My thoughts on the Terri Schaivo case were incredibly mixed and when considering that Australia heard very little about the case, I can hardly say I'm aware of all the details, suffice to say it was appalling how she was left to die. Whatever my thoughts might be on voluntary euthanasia, there is absolutely no way in hell that it's right to determine such a case when the patient cannot speak for themselves and has made no legally defining will on the matter. I think that the notion of cutting off food or oxygen to a mentally and physically disabled patient who cannot speak for themselves is incredibly bad because of the notion that it would de-emphasise the dignity and value of the life of the patient, and as such would similarly devalue the lives of many other patients in similar situations, meaning they would, in essence, be treated even worse than animals who are euthanased (if only because the animals are given the chance to die quick and painlessly).
In any case, my thoughts on the matter are that legal rights over matters like this should definitely be granted to blood family over spouses any day, when one considers that the love and financial support of a family member is nearly always going to be greater than that of the spouse, if the Schindlers v. Michael Schiavo has taught us anything.
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Date: 2005-06-21 08:36 am (UTC)In any case, my thoughts on the matter are that legal rights over matters like this should definitely be granted to blood family over spouses any day, when one considers that the love and financial support of a family member is nearly always going to be greater than that of the spouse, if the Schindlers v. Michael Schiavo has taught us anything.