Removing the feeding tube is sick... even if she can't feel it

I think removing the tube is wrong. There is no point in having her waste away. It is a disgrace to her life and legacy - just like the last 15 years were. I only wish euthanasia was legal. It would be so much quicker (and more dignifying) and we wouldn't have to hear about this case for the next 3 weeks. Yes I think it should be removed because it is the only option, but it shouldn't be that way. One little injection could make this whole thing go away. And don't kid yourselves, once she is dead it will only a few days before she is out of the news and the plifers will find some other pawn to promote their cause. I don't mind being a little cynical about this because it is just a body! If you believe in spirits, I am sure hers passed on years ago. This shouldn't have ever made the news. Her husband is her guardian and even if she never told anyone her wishes, he has the right to make that decision. I know I wouldn't want my parents 'overruling' my wife if I were in that position.

Sorry for the rant, I am just sick of this whole damn event. I feel bad that all she will ever be known for is being a brain-dead tool for the Republican Party.

but it's the same fucknuts who oppose removing the tube that made sure that option was unavailable.

but I shouldn't even have to be pissed because she should have never made the damn news.

People have feeding tubes removed from them in hospitals around this nation every day of the year. George Bush signed a bill supporting removal of life support for people unable to pay for medical care in 1999.

What is sick is people expecting this woman to linger on and on with no hope for recovery just so her parents won't have to face her death.

The Republican party has taken their inevitable loss and made it worse.

But it is ridiculous to do so when it could be so much easier and more dignified.

waste away over a few weeks. If it were up to you, how would you want it? I understand completely that she cannot feel it, but as far as dignity is concerned, I think most would agree that an injection would be by far the better of the two.

in Terri Schiavo's case isn't that she would not choose to die like that...it's that she would NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE as she is.

It doesn't make it better because 'you don't do anything'

Wasting away is exactly what a natural death is, when we don't play God and intervene. I've been a nurse for over 30 years, so I 've seen a few people go. The undignified part is what was done 15 years ago, and keeping her alive all this time. Although I have no problem feeding people, if that's what they want, it is well known that most dying people loose all interest in food and voluntarily starve themselves. In fact, it is part of one of the recognized stages of dying.
Knit on,
morcat

and are medically sophisticated to know she ain't coming back and those who haven't and aren't.

spotlight of the media. My point is that in this situation, it would be far better to just help her pass on and get it over with as soon as possible.

they usually lose interest in eating towards the end. It's a very natural process where the body prepares itself for dying and from the mountainous research into the process, it isn't painful or uncomfortable in the least. As a matter of fact the research shows that when people are force fed and hydrated in these situations, it causes a great deal of discomfort and pain.

Feeding tubes are not natural and it isn't food and water. It a system that delivers a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and the like into the stomach through a tube which has been surgically implanted through the stomach wall. When these tubes are removed comfort care is given to insure there is no pain involved.

Terri Schiavo is cognitively brain dead and said she woudnt want this. It's inhuman to force this on her.

No one here thinks we should leave in the tube. I agree that people lose interest towards the end of their life. My point is that she is on a national pedestal. It IS a loss of dignity for the public to wait around for you to die. That's why I think we should just inject her and end it (but that is illegal as we all know).

If any of you are ever in the position to decide whether or not I should die, here is what you do:

Take me out on the sidewalk and ask ten people: "Does this guy look retarded (mentally ill, whatever)?" If ONE says yes (a serious yes, not some jackass that doesn't like me), I don't want to live anymore. Even if I respond. I am not saying these should be rules for everyone, just rules for me. If I can't be at 100 percent, or at least 50, just put me to sleep. But then again, I have much stronger assisted suicide opinions than most.

will further divide the young and the old. Their goal is to promote suicide by the old to protect the young. They will then protect there money and our kids Will be slaves.

dicking around with this thing. You have to have it sewn in.

