FROM THE PRESIDENT; TROUBLING POLLS.

The tragic death of Terri Schindler-Schiavo reminds pro-lifers of the work confronting us on the issue of euthanasia. That is at least what most opinion polls tell us. One can object that many polls were improperly or misleadingly phrased and that, therefore, one cannot reach the above conclusion. But we need to be realistic in assessing the situation. To this end I invite you to join me in a sober analysis of the polls.

* Although there was conflicting medical testimony, several polls described Terri as being in "a persistent vegetative state" (e.g., CNN/USA Today/Gallup, 3/18/2005, 3/22/2005, 4/1-2/2005; Time, 3/22-24/2005; CBS News, 3/21-22/2005; Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 3/1-2/2005).

* Some polls falsely described Terri as being on "life support" (e.g., ABC News, 3/10-13/2005, 3/20/2005; CBS News, 3/21-22/2005) or in a "coma-like state," contrary to the widely disseminated video images (Time, 3/22-24/2005; Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 3/1-2/2005).

* Poll respondents were also asked to speculate as to whether reinserting Terri's feeding tube would eventually "have improved" Terri's condition or have led to "significant improvement in her brain activity" (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 3/29-30/2005; CNN/ USA Today/Gallup, 3/22/2005). Most polls and the media made the unsubstantiated "diagnosis" that Terri is "in a persistent vegetative state," and then the polls asked the respondents (with an equal lack of credentials) to make their own diagnosis. Not surprisingly, the majority (60% and 54%) said that Terri's condition could not have improved.

* In the polls mentioned above, majorities supported the removal of the feeding tube (ranging from 52% to 63%) or opposed its reinsertion (66%--CBS News, 3/21-22/2005). The Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll of 3/29-30/2005 did not use the common (and erroneous preamble) that Terri Schindler-Schiavo was in a "persistent vegetative state." Interestingly, in that poll only a plurality of 42% agreed "with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube," 38% disagreed, and 20% were unsure.

These polls are somewhat at odds with the results of the Zogby poll (March 30 April 2, 2005). The Zogby poll question did not mention Terri Schindler- Schiavo's name, but described situations that were equivalent to her case. Here are the results for two questions:

* In the case of "a disabled person [who] is not terminally ill, not in a coma, not being kept alive by life support, and [has left] no written directive," 80.3% say that such a person should not be denied food and water. This is very encouraging, but note that the question does not mention feeding tubes which some people, conditioned by the media, may falsely regard as "life support." And one can only speculate what the result would have been if the disability had been identified as "brain damage."