[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: case of Ms. Schiavo

[Heidi Tandy]

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 2:51PM -0500, Steve wrote:
>
> I don't know how many of you have seen the short video clips of this
> woman on TV, and I confess that I don't know how old these videos are,
> but the woman I see is capable of appropriate facial expressions and
> she seems to be able to respond to the world around her, so I'm not
> convince just how 'vegitative' this woman is.

You might find today's New York Times article on this interesting, as it 
describes the differences between reflexes and deliberate movements.

> So, I think it is very important for a very neutral and knowledgable
> third party to evaluate this situation. It need to be determined that
> she is incapable of having any 'quality' of life; that she isn't moved
> by music or a sad story, that she is unaware of the presents of her
> friends and family, and therefore unable to take comfort in their
> presents.

And that's what happens in court proceedings. It has happened in this 
case, where the court was convinced that this actually is the case. 
However, that wouldn't be enough to remove the tube if her husband were 
not in favour ofnthe tube's removal, but he is her next of kin and he 
claims she told him she didn't want heroic measures, although at one 
point about 10 years ago, he definitely tried such measures.

Personally, I think living wills should be required of anyone over the 
age of 22, but given how many people don't have traditional wills, raise 
hands if you think that's ever going to become common.


Heidi, who is actually all for heroic measures, personally (and whose 
husband & parents know it)