a new and unique law after fierce lobbying from Terris parents, they want Terris to continue to live in her bed at the hospice.
The senate voted in favour to temporarily barr any attempt at removing the tube, but as a leading democrat says:
"Florida courts for seven years have found by a standard of clear and convincing evidence, that it is Terri Schiavo's wishes that she not remain in a permanent vegetative state," said Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat.

"It is not the place of Congress in the 11th hour in the most abusive fashion to undermine the Florida judicial system."

Well, as Terris feeding tube continues to be a hard question for the Christian Conservatives, Terris parents and Mr Schavio I have only one personal reflection of the whole affair.

Regardless if you agree with ending Terris life or not, I must ask myself, why do we have to let her starve to death! In a hospital no less, if a court has decided that she can go on to other things, or expire as it is called, why can we not give her a lethal injection and let her go quietly, why do we need to let her starve to death? Even the worst of criminals in the US gets a faster and less painful death, can we not extend this to a poor woman that had her life end at 26?

Sincerely
Mr Silence Dogood