MAKE TERRI SCHIAVO'S DEATH COUNT

Published on March 31, 2005 By COL Gene In Current Events

Americans should learn from the tragic death of this woman so that her pain and the pain her family suffered was not in vain.

First, every person should be encouraged to have a clear written directive as to what they would like done should they become incapacitated like Terri Schiavo.

Second, we should consider changing our laws to maintain the life of a person in the event there is no clear written directive. This would mean removing this decision from the next of kin and choosing life when there is no clear written directive to the contrary.

Finally, we must come to grips with the issue of how we pay for the care required at the end of life. It is not enough to choose life if you’re unwilling to provide the resources necessary to maintain those lives. There is no more specific example of this than the proposed cuts in Medicaid. Without having the resources in programs like Medicaid, it is simply not possible for most people to be able to pay for extended care of family members like Terri Schiavo.

Comments

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 31, 2005

First, let me state that I agree unequivocably as to this case underscoring the need for a living will.

However, I am concerned with the idea of increasing Medicaid funding. Forced compassion is no compassion, colgene, it's a mugging plain and simple. We need to shake the entitlement mentality that is driving our country to bankruptcy.

You are a compassionate individual, and I respect that, and we are united in our desire to see all Americans have fair and reasonable health care, among other things. But to put these items under the umbrella of the government is to increase the government's potential for control in areas where it has no business meddling. We need to find privately funded solutions for these problems, not insist on an increasingly socialist government to provide these things, as with government funding comes government control, and we are already in serious danger of losing our liberties as it is.

COL Gene

on Mar 31, 2005

although I would like to see the private sector deal with the medical issues, I believe the likelihood of affordable insurance that would be capable of covering the majority of low and middle income Americans is unlikely. When I look at the overall cost of private insurance and the fact that 46 million people have no medical insurance plan, I find it difficult to see how the private sector will be able to resolve this issue.

Sandi

on Apr 08, 2005

I think people are overlooking a point with respect to the Terry Schiavo case - self-esteem. Due to her low self-esteem she had an eating disorder that lead to her condition in the first place (just one of many). The shootings at schools are also a result of low self-esteem. Perhaps dealing with this problem which has plagued so many young people such situations could be prevented.

Also, all the religious do-gooders are missing their own point - it was in God's hands and he must have decided it was her time. Uncomfortable death? There are many many uncomfortable deaths by the hand of God including the Pope's.

Sandi

on Apr 08, 2005

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