Schiavo

What is life? Is it a Heartbeat? Is it consciousness? Is it Life Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness? All of the above perhaps? Did her husband abuse her? Did he cause the vegetative state? Why won't he turn her over to her parents? Could she recover?

Part of me is very tired of all the debates and rehashing of this case that is going on. Though on the other hand I have to say it is a better issue to be inundated with than say Kobe's or Michael's sex lives. After all, this issue is one of very serious debate and it is at the heart of two other major debates in the US. Abortion and the Death Penalty. The issue of course is the right of someone to choose death for someone else.

What do I think?

To tell you the truth I am not sure. The case has more twists than a twizler. In the end I think it unfortunate that most of the issues leading up to her state are largely mooted by her state. There is more than enough blame to go on both parties. What is the families motivation in maintaining her in such a state? Is that really what is in her best interests? Is the Husband just interested in being the beneficiary of her life insurance policy? Even considering he has passed up far more money from some people offered if he would simply transfer legal guardianship status to her family?

It seems the more you dig into the details the more questions are raised. The issue of abuse and motivations behind both parties aside I think in some way the case of Terri Schiavo has ceased to be what it should be about. And that is what is best for her. My gut reaction to the whole thing has been it is a war over who gets to decide her fate. If the husband had argued the whole time to keep her alive I think the family would be clamoring for the right to end her suffering. Or perhaps they are both right from their own perspective. A Husband who wants to carry out what he truly believes are his wife's wishes and a Family that honestly believes there is a chance for her recovery. After all if the medical opinions obtained on both sides are all done with integrity (and not purchased opinions saying what they want them to say) then there is legitimate medical dispute regarding her state. As for the husband, he has turned down millions simply to transfer legal guardian status to her parents which kinda shoots a hole in the idea he is just wanting to retain the small (by comparison) life insurance premium.

In the end there is enough to cast the story in pretty much any light you could care to. And the media has done just that. Regardless, it doesn't make the decision of what is right for Terri Schiavo any easier. Who wants to exist in such a state? I for one certainly wouldn't want to have the personality of a carrot for 15 years while my family agonized hoping I would recover. Especially considering medical experience seems to indicate that possibility of recovery is just this side of non-existent. BUT, that is my personal take on it. In the end I think we have a gut wrenching case that has no answer... at least not a universal 'right' answer.