The Sacrament of Marriage and Ms. Shiavo's Case

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Mark at Minute Particulars makes some excellent points about the sacrament of Marriage and its position in being able to make health care decisions about a disabled spouse. And for the most part I agree. But I have to say that I see very little shadow of doubt about the propriety of the action in this case because one must wonder how much of the sacrament is intact. One of the reasons little discussion has been devoted to this fact of the case, I believe, is because one must get very scrupulous and legalistic about definitions and who can decide what. After all--the sacrament does not appear to be lived out in this case, (further statement may constitute gossip and so I refrain). I think in any discussion of who makes what decisions, extenuating circumstances such as this must be considered. I give more weight to the legislative action taken in this case, not because it was necessarily right and proper, but it is up to the state to defend those who cannot speak for themselves. Under these circumstance, where it might be more convenient for the person making the decision to have someone "put out of their misery," I believe additional scrutiny is probably in order.

The sacrament of Marriage should drive who we consider the proper person to make decisions in this matter, but then, so should all the circumstances of the case and not a mere legalism.

"Don't we undermine marriage somewhat if we steamroll over the authority a husband or wife has for an incapacitated spouse?" In answer to this very legitimate question, I think the reply must be based not on speculative theory but what was right in this case or in the case under inspection. If to all exterior appearances the sacrament is being lived out fully, all due consideration must be paid to this; however, I think it is relatively easy to see that there are good reasons to suspect Mr. Shiavo's devotion to Ms. Schiavo and his dedication to her best interest. In such a case, should we close our eyes to extenuating circumstances and stand on a rather legalistic interpretation of what the sacrament is all about? My reading indicates that Mark in no way suggests this and I don't want to leave anyone with the impression that I impute this view to him; however, it is the other side, and a tremendously important side at that, of the discussion. And because it is so seamy and so filled with innuendo and the possibility of uncharitableness, it may not have gotten much play in the course of discussion. However, I don't think we can allow the view taken during the Clinton Administration that what one does in one's private life should not affect the view of public actions. As with all such discussions, this one needs to be considered as a whole--and I suspect that the question of the sacrament is somewhat less problematic in the instance.

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Please consider participating and getting others to as well!

Key: ,. = etc.

The Terri Schindler Life Ribbon Campaign acts as a beacon pointing to Terri's plight. It also acts as lighthouse and gateway to others who already Realize and stand as Witness to Terri's inherent right to life and rehabilitation,. It is apparent that Michael Schiavo, George Felos, Deborah Bushnell and Co. must be bound by laws in order to be forced out of Terri's life. Let us continue to spread the word and take actions,. for Terri.

Juan Schoch
e-mail: pc93@bellsouth.net


Help Us Protect And Ensure Life
And Liberty For Terri Schindler!
Become a Life Ribbon Site

You are encouraged to place a Life Ribbon Campaign banner or ribbon on your servers and web pages to support/participate in the campaign described on this page at

http://bellsouthpwp.net/p/c/pc93/terri_schindler_life_ribbon_campaign.htm

Questions to: pc93@bellsouth.net

Also looking for co-ordinators for Terri Life Ribbon Meet-ups in their particular states/countries. The suggestion has been put forward to put a green or green plaid ribbon around a tree or other suitable locations.

P.S. Please also participate in Terri's Lights.

Please sign and if you have others who would care to sign please forward to them.

What we are asking for here is a geometrical progression.

Send to 10 or more caring people in your circle of friends who will do the same and so on.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Felos518/petition.html

Carefully read the Florida Bar petition online before signing, requesting the Florida Bar bring described formal action involving attorneys George Felos and Deborah Bushnell, for reasons described in the petition.

FLORIDIANS AND NON-FLORIDIANS accepted. This is going straight to the Florida Bar. Count is around 131 at this time. Please send this to as many caring individuals as you can with the message to others to take the same actions.

Refs:

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/30/Tampabay/Doctors_examine_Schia.shtml

You can view the police report, concluded May 14, 2004 here: http://zimp.org/pr/. By clicking the thumbnails, you can view a full-size scan of each page. Additionally, you can download the entire package for offline viewing (requires Winzip) here: http://zimp.org/pr/pr.zip.

The above report not only indicates that absolutely nothing suspicious was found as the result of this exhaustive investigation, but also that the 'marks' and 'needle cap' (which turned out to part of an irrigation kit) were found PRIOR to Terri's parents visiting that day.

