Another story with remarkable similarities to Terri Schiavo: [View All]

Hugh Finn was a 44 yr. old man who ruptured his aorta in a car accident. He became anoxic, and was brain dead. Prior to his accident, he had drafted a living will, but had not yet signed it.

After being in a nursing home for three years, on a feeding tube, his wife moved to have the tube removed. His parents and most of his siblings opposed it. The case went to court several times, and ultimately his wife was allowed to have the tube removed. He died after eight days. This was in VA in 1998.

This link has the story, and describes the politicization of the issue, as well as the stance of the Catholic Church on the issue.

http://www.americamagazine.org/articles/ParisFinn.htm


I think it's interesting because the "victim" is a male, and his wife wanted to have the tube removed, while his parents objected. The whole Schiavo thing left me feeling that there was some sexism involved - as if Terri, being a woman, was unable to make up her own mind about her body, and needed the intervention of both her husband and her family to make the decision for her. I didn't think a man would be treated the same way. Guess I was wrong.