[sweete81]

I had an uncle who was placed on life support two years ago and I must say that it is one of the hardest decisions a family will ever have to face! There was a great deal of arguing at the time because his children wanted to keep him alive, but the brothers and sisters felt that it was selfish to let him live in a comatose state. Ultimately, it was decided to take him off of life support and he died later that night! There is a part of you that wishes to keep the person alive by any means, but if that person will never regain full consciousness or capabilities without artificial means, then it is selfish to keep them in that state of suffering, lingering between life and death. The Schiavo case, as unfortunate as it is, has served as a wake up call to the majority of Americans and the need to specify their final wishes! Unfortunately, this occurs every day and not just with living wills but with organ donation as well (another show, another topic)! Please sit down and discuss the issue with your family and let them know of your intentions, for you and your family may not agree on the issue of artificial support! Yes it may seem morbid, but had Terri sat down for a few minutes and written a living will, this whole ordeal could have been prevented.

One thing I find particularly disturbing, how the Republicans are superceding the Supreme Court's decision on this issue! Despite one's political affiliation, every American should feel alarmed at the federal government's attempt to regulate one's last wishes! I am sorry, but this is one place where the federal government does not belong!

Sweete81

P.S. If Terri's money ran out, then how are the family paying for her care, because I was under the impression, especially when my uncle died, when your insurance money or means of payment ran out, then the hospital had the right to remove you from life support or any artifical means of life?