My question is this: how many out there have discussed, or will discuss, their stances for their own Living Will, DNR, and/or death wishes with not just their spouse/significant other, but their parents, siblings, and even friends?
Now, I am not married, and I am an only child. But, I cannot conceive of not discussing these issues with my parents, nor even with some of my best friends. As a matter of fact, I have. They are aware of my wishes and my documents. One set of friends locally (my parents live in NJ) have the power to execute those documents. My HMO has those wishes on record, as well.
I find it very unrealistic that Terri Schiavo never discussed her wishes with anyone but her husband if she was serious. Sure, she was very young at the time, early twenties. But, were she very serious, might she not have discussed this with her parents, siblings, her pastor, even her friends? One would think so. Might she not have drawn up a Living Will? Yet no one other then her husband claims to know what her actual wishes were. So, why can we not err on the side of life?
All she needs is food and water. Same as a baby does. A baby cannot live without the same care that Terri needs. Or those who are quadriplegic. Severely mentally handicapped. And many others. She is not on life sustaining machines, such as for breathing, or kidney failure, such as Tom Delay’s father, which is the new meme by the Left. Delay’s father was kept alive by intravenous tubes and breathing equipment. He would have needed to be hooked up permanently to a dialysis machine when his kidney’s failed. The Left is trying to use this as a case of hypocrisy by Delay, but, as usual, they forgot to read the entire LA Times article.
Doctors conducted a series of tests, including scans of his head, face, neck and abdomen. They checked for lung damage and performed a tracheostomy to assist his breathing. But they could not prevent steady deterioration.
Then, infections complicated the senior DeLay’s fight for life. Finally, his organs began to fail. His family and physicians confronted the dreaded choice so many other Americans have faced: to make heroic efforts or to let the end come.
So, he was not in the same condition as Terri. Like Terri, he had not Living Will or DNR. But, again, unlike Terri, his family knew of his wishes. Not just his wife, but his family. So, what we have here are two completely different situations that the Left is trying to use for their nefarious, oppose Bush agenda. Imagine if this was a convicted mass murderer, though. They would be fighting for his life. Since Terri committed no crime, she is apparently not worthy of the same benefit to life to them.
So, back to my question. How have you handled this?
Read: A question for you on Living Wills/DNR’s/death wishes »
