LDI Reviews the *Facts* About the Terri Schiavo Case

Some doctors have claimed that Terri is in a "persistent vegetative state" and will never recover. Yet Scott argues that this is immaterial. "Qualified medical personnel often disagree on a 'persistent vegetative state' diagnosis. More importantly, when a doctor says that a person will never recover, I remember all the cases where they turned out to be wrong." Scott recalled the case of a young man who doctors said would never come out of a coma. They were urging the family to stop life support. "He came out of the coma and his first words were, 'I want a steak,'" Scott said. "The brain is the one part of the body about which scientists still know very little. We need to stop speaking in absolutes about such cases."

"It is really not the least bit important whether Terri is in a 'persistent vegetative state' or whether she will eventually recover from her condition," Scott said. "Terri's very right to live can't be dependent upon her abilities or condition. Once we go down this subjective road every person is vulnerable to the whims of others."

Scott noted that referring to a person as a "vegetable" is an attempt to dehumanize them. "No person is ever a 'vegetable'. Vegetables grow in the ground. They are carrots, cucumbers, peas, and the like. They are never human beings. Terri Schindler Schiavo was made in the likeness of God; cauliflower was not."

Michael Schiavo has claimed that Terri once said she would not want to live in such a condition. "No kidding," Scott responded. "No one would. But assuming for a moment that Terri made such a statement, she could not possibly have known the exact condition in which she would find herself." Scott said he doubts that Terri made any such statement, but even if she had done so, it was clearly made in a flippant manner. "If Terri Schindler Schiavo felt strongly about the kind of care she would receive under such circumstances, her wishes would have been put in writing. They were not put in writing. We are going to kill this woman on the basis of hearsay or, more likely, the selfishness of one man."

"Terri is not terminally ill. She is not dying. She is not in pain. Terri merely needs nutrition and hydration, just as all of us do," Scott said. "She has been targeted for death simply because the delivery means is directly into a vein, which is deemed 'artificial.' Some people use a spoon, some a baby bottle, some an IV, but the goal is the same. Everyone—absolutely everyone—needs nutrition and hydration. Any person who does not get it will die. This is a basic need." Scott noted that the pro-euthanasia movement had originally claimed that they were working on behalf of those who were terminally ill, in excruciating pain, death was going to occur within a few months anyway, the patient had given written consent and discussed the decision over a long period of time with family, friends and medical professionals. "None of this has occurred in Terri's case."

Euthanasia advocates are now saying it would be more human to give Terri Schindler Schiavo a lethal injection. "This shows the real goal of the pro-euthanasia movement," Scott said. "And they believe that even a 14 year old should be able to request his or her death, without parental knowledge or consent. We need to look at the big picture. Advocates of euthanasia would love to see Terri die—not out of concern for her but only to further their cause."

"What was Terri's crime; why has she been given a death sentence?" Scott asked. "She has the audacity to remain alive when someone simply wants her dead. The problem is that Terri will not make things easy on Mike Schiavo and just die," Scott said. "She's just hanging on and that's interfering with Mike Schiavo plans." Mike Schiavo is living with another woman with whom he has two children. Terri's death will allow him to benefit from her estate and remarry. "I would love to see Terri wake up," Scott said. "And not just because I want to see her kick her husband's butt across the state of Florida." In the meantime, Scott said we should let Terri's family take care of her. "Terri's family has asked to care for her. Mike Schiavo could just go his own way and never give the matter another thought, yet he insists on seeing his wife die. What is the harm in letting Terri's parents care for their daughter? The only thing they are asking of Mike Schiavo is that he not kill Terri, but Mike apparently has another agenda." Scott said that Mike Schiavo claim that he is doing this "for his wife" is ludicrous.

"The Terri Schindler Schiavo case is taking us down a completely new road in the how we deal with those who cannot speak or care for themselves," Scott said. "Once we go down that new road, it will be very difficult to turn back. And all of mankind will pay the price."

Life Decisions International (LID) is dedicated to challenging the Culture of Death, concentrating on exposing and fighting the agenda of Planned Parenthood. Lid's chief project is a boycott of corporations that fund the abortion-committing giant.