Additionally, I encourage you to read the press release issued by Mr. Felos the night of the alleged incident here: http://zimp.org/documents/felospr032904.pdf in which he states that a forensic team was investigating the matter. In speaking personally with the Clearwater Police Department, I have learned that they don't even have a forensic team.

Be creative, do take action.

\"Petition for State protective custody for Terri\" (please get the petition information out to as many peoples as possible)
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/chisana7/

\"Saving Terri Schiavo\"
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/19461949/

Laws being broken:
http://zimp.org/

Connect the Dots ... for Terri
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1130771/posts?page=11#11

http://www.terrisfight.org

http://bellsouthpwp.net/p/c/pc93/terri_schindler_life_ribbon_campaign.htm

From Bobby Schindler (Terri's brother)in response to
Michael Masinter on disability-civil-rights yahoo
group:

>"On February 25, 1990, . . . Theresa, age 27, suffered a cardiac arrest as
>a result of a potassium imbalance. Michael called 911, and Theresa was
>rushed to the hospital. She never regained consciousness.

Juan, the Appellate judges got it wrong right from the get go. It was
never proven Terri had a cardiac arrest because of a potassium imbalance,
and also, Michael ONLY called 911 after my father instructed him to. Michael
called my father first to tell him that Terri collapsed. I guess it wasn't
important for the judges to mention that Michael knew CPR but didn't use it
on Terri that night.

>Since 1990, Theresa has lived in nursing homes with constant care. She is
>fed and hydrated by tubes. The staff changes her diapers regularly. She
>has had numerous health problems, but none have been life threatening.

Funny how they forgot to mention that there was a health problem that WAS
life threatening, when Michael instructed his doctor in 1993 not to treat
Terri for an infection she had that would have resulted in her death -- by
sepsis. And it's incredible that it is hardly ever mentioned that Michael
would have collected over 700 hundred thousand dollars, if he would have
succeeded to kill Terri back then. But I guess that wasn't important.
Amazing how everyone just glosses over this fact.

>Over the span of this last decade, Theresa's brain has deteriorated because
>of the lack of oxygen it suffered at the time of the heart attack.

Terri DID NOT have a heart attack. This has been proven over and over again,
but just like so much in this case, it keeps on being ignored.

>By mid 1996, the CAT scans of her brain showed a severely abnormal
>structure. At this point, much of her cerebral cortex is simply gone and
>has been replaced by cerebral spinal fluid.

Again, something that continually is ignored is Dr. Maxfield's testimony
that
is completely contrary to this, as well as a dozen doctors that have all
stated that Terri can be helped if given the chance. Do any of these people
read the testimony of the doctors that testified regarding Terri's chances
to improve? Why do they only want to hear from one side in this case, and
refuse to accept the fact that there are more doctors that say Terri can
improve than doctors that say she can't.

>Medicine cannot cure this condition. Unless an act of God, a true miracle,
>were to recreate her brain, Theresa will always remain in an unconscious,
>reflexive state, totally dependent upon others to feed her and care for her
most

>private needs."

To have the audacity to mention God. Once again, I will repeat myself, why
do they only want to hear from one side in this case, and as far as the
judges saying that Terri will be totally dependent upon others to care for
her the rest of her life -- I say emphatically -- so what! That is what her
family is here for and has been asking -- no, begging -- to do since 1990.
Incredibly, the judges use this as the REASON why we should kill Terri,
because she is dependent on others. This absolutely makes me sick.

>"Although the physicians are not in complete agreement concerning the
>extent of Mrs. Schiavo's brain damage, they all agree that the brain scans
>show extensive permanent damage to her brain. The only debate between the
>doctors is whether she has a small amount of isolated living tissue in her
>cerebral cortex or whether she has no living tissue in her cerebral
>cortex."

I repeat myself, shouldn't this be an argument on reasons why we should let
those that love her take care of her, NOT to simply starve my sister to
death because she has become an inconvenience in the eyes of her husband and
a few arrogant judges.

Terri is not a problem, she is a person, and she is my family, our family.


Bobby

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This page contains a single entry by Steven Riddle published on October 23, 2003 1:19 PM.

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For Father Keyes--October Poem--John Donne--Resurrection is the next entry in this blog.

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