If you don't believe in GOd, do you think as a society we should of kept Terry Schiavo alive?

Question

And would you opt to stay alive by life support because you believe your physical death is truly the end?

Answer 1

I am Atheist meaning I do not beleive in any deity(s) by any names..

The Terry Schiavo case illustrated the need for everyone to have a Living Will so your wishes are clearly known..

According to the case Terry Schiavo made her wishes known to her husband.. He spent years and years trying to have her wishes met.. He had every oppurtunity to walk away but being true to her he fought for her wishes even against her parents wishes.. The case was very complicated with everyone at every level chiming in their opinion and veiw.. Until the case reached the top court in the land for final decision.. It was clearly a media circus blown completely out of proportion with accusations being throw like mad on both sides.. Once you dig down deeply you learn.. Next of kin, in Terry's case her husband, had the right to make the decision about life support including feeding support when she was incapacitated, not her parents, siblings or anyone else.

As for my life.. I have made my wishes clearly known in a living will and to my husband.. I do not want to be kept artificially alive I am brain dead, I will accept artificial support as a stop gap (I.E. a heart /lung machine during surgery, a breathing machine for a short time, etc) But if my mind is not functioning because I am brain dead pull the plugs... I do not want to be kept alive in a vegatative state just because my involuntary brain functions (breathing, heart beating, etc.) are still functioning when my voluntary brain functions (Thinking, communicating, feeling, reasoning, etc.) are not..

I do beleive this life and this world are all we get.. That doesn't mean I want to artificially prolong my death.. I beleive that is exactly what happened in Terry Schiavos case, her death was artificially prolonged for years...

Answer 2

That can be discussed from a philosophical/ethical point of view as well.
How do we know if Terry Schiavo was in pain all the time?
We are quick to say that we should end someone's suffering without knowing how they really feel.
Did Terry Schiavo still have a conscience?Did she feel things?
We don't know what a person really feels or if they feel anything at all when their organs aren't working anymore.
I would probably not want to be kept alive but I don't think we can decide for another person that easily, doesn't matter if we are religious or not.

Answer 3

I'm an atheist. I'm also a nurse with 30 years experience.

My feelings about that case were a bit mixed; I could empathize with her parents in not wanting to let go of their daughter. The loss of a child must be devastating. I could also see the husband's point of view. As a nurse I have seen many, many cases like this, where the victim has pretty much lost all quality of life. I am no fan of euthanasia, but I also know there is a point where the sustaining of life is futile. Poor Terry had no chance of regaining her old life. Letting her go was the merciful, humane thing to do.
No, I would never opt to be sustained by artificial means. I have a living will to that effect, and a Durable Power of Attorney who will make my desires known if I cannot. Physical death is the end, and I don't look forward to it. But there is a worse thing than death: pointless life.

Answer 4

I do believe my physical death is the end of existence. I think it is extremely unethical to keep a body alive by artificial means when an EEG reveals no significant neurological activity. It is despicable for a parent to keep their child's body alive because that parent is too emotionally immature to understand that their child is brain-dead. The worst aspect of the whole Terry Schiavo incident is the way the press and politicians invaded her privacy. Even if a person is brain-dead, they're still entitled to their dignity.

Answer 5

Terry become Murdered with the help of Her abusive Husband Who led to The intense attack mind damage! He become dishonest On Her With yet another woman And needed Her Out of ways! The Lord is conscious All issues! No! man or woman in this Earth benefits To Starved To demise Or Denied Water climate they're mind useless Or no longer! Very Evil! certain! 4 particular Terry become Murdered! Her Evil Husband Injected A Drug To reason Terry,s mind damage attack! decide become in basic terms As in charge allowing All This To take position might want to were Hanged For homicide All So!

Answer 6

I think that we, as a society, should have done what she wanted. Granted, we didn't necessarily know that (though the courts did constantly rule it was her wish to be taken off life support).

That being said, I do think we should have let her go. If it were me who that happened to, I'd rather people remember me as who I am now, not the vegetable that I would be. I'd rather have my dignity then be alive and have my mother change my diapers again. Yes, death is the end, but the people who's lives I have touched will still remember me, so I want them to remember me as the stud I am now.

Answer 7

No, I don't think we should have... what kind of existance is that? And no, I most certainly would not want to be kept alive and I told my whole family.

I'm a Taoist. Just because I don't believe in your particular version of a deity does not mean I have no spiritual philosophy at all.

You keep asking questions on here and still insist on thinking inside a very tiny box. You aren't really learning anything, are you?

Answer 8

Society has nothing to do with it. Get a living will - if you don't have one, like Schiavo, then we're forced to go by what her/your(whoever's) next of kin claims were her/your(their) wishes. No sense keeping someone alive if they have no quality of life. The Dr.s were right to pull the plug.

Answer 9

I dont believe in God but I have to say I have no idea who Terry is, and I would say that if i was brain dead then swtich me off. There is not point in having false hope, and wasting a potential bed for someone who needs it more than myself.

Answer 10

I think each of us should spell out clearly what we would like to have happen to us in those unfortunate circumstances while we are still capable of making those decisions.

Steam still comes out of my ears when I think about the Federal Government involving itself in the Terry Schiavo matter.