eeyoresrays (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} eeyoresrays) wrote,@ 2005-03-25 08:46:00 |
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It's a Sad, Sad, Sad story
For a moment I am going to be part of the problem.
The various media of this country have gotten caught up in Terri Schiavo mania, and the more coverage the case gets the harder it gets to understand. I have come to believe that this is not because the case is incredibly confusing, but because the reporting of the case has been entertainment based and not information based. I have found it increasingly difficult to find/hear the facts of this case.
Terri Schiavo was bulimic and suffered a heart attack as a result of that illness in 1990. She has been in her present condition since 1990. Fifteen years later, her husband's life has moved on. There seems to be no financial or malicious incentive for him to try to end his wife's life. He did receive a $1 million dollar lawsuit payout in 1993 and he and her parents suffered a rift as a result of his keeping the portion of the settlement (minus legal fees) that amounted to $300,000. $700,000 was awarded for Terri's care.
There is a texas law that would allow Terri's hospital (if it were in Texas) to stop giving her treatment if it was on the hospital's dime and they considered the treatment futile. All things are subject to interpretation and Schiavo's symptoms make this a very difficult case, because she is not in a coma. Doctors say her cognitive brain functions are destroyed but she has brain stem activities that result in many life-like actions including a muscle reaction in her hands where sometimes her body squeezes back when you squeeze her hand. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7257835/
I see how this would be very difficult to handle if you were a loved one of Terri's, but medical experts tend to believe this. If I am not mistaken, they are pretty united on this. (The experts in the field.)
I see this as a tragic case in which, unfortunately, the husband and the parents have come to an irreconcilable difference that has had to be resolved in the courts. I believe Michael Schiavo is trying to do his best to honor his wife's wishes. I see how sometimes it would seem unfair (Scott Peterson for example) to allow a husband to trump the wishes of parents. But that is the case in this situation. I do not see how this case makes Michael Schiavo the bad guy. It has spawned a World According to Garp type of mania that is horrific and unfortunate.
Here is a timeline
Here is the Texas law in action over the wishes (probably misguided) of the parent. But why not wait and do a better job of convincing the parent that all hope is lost?$?$?$?$?
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/baby16e_20
Mostly we should not all be caught up in this. This is entertainment hysteria, not journalism. The facts are out there. In all of this reporting why is it not more filled with facts about the case?
For a moment I am going to be part of the problem.
The various media of this country have gotten caught up in Terri Schiavo mania, and the more coverage the case gets the harder it gets to understand. I have come to believe that this is not because the case is incredibly confusing, but because the reporting of the case has been entertainment based and not information based. I have found it increasingly difficult to find/hear the facts of this case.
Terri Schiavo was bulimic and suffered a heart attack as a result of that illness in 1990. She has been in her present condition since 1990. Fifteen years later, her husband's life has moved on. There seems to be no financial or malicious incentive for him to try to end his wife's life. He did receive a $1 million dollar lawsuit payout in 1993 and he and her parents suffered a rift as a result of his keeping the portion of the settlement (minus legal fees) that amounted to $300,000. $700,000 was awarded for Terri's care.
There is a texas law that would allow Terri's hospital (if it were in Texas) to stop giving her treatment if it was on the hospital's dime and they considered the treatment futile. All things are subject to interpretation and Schiavo's symptoms make this a very difficult case, because she is not in a coma. Doctors say her cognitive brain functions are destroyed but she has brain stem activities that result in many life-like actions including a muscle reaction in her hands where sometimes her body squeezes back when you squeeze her hand. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7257835/
I see how this would be very difficult to handle if you were a loved one of Terri's, but medical experts tend to believe this. If I am not mistaken, they are pretty united on this. (The experts in the field.)
I see this as a tragic case in which, unfortunately, the husband and the parents have come to an irreconcilable difference that has had to be resolved in the courts. I believe Michael Schiavo is trying to do his best to honor his wife's wishes. I see how sometimes it would seem unfair (Scott Peterson for example) to allow a husband to trump the wishes of parents. But that is the case in this situation. I do not see how this case makes Michael Schiavo the bad guy. It has spawned a World According to Garp type of mania that is horrific and unfortunate.
Here is a timeline
Here is the Texas law in action over the wishes (probably misguided) of the parent. But why not wait and do a better job of convincing the parent that all hope is lost?$?$?$?$?
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/baby16e_20
Mostly we should not all be caught up in this. This is entertainment hysteria, not journalism. The facts are out there. In all of this reporting why is it not more filled with facts about the case?