My wife is a nurse and sees feeding tubes removed every day after hard, gut-wrenching decision making by brave families. Together we faced three life ending decisions like this in less than TWO YEARS. It was grueling. We sought the advice of an ethics panel meeting at a Catholic hospital. We prayed. We lay awake at night. Our faith and love for our family members got us through it.

For the record: According to my wife, who has done direct care with dying patients for over 10 years, AND according to the Visiting Nurse Association hospice nurse who helped us out with my sister's brain cancer, there is no feeling of hunger when a feeding tube is withdrawn. The sensation of hunger was gone long ago from Terri. What will happen quickly is "dehydration," which is what happened to my sister. During this phase, the only discomfort is dry mouth, or as what we think of as thirst. This can be solved by swabbing one's mouth frequently with a small, moist sponge, being careful not to put in too much because Terri--like my sister--would choke on the water, lacking a good swallowing response. This solves the thirst problem. If she continued without the feeding tube, Terri would die in a short time from dehydration, not starvation, and she would not be "thirsty" if her mouth is cared for humanely and professionally.

I'm so sorry for the graphic details, but no one seems to be explaining these things. By chance I heard a doctor speaking on a Christian radio show--something from the Moody Bible Institute--and he said her mouth will become dry and cracked and it "won't be pretty." This is irresponsible. Of course it won't be pretty. Our bodies struggle valiantly as we enter this world and they struggle desperately when we leave. It's hard work to be born and hard work to die. But each is a natural part of our lives. My only guess about that doctor is that he has compromised the truth in order to support an "agenda"--the worst hypocrisy of all.

The most infuriating thing about this whole affair is that NOW it is not the husband or doctors or judges making this decision--this case has been decided more than a dozen times in court already--but rather a bunch of grandstanding politicians. It disgusts me.

And I can't blame you one bit for being sick of this whole event. It is sad and disturbing, there is no doubt. But thanks for letting ME rant and vent, too.

But as mentioned before, Terri is on a national pedestal. It is sick for everyone to just wait for her to die. Many people, including myself, wake up and wonder, "is she dead yet?", not because I am weird, but because we all have that curiosity. That's why, if she is going to die, I think it should be ended as quickly and humanely as possible.

I do think if euthanasia were legal it would be a much better solution than letting someone die over days. That's just me. I can see both sides of the argument and know it is a difference of opinion. There are a lot of things we do that 'aren't natural' that make our lives much better and more humane.

I do see your point wallock, and respect it, but I guess I've never been entertaining that idea. She will pass as nature (and I feel, God) intends in good time in a few days and it's our problem if we have to hang on every minute. That time is for her and her family. She will die humanely without pain, so I really don't think she needs to be put out of any misery because she won't be in any. The misery is ours following it...and isn't that our problem rather than hers?

And I think that's why every goddam son of a bitch that decided to stick their nose into this family's business should have to watch EVERY DAMN MINUTE of it. Maybe then people will realize that the ghouls on capital hill should stay the hell out of medical decisions.

I am sorry for your recent losses and I thank you for having the courage to speak out about what must have been a very painful part of your life.

Thanks, dude, it is something many (most?) will experience.

This case one hell of a sticky issue and I even didn't formulate my full opinion on Terri until I really got all the facts. I work with disabled people, too, so I would definitely be against someone taking someone's feeding tube away just because it's not natural, and I think it's right to debate it, but this case is a family-doctor decision and the debate's over. It's passed due time to stop interfering with this woman's death.

Ah, yes, the slimeball pols! And wasn't it just fitting that I flip on the 6 o'clock news and see none other than that bastion of integrity--Tom Delay--leading the charge. And my freshman senator Santorum? Nothing more needs to be said!

Good chewing the fat with you guys on this sad, difficult subject. It's good to vent and many opinions are expected. Thanks for venturing to weigh in and not avoiding the subject.

I'm off to bed...

and welcome to DU!

:hi: