Terri Schiavo Addendum

I know this is a nitpick. I can't help it.

Terri Schiavo's body will not starve to death. Dehydration will set in long before she could starve to death. Without water, your kidneys shut down which in turn causes massive organ failure. Yeah, it sounds rather nasty, but it doesn't hurt. It's a method often employed by terminally ill people who wish to end life on their own terms. From what I understand, without the kidneys filtering the blood, the chemical balance shifts and less oxygen is delivered to the brain. The result is a pleasant, floating sensation. (In layman's terms: you get high.)

Not that that matters, since her brain is so badly damaged that I doubt she feels anything anymore.

Now for some interesting links on the subject...

Along with the medical misinformation that is being spread on this subject, the frequent vilification of Michael Schiavo is another instance in which people obviously haven't done any research into the history of this case. A blunt, to-the-point rant about this, along with some of the political ramifications that could ensure, by the Misanthropic Bitch.

"I advocate the use of force to rescue Terri Schiavo from being starved to death. I further advocate the killing of anyone who interferes with such rescue."

-- Hal Turner

I believe that all life is sacred, and I'll kill to prove it! Does this confuse anyone else? throwingstardna posts about some situations in which people claiming to be Pro-Life act in a way that suggests they have very little respect for the lives of others. More instances are discussed in a similar post by Ampersand at Alas, A Blog.

Also via Ampersand, an article in the St. Petersburg Times explores the relationship with the uproar about the Shiavo case and the fact that Terri is female.

Though the families of many vegetative patients - male and female - have faced life-or-death decisions over the years, the plights of injured young women are more likely to engage the public and attract right-to-life advocates, says Steven Miles, a professor for the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota.

"People say, 'She needs to be rescued, she needs to be cared for,'" Miles said...

Finally, a well-written article on Mind-Body dualism and seeing things from the other side of the fence by Philosoraptor. While I may not agree with the stance they have taken, I still think it's important to try to see where other people are coming from. Also, to remember to not simply think of them as ignorant because they don't see things the same way I do.

Gods willing, I will not post on this subject again.