What do you think of the Terri Schiavo case?

[Plotloss]

[Mrs Fish]

Gazboy said:

What I don't get is, why starve her? Why not OD Terri on Morphine and let her go peacefuly? Or is there something i don't understand about Morphine (still sounds better than dying of thirst/hunger though).

I agree that she should be left to die, the thing is OD'ing her on Morphine isn't dying naturally is it, whereas starving her is. I know which I would prefer though.

[Plotloss]

Gazboy said:

Why not OD Terri on Morphine and let her go peacefuly?

Because thats illegal in the US and most other countries. The Dutch are taking the lead, as always.

[mechsympathy]

There's a subtle difference between withdrawing treatment (ie food) and actually knocking her off.

As has been said, I know which I'd rather have.

[Plotloss]

Lunacy indeed. But then suicide is illegal in the UK which strikes me as odd, who do they charge?

Euthenasia is a hugely complicated subject (and word to spell evidently)...

[Plotloss]

What? Exercise free will? Are you mad?

[JagLover]

its illegal for someone else to do it for you.

As for the case if someone is brain dead-and the consensus of the doctors is that she is-then I can see no harm in withdrawing support.

It would be more humane to do it by an overdose-but not allowed under the law.

[Don]

Gazboy said:

I can't understand why it's illegal to take your own life.

Its a hang-over from our devoutly Christian days. Its a "mortal sin" to suicide - as you are "murdering" yourself - taking a life - which is a mortal sin. Mortal sins are bad. You (can) go to Hell for them. (See Constantine for an amusing half-explanation!). Lots of our secular laws are derived from religious ones. This is an example.

Interestingly its also illegal to bugger your wife, IIRC. Its not actually illegal to bugger anyone else as I understand it. I suspect that this law is derived from it being a form of contraception - although it simply may have been a protection for the wife.

Any lawyers got more insight/accuracy?

[Plotloss]

I completely agree, I am just pointing out that the illegality of the ultimate choice as being an utterly preposterous principal.

If in the opinion of a number of doctors (has to be more than one, see Shipman (did his suicide add one to his final tally or was it counted as an own goal?)) if termination will end a life of constant suffering then with the will of the patient a termination should occur.

[Plotloss]

Don said:

Interestingly its also illegal to bugger your wife, IIRC. Its not actually illegal to bugger anyone else as I understand it. I suspect that this law is derived from it being a form of contraception - although it simply may have been a protection for the wife. Any lawyers got more insight/accuracy?

I thought it was hetro buggery - illegal, homo buggery - legal.

Which is a bit of a double standard really...

[Marki]

The more i see and hear of this case the more i feel the Husband should just get on with his new life and family and leave her alone .

[Pigeon]

Plotloss said:

Lunacy indeed. But then suicide is illegal in the UK which strikes me as odd, who do they charge?

Used to be; hasn't been for some considerable time though.

[tinman0]

I think she should be left to die.

This poor women died years ago, all thats left is a shell.

[GregE240]

Plotloss said:

Euthenasia is a hugely complicated subject (and word to spell evidently)...

I thought it was a charity for children who fell victim of the recent Tsunami (again a tricky word).

[john_p]

Compare and contrast ....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4393117.stm

[anonymous-user]

I was under the impression that suicide was illegal in order for assisting to be illegal also - it'd be a bit odd if stealing wasn't illegal but helping someone to steal was, IYSMIM.

As for this particular case, I'm unsure. Don't know if I'd ever be able to glean enough real information from the press to make an informed decision. Sitting here in the cold light of day I'm more than willing to say that if it were me I'd want it to end. But, were I then in that situation and unable to communicate my will I can't be sure I'd still want to die.

[aspender]

BBC News 24 are just reporting that she's dead.

[Trooper2]

Plotloss said:

Gazboy said: Why not OD Terri on Morphine and let her go peacefuly? Because thats illegal in the US and most other countries. The Dutch are taking the lead, as always.

It is legal in the state of Oregon only if IIRC.

[lotuslad]

Just heard from CNN that she died a short while ago

[Plotloss]

Trooper2 said:

Plotloss said: Gazboy said: Why not OD Terri on Morphine and let her go peacefuly? Because thats illegal in the US and most other countries. The Dutch are taking the lead, as always. It is legal in the state of Oregon only if IIRC.

Ah yes and I see Mr Ashcroft tried to put a stop to that but the judiciary rightly ruled against him saying he had overstepped the mark...