Terri Schiavo: Could it happen here?

[electricland]

Almost certainly not, apparently.

Interesting.

Comments

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Another sign that Canada is currently a much better place to live.

(The story also makes reference to the fact that she got this way from an eating disorder, the "cerebral cortex mush," and the fact that withdrawing a feeding tube is not cruel and unusual, all 3 of which are bits of information that are being routinely overlooked in US media coverage.)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

This article is good on a number of levels, and gives me a certain feeling of security (and I still think I need to make sure my family understands my wishes!). But am I cynical to be somewhat concerned at the rosecoloured glasses that one of the experts seems to be wearing in the following statement:

The politicians — both state legislators and congress legislators — have intruded themselves in a matter that has been between the family," Prof. Schafer said. "Our politicians would never do that."

I dare say Americans might have though the same not that many years ago....

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're cynical.

I do think we'll be more vigilant with this Awful Example, though... and I think the way our political system is set up maybe insulates us a little bit from the possibility. Maybe. Maybe that's my rose-coloured glasses showing. *sigh*

*sigh*

[raithen.livejournal.com]

I am actually quite fond of rose coloured glasses, myself....

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

I am, however, tempted to whack with a shovel the next disability advocate who speaks up on this case: brain death is not a disability. *grrr*

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Well, we do have our issues. But it's interesting. I keep vaguely wondering if universal healthcare/socialized medicine has anything to do with it, and how one would find out.

[lietya.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if it had *something* to do with it, although I'm not sure how one would find out. (On the one hand, you wouldn't have poor black babies being cut off because no one can pay; on the other, the state has a more "compelling interest" in the case when it's footing the bill.)