How can a state judge order that someone not be given water and fed liquefied food through her own mouth?P
aralysed below the neck, a bedridden man becomes so depressed that he tells his wife, "I just want to die." Ever since his release from the hospital a year or so ago, she has been feeding him because he is unable to lift a fork or spoon to his mouth. Although he's not terminally ill, the doctors say he's going to be like that for the rest of his life. Fortunately, he is still able to talk and clearly express his wish to die. So his wife says, "OK, honey. I'll just stop feeding you and giving you liquids. You will die a peaceful, beautiful, elegant death in about 10-14 days."
Two weeks later, she calls 9-1-1 to inform authorities that her husband is dead. They ask, "How did he die, ma'am?" She says, "He was paralyzed and unable to feed himself, but he wanted to die. So I stopped feeding him and giving him water." They come to her house, examine the body, confirm that his death is indeed the result of starvation and dehydration, and...arrest the wife!
"But—but—that's what he told me he wanted," she sputters. "I was just honoring his wishes."
The police officer leads her away in handcuffs. "Tell that to the judge," he says.
"Who's the judge?" she asks.
"Ol' Hemlock himself," answers the police officer. "Judge Greer."
"Thank goodness," she says with a sigh of relief.
Negligent homicide? Assisted suicide? Or simply someone exercising his "right to die with dignity"?
Terri Schindler (Schiavo) can swallow her own saliva. She's not terminally ill. Yet she's being refused all liquids. All because her estranged, adulterous (ex)husband who has her under his utter control has said, "that's what she told me she wanted," and a lowly state probate judge believed him.
Justice?
It's the kind inside our gates right now. Liberals for Terri has a solid plan for kicking it right back out forever. Given the real facts of Terri's case, President Bush would wind up a hero if he followed it.
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