I have a question-Is Terri in a "private" room and if so, who is paying the bill for that room? If it is the state paying, doesn't that make her a ward of the state and Michael have no say in anything? Just wondering. Lynn

Posted by: Lynn at February 28, 2005 2:45 PM

AI is the wrong group to whom one would launch such an appeal. Keeping the body "alive" via extraordinary and ultimately futile means is itself tantamount to torture.

Posted by: Fred at March 1, 2005 3:44 PM

Food and water extraordinary? Feeding a disabled woman who is indeed alive (no sneer quotes needed) is torture? What a world...

You're right, though. AI probably won't be interested. If only Terri were a criminal on death row...then they'd care if she were starved to death.

Posted by: susan b. at March 1, 2005 10:12 PM

Fred
Terri is not being kept alive by any extrordinary or torturous means.She is not hooked up to any machines ; she breaths on her own. She is not terminally ill. If not put to death by Michael, she would live a long long time. That is a problem for Michael (He has made that clear wirh comments like--"When is the bitch going to die?", "Can't you(nurses) hurry-up her death?"and the famous quote--- "Once she's gone , I am going to be rich!") Michael has fed the MSM mis- information and misrepresentatins of Terri's condition and prognosis to capture public sympathies. He has twisted the truth to fit his agenda. (IE: Terri did not need a feeding tube. It was inserted as a convenience so nursing staff would not have to spoon feed her. Michael has refused to have it removed. Via sworn affidavits of staff that treated Terri, She was capable of accepting oral nourishment until it was forbidden by Michael. At present she would have to have oral desensitization before she could tactally tolerate food textures, tastes and temperatures in her mouth and on her tongue. having had no recent swallowing test informal observation notes that Terri is able to swallow on a consistent basis for she does not drool and is able to manage her saliva without choking. We swallow between 1-2 liters of saliva a day. So does Terri. Michael tells MSM that she WAS tested in the past,and there is no hope.(lie) He notes she presently gags when swabs are used in he mouth. He does not mention that she dislikes the smell of the swabs. (sworn affidavits) Michael has created her dependency on the tube and has refused to allow her to be weaned. He is contradicted by sworn affidavits. Patients in rehab revieve regular dysphagia(swallowing) evaluations because it is an evolving skill needing consistent monitoring. If Terri were not able to swallow, she would have inhaled her own saliva and died of pneumonia long ago.) That must be very frustrating for Michael.
Fred what is torture is her parents having stand by and watch while Michael abuses Terri by repeated neglect, denies her any personal liberties, cruelly confines and restricts her under the guise of "protection", publically describes Terri with abusive terms of "houseplant, "Vegetable", and "brainless" and mis-uses monies meant for her treatment and rehab while denying her any proactive intervention, even antibiotics .... the list goes on bu the worst is...to know tht Terri had 13 fractures and was denied treatment /medication for any....and the Courts don't blink.
You must gain more accurate information at sites like BlogsForTerri and The Empire Journal to fully appreciate the horror of Terri's plight. Please realize that when the courts are successful at euthanizing this particular responsive disabled woman based on contested hearsay testimony by an estranged abusive husband- court appointed as guardian- that the judicial precedent has been established and societal doors are wide open for thousands of likewise court actions involving questionable guardians and mis evaluated incompetent charges. It is the reason Disability Advocacy Groups have supported Terri so vehemently. Today it's Terri, tomorrow it's thousands more. Terri's death will desensitize society...make court orderd deaths of the disabled will seem ok because after all , their soo imperfect. Significant here is Terri is by far NOT the most profoundly impaired of the lot. If she goes...so do all the others who are more severly disabled than she.

Posted by: JoMarley at March 2, 2005 12:12 AM