What#039;s so humane about starving?

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 3, 2003

I am sure by now, many people know of the ordeal that Terri Schiavo is going through in Clearwater, Fla.

She has been declared in a vegetative state, but she reacts to family members. She laughs and cries. This makes me think she probably knows at least some of what is going on and there is brain activity.

Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has started a court battle to pretty much murder her legally in my opinion. He wants to starve her to death and he almost succeeded.

He had the feeding tube that is mandatory for her removed. It lasted for six days. That is six days without food or water. The doctors told him she would die within about 7 to 10 days without either of these necessities.

Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill into law regarding this treatment and ordered the feeding tube replaced after the senate voted 23-15 to save Terri.

Now, Michael is refusing to let her family see her. I personally don't think he should have the right to tell her mother and father they can't see her. I think if her parents want to walk in that room and see their daughter, nobody should be able to stop them.

I also don't think the spouse of anyone should have 100 percent control of a situation like this. If there is a sibling or other blood relative, they should share in that decision.

I don't see how someone who is supposed to love her could be so cruel. I could never watch someone I love lay in a hospital and starve to death.

I don't agree with this form of assisted suicide in any case. I understand wanting a loved one out of misery, but if you are going to do something like that, wouldn't you want it to be fast instead of starving to death?

Michael's lawyer, George Felos, has said "It is simply inhumane and barbaric to interrupt her death process."

I think it is pretty inhumane to starve a person to death.