The "culture of life"

I don’t know how I feel about the Terri Schiavo case. And by that, I mean the actual merits of the question. I am quite emphatically against this becoming a federal case. I am quite emphatically against the politicians getting involved. Such decisions should be made by family (how that’s defined is the real question) and doctors, not partisan camera whores in DC and self-rigtheous moralizers. I am quite emphatically against laws being passed solely for the purpose of dealing with one person.

But it is a tricky question. Normally, I’d say defer to the patient’s wishes. But it’s an open question what her wishes really were. Her husband says one thing, her family another. Who do you believe?

My understanding is that she was being given food and water through a tube. Does that constitute “extraordinary means”? I’m inclined to think not.

But who has authority to make that call? Her husband? Her parents? Politicians in Washington? Judges (some of whom are elected)? In the absence of specific instructions by the patient, why not authorize an independent medical panel to make the decision on the merits, so it’s not made by someone with a crowd to pander to.

I think this case underlines the need to get your wishes down in writing. And be as specific as you can. Because even if you tell your partner, he/she might become the target of a vicious smear campaign by partisan activists who don’t give a crap about you, your spouse or your kids. [And of course, if you're gay, your partner probably won't have any legal status anyway thanks to the unconstitutional lack of equal protection]

It is pathetic, however, to see some folks who claim to be part of the “culture of life” crowd giving death threats to Michael Schiavo and to Michael Schiavo’s relatives.