Opinion

Put away your placards

Schiavo protesters infringe on family's right to decide

By Kristin Saunders

Posted on March 28, 2005, at 12:00 a.m.

Some people will capitalize anytime they protest or politicize a cause, even though someone’s personal life is at stake. In the case of Terri Schiavo, everyone seemed to jump on the bandwagon of what they feel should be done in her case;,more importantly, her life.

For the past week, Terri’s face has been plastered across media outlets throughout the United States due to the infatuation and sides that are being drawn throughout the country. For some inconceivable reason, people have felt that this family court case is fascinating, and that they should put in their own two cents.

Over 15 years ago, Terri fell into an incapacitated state over which her parents have fought with her husband for years. In 1990, then just 26-years-old, Terri collapsed at her Florida home from what doctors said was a potassium imbalance. After she collapsed, her brain did not receive oxygen for about five minutes. The oxygen deprivation caused severe brain damage. She has been in a vegetated state since, and the sides have been drawn.

Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has insisted that his wife did not want to be kept alive by artificial means and her parents, Mary and Robert Schindler think that she should be kept alive no matter what it takes. Michael and the Schindlers have battled in the courts over her feeding tube. According to CNN.com, David Gibbs, an attorney for the Schindlers, said 41-year-old Terri has the mental capacity of a 6-month-old. George Felos, Michael’s attorney, said she lacks all mental capacity and spinal fluid occupies the space where her cerebral cortex was.

But the real question is: Who has the right to inflict their beliefs on another person’s life? The family has been speaking with the protesters that parade themselves outside Hospice House Woodside. This past weekend more than 100 protesters held a vigil for Easter; they carried wooden crosses or signs. The signs included, “Don’t murder Terri,” and one sign read “Michael is a murder,” according to CNN.com. Some extremists’ placards are not going to medically help Terri, or the family to come to a resolution. If these people think that they are actually going to help, try writing a sympathy card to her family rather than calling people murders and using this as an excuse to protest.

This family matter has become a special with bystanders and politicians inflicting their values. On Oct. 21, 2003 politicians in Florida made a cause out of Terri and turned this into a political stepping stone when they passed “Terri’s Law.”‘ The bill allowed Gov. Jeb Bush the authority to reverse a judge’s decision and order the reconnection of a feeding tube that had kept Terri alive for 13 years. The tube had been removed six days earlier. Bush called the decision “an act of compassion.” He and Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, got most of the credit and gratitude according to the St. Petersburg Times. They cited that Byrd, then a candidate for U.S. Senate, attracted nationwide media coverage. He appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes” and PBS’ “NewsHour.” Not bad when you are running for a Senate seat.

In 2004, the Florida Supreme Court declared “Terri’s Law” unconstitutional and Gov. Bush later appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

There has been speculation that Michael’s account of Terri’s right to die declaration was fabricated because Michael has a girlfriend and two children by another woman. Or, that the $700,000 awarded in a malpractice lawsuit has run out, and would cause Michael to make up the declaration. CNN.com reported that the money ran out about three years ago. Although he has been guardian of Terri since 1990, he waited until 1998 to begin the legal battle to have her feeding tube removed. Her parents could be correct in their assessment that he is motivated by greed in Terri’s right-to-die declaration.

Six days following the signing of “Terri’s Law,” Michael told Larry King that his wife didn’t want to be kept alive artificially. “This is Terri’s wish, this is Terri’s choice,” he said, “and I’m going to follow that wish, if it’s the last thing I can do for Terri.”

Despite conflicting opinions from doctors on both the parents’ or the husband’s side, all we can remember when we are inflicting our opinion is that we have no idea what something this is like, unless we have actually been in that situation. It is awful to think that all these family members, who love the same woman, are battling it out in courtrooms because no one can agree on what is best for Terri or what she actually would have wanted. Imagine if Terri had written down her true intentions, maybe this whole situation would have been reverted. No placards, no courtrooms, no politicians and no fighting – just one women resting peacefully the way she wanted.

Kristin Saunders believes protesters should “go home.”

This entry was posted on Monday, March 28th, 2005, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.