Comments on PVS

Is a person in a "Persistent Vegetative State" (PVS) alive?
How would you answer?
As you may guess, I would answer "yes". Before her death this morning, Terri S was a living, breathing human being.
I found it very interesting that this exact terminology was used by her Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) in Dec. 2003 court ordered report to Gov. J. Bush (page 30 of 38) :
GAL states "...evidence is compelling [that] Theresa is in a persistent vegetative state" and in next paragraph he states..."Terri is a living, breathing human being."
From where I stand, persistent vegetative state or not, a living, breathing human being who is not allowed to have food & water is a human being who is being caused (not simply allowed) to die.
Even if all her movements, sounds, tracking etc could be ruled solely a result of reflex (and that is still controversial...too bad the courts would not allow the most up to date & sensitive tests) ...even if reflex...she still was a living, breathing human being until she starved.
Whether she felt pain in the process or not, she was starved so as to end her life.
Whether she had ever clearly expressed her absolute wish to die if in PVS (and I feel there is much doubt here), do any of us truly believe that she would have checked the box that said..."Stop hydration & nutrition and continue this course for as many days/weeks as it takes to cause death by dehydration/starvation."

One has to be HUMAN & ALIVE in order to have the PVS medical term applied. TS was human & alive.

All living human beings (functional or disabled) have an intrinsic need for & right to food & water. TS had an intrinsic need for & right to food & water. Removal of those elements is so different than removal of a respirator or repeated application of CPR & “life saving drugs”. I feel feeding is basic and normal; respirators & resuscitation are extraordinary. Feeding should continue & extraordinary means be used judiciously with respect for the body/soul’s attempts to die. Terri S did not appear to be trying to die before the feeding tube was removed. Life has “a life of its own” and it will leave the body when it is time to leave.
It is scary to realize that strict application of the letter of the law without view for the spirit of the law, can result in depriving a defenseless human being of an intrinsic right. It is sad to see celebration over that legal "victory".
More later. Comments welcome.

Let's Continue The Discussion

Though Terri Schiavo died today, the issues surrounding her death did not. There are still many questions to ask & answers to discuss. If, rather than that, we now all share a collective sigh & say "Wow! It's really time to move on & forget about this whole deal", then I feel we will miss the opportunity to completely use the gifts we have...
Gift of being able to use cognitive thought centers that are (thankfully) connected to language centers and to oral motor muscles (to speak these thoughts) or to fine motor muscles (to type these words)...pleasures & powers which I admit I take for granted all too often.
Gift of the freedom to express our individual perspectives because they do matter within context of a community of friends & family...something I rarely take for granted.
No matter what one's perspective was on TS's "right to die" or "right to live", I feel that her life & its ending present an opportunity to understand our lives better.