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...........

[garrypri2]

i cant believe that the judical and legislative laws could of supported their desicions to kill a person in such a horrific way by starving her to death her husband shouldnt of had the say in her life i beleive her parents had the right to keep her with them im apalled at the way her husband took this to the supreme court her family is in my prayers

[imenid37]

There are thousands of other Terris out there. I hope we don't forget them and ourselves. We should think about what we would want if something catastrophic happened to us and make our wishes known (best of in writing). God bless you Terri!

[Roland]

There are thousands of other Terris out there. I hope we don't forget them and ourselves. We should think about what we would want if something catastrophic happened to us and make our wishes known (best of in writing). God bless you Terri!

Yes it should be about Terri. A woman who was likely first physically, abused by her husband to the point that she was brain damaged. Then that same man was allowed to slowly murder her while the band of zombie like Americans played on to the dirge of "well I wouldn't want to live like that." Today, America came one step closer to the type of Orwellian nightmare society referenced by Huxley and attempted by Hitler. All of those who said "never again" after World II today have reason to shudder.

May God bless Terri and the Schindlers, but may he also let appropriate justice befall her bastard husband and the rest of us poor slobs who did nothing.

[LydiaNN]

Jeb Bush's statement regarding the death of Terri Schiavo. Notice he didn't mention Michael Schiavo by name:

Statement by

GOVERNOR JEB BUSH

Regarding the death of Terri Schiavo

"After an extraordinarily difficult and tragic journey, Terri Schiavo is at

rest. Columba and I offer our condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Schindler, Bobby

Schindler, Suzanne Vitadamo and to all those who offered their prayers and

support to Terri's family over these past weeks, months and years. These

prayers were not in vain.

"Many across our state and around the world are deeply grieved by the way

Terri died. I feel that grief very sharply as well. I remain convinced,

however, that Terri's death is a window through which we can see the many

issues left unresolved in our families and in our society. For that, we can

be thankful for all that the life of Terri Schiavo has taught us.

"I still firmly believe that human life is a gift and a mystery, and that

its mystery is most evident at its beginning and ending. May all of us

whose hearts were moved during the life of Terri Schiavo grow in wisdom at

its ending."

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Yes it should be about Terri. A woman who was likely first physically, abused by her husband to the point that she was brain damaged. Then that same man was allowed to slowly murder her while the band of zombie like Americans played on to the dirge of "well I wouldn't want to live like that." Today, America came one step closer to the type of Orwellian nightmare society referenced by Huxley and attempted by Hitler. All of those who said "never again" after World II today have reason to shudder.

May God bless Terri and the Schindlers, but may he also let appropriate justice befall her bastard husband and the rest of us poor slobs who did nothing.

Roland - well put on a sad day. I think those of us who had qualms and outright disagreements with this situation have a place too on the thread saying goodbye to Terri.

It isn't, for me, as uncomplicated as rest in peace Terri.

steph

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I'm happy for Terri that she is now at peace and isn't suffering.

I was in a patients room and CNN showed the brother of Micheals girlfriend when he got the news from his sister. Why on earth is this news? And why on earth would someone allow a camera in their face at such a private moment? I'll be happy to see this kind of foolishnes end.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

We had a family take their mother out of hospice and tube feed via NGT because they were afraid they weren't doing the right thing by putting her in hospice. They made reference to Terri Shaivo. Their mom of course still died even with the tube feedin within a couuple of days. The legacy of this situation is indeed going to be interesting.

[germain]

An absolute tragety. I hate that the republicans made it a farce, but I hate even more that noone jumped in and did what was just plain right- to allow her to live. Noone lost more than Terri in this.

[tridil2000, MSN, RN]

Yes it should be about Terri. A woman who was likely first physically, abused by her husband to the point that she was brain damaged. Then that same man was allowed to slowly murder her while the band of zombie like Americans played on to the dirge of "well I wouldn't want to live like that." Today, America came one step closer to the type of Orwellian nightmare society referenced by Huxley and attempted by Hitler. All of those who said "never again" after World II today have reason to shudder.

May God bless Terri and the Schindlers, but may he also let appropriate justice befall her bastard husband and the rest of us poor slobs who did nothing.

OH MY GOD!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Roland - well put on a sad day. I think those of us who had qualms and outright disagreements with this situation have a place too on the thread saying goodbye to Terri.

It isn't, for me, as uncomplicated as rest in peace Terri.

steph

Same here.......while I rejoice that she is finally at rest in the arms of our Lord, I am still saddened and angered at the manner in which she came to be there. May God forgive us all, and grant her parents some measure of peace.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

Lots of mistakes were made along the way......but one undeniable fact is that Terri Shaivo was not dying. She was living. Brain damaged for sure, but she was living. To starve and dehydrate her is a sin. It's call murder.

We should all be afraid...very afraid.

May our Lord welcome her with open arms.

A sad day indeed.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I just hope that hospice care and the idea of hospice care and comfort care hasn't suffered too much. Morphine and withdrawing fluids/nutrition still has a place. I also hope that this whole thing doesn't end up affecting families' decisions to remove vent support on brain dead pts.