[Peace-discuss] Liberals and Schiavo

[C. G. Estabrook]

Actually, it seems that Judge Greer may indeed have had "an ax to grind"
(the metaphor is apt), as a member of a pro-euthanasia group.  More
importantly, it's his initial decision that was simply repeated by all the
other courts. They found that his procedure was correct -- they didn't
re-investigate his findings. There was no de novo consideration of the
matter, no MRI, no PET scan, and two of the five neurologists who
testified in Greer's initial hearing did not agree with the diagnosis of
PVS.

Defenders of Schiavo's court-ordered killing have to contend that she was
brain-dead or admit that that's what they supported.  Those of us who
don't think the state should kill people only have to point out that there
was at least as much doubt here as would stop a death penalty case. This
was neither a right-to-die nor a treatment-of-the-dying case; it was a
case about when you can end the life of a disabled person.  --CGE


On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, Dan Schreiber wrote:

> Well, luckily for everyone, my opinion on whether Terry Schiavo should
> live isn't particularily relevant.  The opinions that matter are the
> independent medical experts who have actually examined her and
> reported in a court of law on her condition to conservative Republican
> Judge Greer, who has no ax to grind.  Claims that Terry is disabled
> rather than vegetative are simply not supported by fact - those who
> claim it based on snippets of videotape are mostly being
> intellectually dishonest in the service of the particular cause that
> Terri represents to them, and have little to do with her actual
> condition.
> 
> Her brain is mostly fluid - no amount of therapy is going to reverse
> that. And, instead of solid scientific data to the contrary, we are
> getting character assasination against her husband and the judge from
> the usual conservative news sources.
> 
> Again, if she wanted to die if in this condition, she has that right
> in the state of Florida.  And, I think her husband is in the best
> position to know what she would have wanted.
> 
>