AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.

COMMENTARY: CASE POINTS UP URGENCY OF WILL TO LIVE.(Terri Schindler-Schiavo, health care)(Brief Article)

National Right to Life News

| May 01, 2001 | COPYRIGHT 2001 National Right to Life Committee, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)Copyright

It is evident from e-mails and other communications coming in to NRLC's Department of Medical Ethics that many grassroots pro-lifers are shocked and appalled by the denial of food and fluids to Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Apparently, they cannot believe this is happening in America. (See story, page 6.)

It is appropriate to be appalled, but no one should be shocked.

Denial of food and fluids to people who cannot speak for themselves has been going on for 15 years in this country. It is routine practice in hospitals and nursing homes across the country. And for over a decade, the law on this, established by numerous court decisions and statutes, has been largely settled. If someone who is now incompetent to make health care decisions has not left clear instructions in a legal document (variously called an "advance directive," "durable power of attorney for health care," "living will," or the like), then a surrogate decision-maker can legally decide to cut off the person's food and fluids.

The surrogate decision-maker is normally whomever is classed by the particular state as the closest relative, but if no relatives are available it may be a guardian or even the person's doctor. Such surrogates are daily authorizing the cutoff of food and fluids to patients who are unable to speak for themselves and never gave any indication that they might want to be starved.

Only in the comparatively rare cases when there is some dispute among relatives, such as in the Wendland case in California, the earlier Hugh Finn case in Virginia, and the Schindler-Schiavo case now in Florida, do these cases reach public attention, normally in the context of lawsuits.

It should come as no surprise that, with important exceptions, the prevailing view in the judiciary, as in the medical profession, is receptive to the quality of life ethic. ...

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, journals, and more
New ZigBee Health Care Profile: Helping People Live Healthier and Independent...
Press release article from: PR Newswire March 25, 2009 700+ words
...development of its ZigBee Health Care public application profile. ZigBee Health Care will enable new ways to help people live healthier and more independent...convenience or mobility. ZigBee Health Care provides a global standard...
Causecast.org and Stickam.com Team Up to Live Stream California Health Care...
Press release article from: Business Wire April 6, 2009 700+ words
...Partners to Facilitate Live Video Coverage of...Barack Obama's Health Care Reform Plan LOS...site dedicated to live interactive video...Schwarzenegger's California Health Care Forum today at 10...quality, affordable health care. "It is an exciting...Stickam.com's ...
U.S. Olympic Soccer Star Abby Wambach Partners With MVP Health Care to Help...
Newspaper article from: Science Letter July 29, 2008 700+ words
MVP Health Care is partnering with U...Northeast Take on Life and Live Well as part of a new MVP Health Care youth sports initiative...conduct a series of live appearances at youth...be sponsored by MVP Health Care, will be announced...
Live Webcast Featuring Nationally Recognized Experts on...
Press release article from: Business Wire July 28, 1999 700+ words
...and technology trends in health care -- The Community Health...online seminar titled "Health Care Online in `99 and Beyond...technology trends. This live Webcast, sponsored by...nationally renowned speakers on health care Internet privacy issues...
President and First Lady Welcome Health Care "Reform Riders" From Across...
Newspaper article from: U.S. Newswire August 3, 1994 700+ words
...Clinton will welcome health care "reform riders...Congress to pass a health care reform bill which...every American. A live satellite feed of...Donna can afford to live and pay for her medical...Congress to "pass health care that provides financial...
MedStream Telecommunications Announces a System of Health Care Delivery Using...
Press release article from: Business Wire October 8, 1997 700+ words
...telemedicine system of health care delivery which places the emphasis on live interactive sessions...cost reduction in health care as well as the need...as the basis for health care solutions. The MedStream...information age, live interactions between...
UPMC Paves Road to Better Quality Health Care -- Major Interoperability Project...
Press release article from: Business Wire February 25, 2008 700+ words
...addressing one of the critical problems in health care -- how to quickly and accurately...In this first phase, which went live earlier this month, this group of...performance, quality and other key health care issues. About University of Pittsburgh...
Century Foundation Fellow Maggie Mahar to Blog Live From Business and National...
News wire article from: AScribe Business & Economics News Service September 13, 2007 700+ words
...WHAT: Blogging Live from "Business and National Health Care Reform" Conference...The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much...Barrons, will blog live from this conference...and experts in health care policy will discuss...
For more facts and information, see all results

Source: HighBeam Research, COMMENTARY: CASE POINTS UP URGENCY OF WILL TO LIVE.(Terri...

©2009 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
About us | FAQs | Contact us | Privacy policy | Terms and conditions
Other Gale sites: Encyclopedia.com | HighBeam Research | Acquire Content | Books & Authors | Goliath | MovieRetriever | Smart QandA