Terri Schiavo's Parents Seek Divorce on Her Behalf

[OnyxCougar]

I don't understand what the problem is.

If I were the husband, I would arrange for the parents to take over all care and custody, (and financial responsibility), get a divorce, and be done with it. Move the hell on already.

Unless Terri had a living will (which I don't think she did or this wouldn't be an issue) then IMO, he has no grounds to want to kill her - I mean - let her die. If her parents want to keep her alive and accept that responsibility, then let them. What's the harm in that?

[cjjulie]

Don't you think her parents are holding onto a pipe dream?

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

I don't understand what the problem is.

Two problems. One: her husband can't get married till she passes on. Two: Her husband sued when she first went comatose and won $1.3M. The money was placed in a trust fund which he will inherit (the balance of) once she passes. Trust funds are private so I don't think anyone knows the balance.

So, her husband wants her dead. Now.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by Beestie

Two problems. One: her husband can't get married till she passes on. Two: Her husband sued when she first went comatose and won $1.3M. The money was placed in a trust fund which he will inherit (the balance of) once she passes. Trust funds are private so I don't think anyone knows the balance.

So, her husband wants her dead. Now.

So instead of a divorce, he wants her to die so he can have the money? How much of that trust is going to be left when all her medical bills are paid? Is it really worth all this hassle and bullshit?

This is why you should have a living will.

[Brown Thrasher]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

I don't understand what the problem is.

If I were the husband, I would arrange for the parents to take over all care and custody, (and financial responsibility), get a divorce, and be done with it. Move the hell on already.

Unless Terri had a living will (which I don't think she did or this wouldn't be an issue) then IMO, he has no grounds to want to kill her - I mean - let her die. If her parents want to keep her alive and accept that responsibility, then let them. What's the harm in that?

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.

[OnyxCougar]

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.

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.