Confessional Lutheran theology, hagiography, philosophy, music, culture, sports, education,
and whatever else is on the fevered mind of Orycteropus Afer
08 August 2005
Be Like Mike?
Michael Schiavo Still Surrounded by Controversy
According to the Orlando Sentinal, Michael Schiavo received an award from the Florida State Guardianship Association (FSGA), commending him for "carrying out his wife's wishes" by denying brain-damaged Terri food and drink and thus causing her death.
While FSGA past President Joan Nelson Hook, said "He was an ordinary guardian who carried out his duties in extraordinary ways," Brother Paul O'Donnell, Franciscan friar and spokesman for her still-grieving parents replied, "Oh, my God, that's offensive. Michael Schiavo … basically let her rot."
Along with all the other religious and legal questions, we're still stuck on the same debate wrestled with during Terri Schiavo's later days: Is food and water delivered by other than "normal" eating and drinking "extraordinary"? Denying food and water to children for an extended period of time is child abuse. Doing so to the incarcerated is deemed a violation of U.S. constitutional rights. If it happens to prisoners of war, advocates appeal to the Geneva Convention. However, the way things now stand, many of our nation's physically handicapped are not included among these most basic human rights.
Even if Michael Schiavo thought he was acting out of love, I have a hard time finding true charity in withholding food and drink from someone whose body can still process them. ¶ 14:12 |
According to the Orlando Sentinal, Michael Schiavo received an award from the Florida State Guardianship Association (FSGA), commending him for "carrying out his wife's wishes" by denying brain-damaged Terri food and drink and thus causing her death.
While FSGA past President Joan Nelson Hook, said "He was an ordinary guardian who carried out his duties in extraordinary ways," Brother Paul O'Donnell, Franciscan friar and spokesman for her still-grieving parents replied, "Oh, my God, that's offensive. Michael Schiavo … basically let her rot."
Along with all the other religious and legal questions, we're still stuck on the same debate wrestled with during Terri Schiavo's later days: Is food and water delivered by other than "normal" eating and drinking "extraordinary"? Denying food and water to children for an extended period of time is child abuse. Doing so to the incarcerated is deemed a violation of U.S. constitutional rights. If it happens to prisoners of war, advocates appeal to the Geneva Convention. However, the way things now stand, many of our nation's physically handicapped are not included among these most basic human rights.
Even if Michael Schiavo thought he was acting out of love, I have a hard time finding true charity in withholding food and drink from someone whose body can still process them. ¶ 14:12 |
