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February 24, 2005

Terri and Michael, her 'husband'

Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, has done everything to keep her in the state she is in or worse. He has forbidden any physical or speech therapy, even though Terri's parents offered to pay for it. He once ordered that her teeth not be brushed - and she went five years without any dental care.

Terri is confined to a small room, with little or no stimulation. This is not the way anyone should be treated - at best, it is neglect.

I am in Florida this week, and Terri's right to live is all over talk radio. This morning, I even heard two bloggers interviewed, hyscience and Richard of Blogs for Terri, and they were just wonderful with Pat Campbell, a local Orlando talk show host.

The thing is this - Terri has not been allowed to have the therapy most brain-damaged people get. Michael wants her dead. There are rumours that he may have been to blame for Terri's collapse - I don't know - but a scan has shown broken bones that could have been caused by abuse.

What I understand least of all is why this man, Michael Schiavo, who lives with another woman and has children by her won't do the right thing and divorce Terri and marry the other woman and allow Terri's parents to care for their daughter.

Yes, she is mentally disabled - but does that mean she doesn't have the right to live? Many news outlets are calling this a Right to Die case - when it is really a Right to Live case.

Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with a living will - that is signed and witnessed properly. I would not want to be 'kept alive' by a respirator for a year or more (for a few months, hecky darn yes! Give me all the chances you can!). But taking food and water from someone is akin to murder. And having a judge decide that an innocent human being must die by starvation is cruel and unusual punishment - without a trial.

God gave us life. Jesus fed the crowds with loaves and fishes. I can't imagine that it would be the wish of the Lord to starve anyone to death when we have the technology to feed them and give them therapy that might make them better.

These fine bloggers are also praying and blogging for Terri's life:

Posted by Beth at February 24, 2005 05:54 PM