Brain dead or not?

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What really is the truth in the Terri Schiavo case? And why is Jeb Bush so determined to keep her alive by taking the case to the US Supreme Court? I mean, she's either brain dead or she's not, so why is this issue being debated by two different groups of physicians?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-121schiavo,0,6329819.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Is being kept alive artificially in her condition more dignified than death? She's been in a vegetative state for years and the physcians who've been handling her care say she's never going to come back, so why won't her relatives and the governor just let her go?

What is everyone's opinion about this?

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Hi Tony . . .there are quite extensive threads about this case where we have all discussed the details of the case but suffice it to say that Terri's folks do not believe that she is in a vegetative state and she certainly is NOT brain dead. There is also some concern about her husband's motives.

Take a peek at the website that Terri's family has and look at the video of Terri. It isn't an easy case.

http://www.terrisfight.org/

steph

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I agree.....if she's actually brain dead, I say let her go, too., but if she's not that's something else. Life begins and life ends in this world as we know it, but I personally believe there is life after death, so if I'm ever in that situation and there's no hope, I hope that my family lets me go on. It's always sad to see situations like this. People against each other and the patient lying there in limbo, unable to recover and yet not allowed to leave this life.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Unfortunately Terry is not brain dead. There's a difference between being in a vegetative state and brain dead. If she were brain dead she wouldn't have made it that long off of artificial ventilation years ago.

As Steph said it isn't an easy case and it's been discussed already.

I have strong opinions about quality of life for myself and my family. I wouldn't allow my loved one's to suffer in a permanent vegetative state. I would hope they would do the same for me.

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She is not brain dead . . look at the videos. She is however brain damaged.

steph

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Unfortunately Terry is not brain dead. There's a difference between being in a vegetative state and brain dead. If she were brain dead she wouldn't breathe on her own.

As Steph said it isn't an easy case and it's been discussed already.

I have strong opinions about quality of life for myself and my family. I wouldn't allow my loved one's to suffer in a permanent vegetative state. I would hope they would do the same for me.

All the more reason we have to really get our wishes legally addressed before something like this happens.

steph

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
She is not brain dead . . look at the videos. She is however brain damaged.

steph

Wonder what Terri would say if she could talk. If it were me I'd be screaming "pull the plug already!". Repsonsive, aware or not I would be so totally completely miserable and unhappy I wouldn't want to live like that. Call it murder, playing God or whatever, please pull the plug on me.

But I can't put my beliefs on them. I'm just greatful I'm not in that situation.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
All the more reason we have to really get our wishes legally addressed before something like this happens.

steph

Amen and Amen!

I have mom and dad's living wills safe and sound and ready to institute if necessary. And spouse has mine.

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Wonder what Terri would say if she could talk. If it were me I'd be screaming "pull the plug already!". Repsonsive, aware or not I would be so totally completely miserable and unhappy I wouldn't want to live like that. Call it murder, playing God or whatever, please pull the plug on me.

But I can't put my beliefs on them. I'm just greatful I'm not in that situation.

That is what is sooo hard. I never had this reticence about euthanasia before I became a nurse and took care of people dying of painful diseases or people in vegetative states. The principle of the thing . . do no harm and do not take an active part in killing someone sounds very good but when you are faced with a real possibility that it could be me laying there . . . things change.

Not sure if that is hypocritical or just realistic.

steph

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Amen and Amen!

I have mom and dad's living wills safe and sound and ready to institute if necessary. And spouse has mine.

I talk the talk but we HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING legally yet.

steph

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Stevie,

I was just wondering about the legal implications of the case if the US Supreme Court decides to hear it and rules in favor of the husband.

Thanks for the link to the website.

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