Originally posted by rapier28
Do you know how many people are pulled every year across the world?
Not sure about the world but there were 3,221 (depending on your definition of "pulled") in the states in 2004.
I don't remember people like you and Congress making a fuss over men protesting they innocence and then being executed.
Then you're saying that you only watch the news and don't pay attention unless it gets media coverage.
I don't remember you making a fuss over Congress allowing hospitals to pull the plug on people that can't pay.
You're absolutely right. We don't have a good medical care system in our country. I hope that changes and I hope I can help change it.
EVERY SINGLE COURT DOCTOR THAT TREATED HER SAID THAT SHE HAS NO CHANCE OF RECOVERY.
The majority of people who recover from severe head trauma "have no chance of recovery". This might be due to the fact that keeping people on life support costs hospitals about 120 billion dollars a year in lost income. (yes hospitals make income too)
Terry is alive, conscious and aware. Do not ever think she is not. She can currently sit up, swollow, and show facial expression. She is not on life support, she ONLY has a feeding tube. I'm sure many things she does are automatic, but I'm equally sure that shifting herself in her bed because she's uncomfortable is not one of them.
I'am sorry but that is just false.
If she can swallow then why is she being fed by a tube? LOGIC.
It isn't my fault that you don't know how a feeding tube works, but I can see how you'd make that mistake. I'm afraid that most medicine isn't quite that simple. Most patients who use feeding tubes do have the ability to swollow. Without the ability to swollow, a feeding tube can cause damage to the trachea and esophagus. In most cases, the tube doesn't deposit the gelatinous foods directly into the stomach, but rather just below the trachea in order to minimize damage to the stenosing web and adenocacina of the esophagus. Also, there is a slight chance of hurting the left lobe of the liver. In Terri Shiavo's case, they feed her this way simply to avoid drowning her as she can not masticate or manipulate the food in her mouth with her tongue. I'm sorry if I've offended you, I was a little caught up, but please don't make claims like that without at least trying to research the topic first. I'm sure the information is available to you somewhere, and I'm sure that you're very good at logic but I do know quite a bit of medicine and would not intentionally lead any of you astray.
I have never heard of whatever web site it is that you're talking about. I get my information about her diagnosis from the two of the doctors at the VA where I work. They get their information from records and statements at Humana Hospital. There is a movement started by the nurse unions of Los Angeles to force hospitals to change their policies on the number of nursing hours dedicated to brain damaged patients as a direct result over the controversy of the things being claimed by the doctors and nurses at Humana.
Humana Hospital isn't exactly the most partial of sources that you can use. Try all the court-appointed doctors and leading neurologists across the world.
I don't have to have a background in medicine (even though i have a background in biology), i can simply read what the leading neurologists have said.
Then I would ask you if you've read ALL of what Terri's neurologists have said and understood it. I'm not a neurologist, but I've taken neurology, and neuropathology (an 8 and 12 unit class) and I can tell you what I know about which parts of Terri's brain MUST still be active in order to do the things that she can still do. First of all, all parts of the automatic nervous system, (top to bottom) the pons, the medulla, and the first thorasic through fourth lumbar vertibrae. They control (from top to bottom) the ciliary ganglion (parts of the nerves which extend to the eye), lacrimal glands and ganglion. Lacrimal, submandibular, sublingual, and parotid glands and their ganlion and the otic ganglion (all parts of the eye). There's a list of nerves which is quite extensive, you'll pardon me if I don't list them I hope. The bronchus, lung and heart. Attatched to the same nerve (the vagus), you have the liver, gallbladder, bile duct and spleen. Adrenal gland cortex (everywhere). Down further you have the stomach, pancreas and kidney. Then you have the bladder, prostate (female counterpart uterus), the urethra and testes (female counterpart ovaries).
Terry Shiavo exhibits all of these functions as normally as possible for a bed ridden person. Now, upper brain functions that she still has (which are severly damaged but still working) exist in AT LEAST the precentral gyrus, primary motor area, primary somatosensory area, central sulcus, secondary somatrosensory area and (at least in the first three years of her hospitalization the Boca's motor speech area) of the perietal lobe. She showed signs of activity in the secondary (and largest) visual areas of the frontal lobe. And she showed signs of activity in the primary and seconday auditory areas of the temporal and parietal lobes and of the corpus callosum. According to the various brain-imaging techniques applied to Terri (and according to her neurologists) she showed activity in these areas when presented with specific stimulus used to determine upper brain function of brain damaged patients.
What the neurologists say are "automatic reactions" is only a matter of opinion based on unproven theories and if want to be totally realistic ALL brain activity is a set of very complex "automatic reactions" unless you believe a spirit or soul is what ultimately controls the mind and then that would be a religious statement not a medical one.
It's about Congress and Jeb Bush overturning Judicial rulings and usurping they power.
What you've said here is true, but I disagree that Michael Shiavo (or anyone else) has any legal claim to decide Terri should die because she didn't leave a living trust listing him as primary custodian and because I don't believe Terri is in a state where her life isn't worth saving.... even if she never made any kind of recovery, but please understand that however small, there IS a chance that she will recover.
What Bush was doing was "erring on the side of life" which is what doctors are SUPPOSED to do but these are VERY sticky circumstances for which I wouldn't want to be held liable. The president has the authority to pardon a convicted murderer sentenced to death, why shouldn't he be able to pardon Terri? I know that's a bad analogy but the fact is that a JUDGE made the decision to allow Terri's feeding tube to be removed (did you know another ordered it back in? Twice!) You must know by watching the news that Terri's had her feeding tube legally removed and replaced before. It can legally be replaced now. Indeed under most circumstances I wouldn't want congress, governors or presidents to intervene with local authorities but there ARE rights Americans have no matter which state they live in and I think the right to live is one of them
ServoHahn
and is awarded 1.5 million dollars to help treat his wife (not spending it on her) and then says that he wants her to die because he loves her!?
Do you know that the Husband was offered multi-million deals to relinquish custody? So please don't put money into this argument.
This is also true but money IS an issue. You obviously don't believe that Michael has ulterior motives (but I do), and he DID take 1.5 mil for himself when it was supposed to be spent on Terri.
Also, these neurologists aren't god. Medicine is almost always a case of opinion, that's why in legal matters, both sides can have doctors that say separate things. The courts should know this.
[edit on 26-3-2005 by rapier28]
-S
[edit on 27-3-2005 by ServoHahn]
K, no worries Servo, i will take a look. 
Thats was taken from my OP/ED Caveat Emptor: The Selling of The GOP's
Soul To The Religious Right. 
