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Originally Posted by Brown Thrasher
Because if she told her husband what she wanted and they were still married; I feel he should respect her wishes. Sure we feel sorry for the parents and siblings, but at some point you have to let go.... I feel sorry for those all involved. However, I don't think there are many as mean, as to just continue to fight as long as Mike did to have his wife's wishes carried out just to prove a point. The harm is the lady would have lived in a vegetative state possibly for years to come. Some are convinced there is something better in the afterlife. I may be wrong, but I thought you were one that believed in that theory.
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I'm of two minds.
(1) Michael, as her husband, has complete and total legal rights here.
but
(2) We have no proof she really wanted the right to die other than "She said so."
I think that's the crux of the issue for most people (hence, why the importance has been placed on living wills. A living will isn't just about if you want to be DNR, it's also about if you want to continue medical treatment long after you're declared brain dead or whatever.)
If Terri had a living will, there would have been much less issue with this.
But she didn't. All we have is Michael's word. Legally, that's all he needed, and I 100% support that, and think it was wrong of the parents to drag it out this way.
As far as better in the afterlife, yes, I believe there is something better. But let's lay down some what ifs. What if Michael was lying? What if Terri said no such thing, but after it's clear she's PVS, he decided she wouldn't have wanted to live like this, so SAID she made those statements? Doesn't that mean that pulling the feeding tubes is wrong? Clearly, if that is the case (and we'll never know) then Michael is guilty of murder. THAT's what the parents have a problem with. And I don't blame them for that.
So both sides of this issue make sense. It all comes down to if Michael is lying or not.
Our legal system doesn't provide the death penalty for criminals unless 12 people find them guilty without any reasonable doubt, yet it takes one man's word (with no proof) to kill his wife?
There is something very wrong with that.