Artificial feeding-Terri Schiavo

[ktwlpn]

I posted this here becaue I think this subject is something that we as nurses deal with on a regular basis.....Many many people state that they have a big problem with the feeding being stopped "allowing her to starve to death" The Vatican says " To starve her to death is pitiless" Most everyone agrees that it is one's right to refuse to initiate artificial feeding but somehow this situation "is different" How? The patient "starves to death " in both cases-so why has this one galvanized the WORLD? My husband read me a quote from the Bible -forgive me because I can't remember it in detail-it was something along the lines that a woman marries and leaves her father's house and her husband becomes her family....My husband is my POA I hope no-one in my family questions his motives -He KNOWS exactly what I want....I can't question her husbands motives-I know that some suspect foul play and state the results of a bone scan support this...That bone scan was obtained 53 months after she went into her coma-after her body suffered the effects of her eating disorders for a number of years.... Her present level of responsiveness does not pertain to this matter IMHO-she CAN'T eat naturally--she did not ever want to "be kept alive like that " and she can't state otherwise at this point...So- #1 can someone PLEASE make me see why this case is" DIFFERENT" and #2 How do YOU support your patients and their loved ones when they are agonizing over this decision? ONe thing I always ask is "Did your loved one ever give you any idea of what they would want if something like this happened" and if they did then I advocate that stance for that pt as much possible.......I believe that death is the last great trip we'll go on and we should PLAN it as much as possible.The greatest GIFT we can give to our loved ones is an itinerary...........

[rnmomof1]

I believe the media leads you to believe what they want because just like her saying "I want to live" . She never said words just sounds which were involuntary. With the part of the brain that is intact she is uncapable of voluntary language or any comprehension of her world. If you are right about dehydration that would be a peaceful death which is what she deserves.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I'm so glad Michael has requested an autopsy. The parents of Terri have accused him of everything they, are such sad desperate people. It will be good to have it over and never have to hear of the Schindler's again.

I'd be sad and desperate too, if I were in their shoes...this is their child. No need to villify them.

[fab4fan]

And there's no need to villify Michael, either.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Very interesting post Carolina! (as always).

[bugsbee]

lgflamni What a shame that the grandaughter who tried to see her grandfather before he passed away could not due to the security thanks to the Schindlers ourside the Hospice. What about michaels life threatened due to the schindlers. Yes they have caused all this. Michael is just trying to let his wife die peacefully not take away all her dignity and privacy as her parents have.

[James Huffman]

lgflamni What a shame that the grandaughter who tried to see her grandfather before he passed away could not due to the security thanks to the Schindlers ourside the Hospice. What about michaels life threatened due to the schindlers. Yes they have caused all this. Michael is just trying to let his wife die peacefully not take away all her dignity and privacy as her parents have.

What explicit evidence do you have that Michael Schiavo's life was threatened "due to the schindlers"?

Jim Huffman, RN

[bugsbee]

Who got the activists involved trying so hard to save their daughters life? And who made such a circus outside of the hospice center? This has not only effected the schindlers but many others became involved and hurt due to their persistent state. And yes Michaels life plus a federal judges life were threatened due to the schindlers actions not directly but indirectly. How can you say they had nothing to do with all this? Did it not start after they continued with all their coverage on this case? I'm so glad Michael will have an autopsy done to prove the Schindlers wrong.

[jeanbo]

I think it's really ashame that all of this is boiling down to "winning" and not about Terry. I've said it before that Michael could have taken the easy way out a long time ago and gotten a divorce. I loved the prayer that someone submitted recently. It was beautiful. I hope that the Lord is wrapping his arms around Terri and when he does finally take her to his house, that she will be a gaurdian angel for others that are suffering with eating disorders. I believe that things always happen for a reason. Now, allot of people who never thought about a living will are getting one and maybe people are getting help for their eating disorders so they don't suffer like she did.

Well said. There is enough shame here for everyone. I am continually saddened by the horrific tapes of poor Terry. Thank God that the courts intervened to prevent this from continually occurring. What an intrusion into Terry's privacy. People with eating disorders usually have a very poor self image in addition to the other multiple issues they have...and here she is, all over the media. What could her parents be thinking? Michael Schiavo stayed with Terry a long time. Let's get real, if she had died 15 years ago and he waited 5 years before finding someone else and starting a family, no one would bat an eye! Let this poor woman find peace and let this husband go on with his life. Her parents should be thankful that their daughter will be soon be in a better place and they, too, can go on.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I was thinking of that poor grandaughters situation too(the situation with her dying grandfather and couldn't get to him in time because of the crowds and security). I was kind of suprised because I would have made sure that once I called the granddaughter (as the nurse), I would have made arrangements with local police or what not to ensure her passage into the facility as quickly as possible given the scene outside! I feel that is my duty too...and would have really pushed for that!

But then again, I don't know if they tried or not and it just got screwed up somewhere...Gee like that doesn't happen..LOL! (for every one probelm in nursing..there are 15 hoops to jump through).

[James Huffman]

Who got the activists involved trying so hard to save their daughters life? And who made such a circus outside of the hospice center? This has not only effected the schindlers but many others became involved and hurt due to their persistent state. And yes Michaels life plus a federal judges life were threatened due to the schindlers actions not directly but indirectly. How can you say they had nothing to do with all this? Did it not start after they continued with all their coverage on this case? I'm so glad Michael will have an autopsy done to prove the Schindlers wrong.

But you said that this was "due to the schindlers." So what explicit evidence do you have that they did this, even indirectly?

Jim Huffman, RN

[LydiaNN]

I was thinking of that poor grandaughters situation too(the situation with her dying grandfather and couldn't get to him in time because of the crowds and security). I was kind of suprised because I would have made sure that once I called the granddaughter (as the nurse), I would have made arrangements with local police or what not to ensure her passage into the facility as quickly as possible given the scene outside! I feel that is my duty too...and would have really pushed for that!

But then again, I don't know if they tried or not and it just got screwed up somewhere...Gee like that doesn't happen..LOL! (for every one probelm in nursing..there are 15 hoops to jump through).

The problem wasn't that she couldn't get in quickly, it was that she had forgotten her ID, so they wouldn't let her in. Not that it makes the fact that she wasn't there when her grandfather died any less sad, or that it still wasn't a result of the circus outside the hospice, just explaining what happened.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

The problem wasn't that she couldn't get in quickly, it was that she had forgotten her ID, so they wouldn't let her in. Not that it makes the fact that she wasn't there when her grandfather died any less sad, or that it still wasn't a result of the circus outside the hospice, just explaining what happened.

The point being that she had to present an ID. How often when you visit a patient do you have to present an ID. Probably not a bad idea.

I'll have to talk to my friend when he's in a better frame of mind about how it went when he and his sister goes to see his mom. I think the security are trying their best to accommodate visitors to other patients, they just have to allow for more time. Unfortunately when you get the call that the loved one is one the way out, there isn't that kind of time if you want to be there, even on a good day, much less with this kind of slow down.