Terri Schiavo case Pivotal to Our Future
I have a lot of questions concerning the Terry Schiavo case. Questions like:
Which arguments should be front and center in the Terry Schiavo case - Constitutional law and the possible over-reach of Congress or out-of-control judges? The contradictions between her family and her husband regarding her purported wishes? Who should be ultimately responsible for making the decision whether she lives or dies? What are the motives of the husband for persisting so greatly for her death?
Also, is this a legal matter or a health issue? Who are the experts in cases like this - lawyers and judges or doctors? Why is more weight not given to the testimonies of the doctors who have examined her? And should judges involved in this case make a visit to see her condition for themselves?
One doctor who has seen Terri on three separate occasions, according to the Christian Wire Service of Clearwater, Florida, is Dr. William Hammesfahr, nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1999, and recognized for his new approaches to helping brain injured individuals, and was identified by Judge Susan Kirkland, in a ruling for the State of Florida Department of Health, as "the first physician to restore deficits caused by stroke."
Speaking to Terri Schiavo's condition, which is hypoxic encephalopathy, a type of stroke, Dr. Hammesfahr made the following statement today: "There are many approaches that would help Terri Schiavo. I know, because I had the opportunity to personally examine her, her medical records, and her X-rays. It is time to help Terri, instead of just warehousing her. She would have benefited from treatment years ago, but it is not to late to start now. We and others I know have treated many patients worse than Terri, and have seen them regain independence and dignity."
See rest of my article at Full Story
© Sharon Hughes 2005
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2 comments:
It continues to amaze me the lack of respect for a human life. Why is it surprising that so many liberals have supported the death of Terri Schiavo? Aren't these the same people that support the right to choose and the right to exercise late term abortion? The irony is the same group would frequently speak out against the death penalty for proven killers. Regardless of the politics or religious bias, if there is no written permission to shut off life support systems and funding is available to support Terri's needs, then I cannot imagine a logical arguement to discontinue her life. In her assumed silence there may be shallow screams that no one could imagine. And there may just be silence as those who support her death would want you to believe. If her parents wish to care for her, let them. In a society where the freedom of choice is used as a defense for unspeakable and antisocial behaviors, let them exercise their rights and provide care for her. Terri had dignity until the media circus and political operatives arrived and now she is transformed to poster child for self serving fools. God forbid I am ever faced with such a decision in my lifetime, and damn those who would try to make the decision for me.
Ms Hughes needs to do a little research on Dr. Hammesfahr. The good doctor is a hack that does not have a single peer reviewed publication in a scientific journal (go visit Pubmed at the National Library of Medicine and see for yourself). Moreover, Hammesfahr was nominated by his Congressman--who is ineligible to nominate by the Nobel Committee's rules and he likely has insufficient knowledge to recognize good science if it bit him in his rear.
Not surprisingly, spinmeister stooges in the rightwing media, notable Joe Scarborough and Sean Hannity pawned the self-promoting Dr. Hammesfahr of as an "expert" as well (see http://mediamatters.org/items/200503220009). This is par for the course for these two Republican propagandists as neither of them mind lying through their teeth as often as possible just as mosty conservative fascist Rethuglicans do on a regular basis in order to keep their sheep-like fundie nutjob followers "faithful".
Perhaps Ms. Hughes should consider changing her blog's name to "Gullible" instead of veritas as she certainly doesn't seem able to recognize "truth". Not surprising since the religious right has been getting played like a fiddle by the Republicans and have fallen for a fairy tale for two millenia.
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