ManSlippers

The doctors (more than one) have said she wasn't suffering when she had the feeding tube, that she has no sense of pain, but she was still alert to her surroundings. Unfortunately, that's not enough to have the tube re-inserted for some reason. She could die like anyone else, why starve her? THAT is more suffering than she's been experiencing for years.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

I know but unfortunately there is no easy option or no correct option, It comes down to deciding what is best for her.

Loc

Yup I believe you.

Did Terri get this way because of an Electrical Imblance due to bulimia because thats what I read. So far all the footage here are of her in bed and some old picture. I read an article about how doctors are saying she isn't suffering as badly as we all think like Daniel said. Its sad to see such a personal issue be so played up in the media.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Its true but it probably happens in a lot more cases but its a deep moral issue.

ManSlippers

A chemical imbalance cause her heart to stop back in 1990 from an eating disorder she had.

Emma, here's one of the articles I was talking about:


According to court documents, Schiavo attempted to say "I want to live" after an attorney prompted her to do so March 18.

"In the presence of Suzanne Vitadamo (Schiavo's sister) and Suzanne's aunt, Mrs Schiavo attempted to verbalize that sentence. She managed to articulate the first two vowel sounds, first articulating 'AHHHHH' and then virtually screaming, 'WAAAAAAA.' She became very agitated but could not complete the vocalization attempted."

The attempted vocalization "is significant with regard to the question of Mrs. Schiavo's end of life wishes," the motion said.

Bob and Mary Schindler also begged Florida Governor Jeb Bush to intervene, as he did when a similar standoff unfolded in 2003.

"Governor Bush, you have the power to save my daughter, please, please do something," Mary Schindler said.

But Bush has said his powers are limited in the case, which graduated to the federal court system for the first time this week after an unprecedented intervention by the US Congress and President George W. Bush (news - web sites) last weekend.

Schiavo's parents have lost numerous court battles since then. In the latest, a three-judge panel of the US Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously against them.

"The plaintiffs have been unable to come forward in their second amended complaint with any new claims palpably alleging the denial of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States," said Judge Charles Wilson, who had earlier sided with the Schindlers.

US media reported that the Schindlers have declined to pursue an appeal of that decision.

The number of demonstrators outside the hospice was set to swell as Easter weekend got under way. Some of those present Friday seemed resigned to Schiavo's likely fate.

"I'm praying for her to rest in peace," said Raymond Simmons, a 35-year-old soldier from Tampa, Florida.

Schiavo's brain was heavily damaged following momentary heart failure in 1990, leaving her in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years. Her condition is not fatal and she is able to breathe on her own, but had relied on a tube for food and water.

CrAZyBeAuTiFuL4

According to court documents, Schiavo attempted to say "I want to live" after an attorney prompted her to do so March 18.

Thats the part that bothers me. "after an attorney prompted her to do so." It's highly unlikely that they were like, "So, tell us what you want." and she sat there and thought about it and was like, "Well by golly! I want to live!" It was probably moreso the lawyers going, "Tell the people you want to live!" If shes had severe brain damage, I'm guessing most of her upper level mental functioning isn't really working anymore. Therefore to ask her what she wants and get a response is impossible as she more than likely cannot process that on her own. However, to have someone sit in front of her and tell her to say something...that could be done with the right coaxing and whatnot.

ManSlippers

Well, maybe it was like "if you want to live, say I want to live"....depends on how it was phrased.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

If she was prompted, Its like she was told to and that it might not have been what she really wanted.

Lemons

Well, Im just telling you what I've heard.

CrAZyBeAuTiFuL4

That's very true. And it seems like a simple enough request for someone like you or me but to this women, I don't think it would be that simple. If her brain was "heavily damaged" you're not going to be able to ask/tell her something and have her understand it right away or even at all. The brain is a tricky thing. Even small ammount of damage can be very debilitating for a person.