You see, Schiavo'svo's husband claimed that his wife made mention in passing that she never would want to be like Karen Quinlannlan, another popular "right-to-die" battle from another generation. Thing is, a verbal agreement or statemisn'tsn't the same as something in writing. How many "handshake agreements" are nullified because nothing is in writing? Maybe Shiavoiavo believes her current treatment is "above and beyond normal resuscitative means." But she cannot communicate her desires and she left nothing in writing.don'ton't know all the details. Like the Florida legislature and GoverJeb Jeb Bush, I, too, would defer on the side of life.
(As a side note, it is sad that the one person that should unite the principles in this saga is the cause for such disagreement. I hope I never have to face this with my wife, but if I did, I would hope that her parents and I could agree on the proper course of action.)
There have been many misconceptions about living wills. I once thought they were possibly tools of the devil, until I worked at a Catholic convent while attending seminary.AloysiusAloysius told me that most of the Sisters had living wills. I asked if that was ethical and moral and thankfullyAloysiusAloysius was patient enough to explain that there are Christian ways to define what is permissible and what is not when one's earthly days draw to a close. This was made very real when my grandfather died a few years later. The paramedics asked my grandma if they should shock grandpa's heart back to life. My aunt, a trained nurse, had stated that the shock would do more damage than good. He went peacefully to his Savior's arms, which he was looking forward to.
There have also been times when my pastor has visited people in hospice and notweren'tey weren't given food or water. He contacted a doctor he trusts and was told that when systemic shutdown occurs, the body no longer processes what it used to. In effect, the patient would drown in any nourishment given.
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