June 2005
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June 2005 |
“THE REAL ISSUE” With the recent controversy over the fate of Terry Schiavo, many people will be certain to be specific in spelling out their final instructions for their loved ones. Whether or not Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube be removed, or not, was an issue that was heavily discussed and debated, both in courts and the public arena. Should word of mouth be considered the basis in carrying out one's final intructions? This issue would only be the beginning. Terry Schiavo's feeding tubes, after much litigation, were indeed removed. She did not die until almost two weeks, later. This is, perhaps, where the true issue lay. This was not a case of a respirator being turned off and the patient immediately dying. Terry Schiavo lived for nearly two weeks, afterward. While her death was, now, inevitable, more debate surfaced over whether or not she should be fed or given water. Many of her doctors claimed that the part of the brain was dead, which could have felt pain, was dead and she would not suffer from having no food or water. But how certain of this are we? The human race cannot even agree as to what comes after death, so how can anyone make the claim to know what the experience of death can possibly be like? What of the humanity, of days gone by? Long ago, an attempt was made to ease the discomfort of the dying. Would this be of any harm to anyone, if only to ease the consciences of the living? No issue may lie in whether or not the feeding tube be removed. The real issue should be, however, is that if one is dying anyway would a few drops of water hurt. |