NationStates Jolt Archive


Moral/ethics question in Florida. Schiavo/Couey.

Zooke
19-03-2005, 18:11
There are 2 big news stories being played out in Florida right now. The first has to do with Terri Schiavo and if she has the right to die with dignity. She is brain damaged and severely retarded. Her husband says that she wouldn't wish to live in this state, and after years of court battle, has managed to have her feeding tube removed. Here is a brief description of the dignified and painless death by starvation and dehydration.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/370oqiwy.asp?pg=2

A conscious [cognitively disabled] person would feel it just as you or I would. They will go into seizures. Their skin cracks, their tongue cracks, their lips crack. They may have nosebleeds because of the drying of the mucus membranes, and heaving and vomiting might ensue because of the drying out of the stomach lining. They feel the pangs of hunger and thirst. Imagine going one day without a glass of water! Death by dehydration takes ten to fourteen days. It is an extremely agonizing death.

Another sad story playing out in Florida, is the disappearance and murder of 9 year old Jessica Lunsford. Her body was found early this morning, yards from her home. John Couey, a registered sex offender, has admitted that he kidnapped, molested, and killed little Jessica. In an interview with the county sherriff, he indicated that he would push for the death penalty for Couey.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150890,00.html


In Florida, right now, a woman has been sentenced to death by the state's courts, for being brain damaged and for not having what is judged to be an adequate quality of life. Her death will come after days, perhaps weeks, of agony. Couey may well face the death sentence for his heinous act. If such a death is called for in Mrs. Schiavo's case, then why would the same kind of death be considered cruel and unusual for Couey?

Let me state right off, that I am opposed to death in either of these cases. I don't feel that life and death is in man's realm of responsibility. But, given these two incidents, and their likely similar outcome, death, why the difference in perception of humane treatment?
Nadkor
19-03-2005, 18:13
There was a similar case here a year or two ago with Diane Pretty who had Motor Neurone Disease, and wanted to be able to "die with dignity", but she wasnt allowed to i dont think
Zooke
19-03-2005, 18:15
There was a similar case here a year or two ago with Diane Pretty who had Motor Neurone Disease, and wanted to be able to "die with dignity", but she wasnt allowed to i dont think

This isn't another thread on death with dignity. This is a comparison of the perception of humane death in two different scenerios.
Nadkor
19-03-2005, 18:18
This isn't another thread on death with dignity. This is a comparison of the perception of humane death in two different scenerios.
Yes, i know, but i was just giving you an example of how the law treats it here
Super-power
19-03-2005, 18:19
Let me state right off, that I am opposed to death in either of these cases. I don't feel that life and death is in man's realm of responsibility. But, given these two incidents, and their likely similar outcome, death, why the difference in perception of humane treatment?
It's a hypocrisy I've noticed these days, in terms of value of human life - being pro death penalty/anti-abortion and vice versa.

I am actually opposed to the death penalty (and killing Couey) for much more inhumane reasons than you may think - executing cirminals will just end their suffering as it were; instead, let them suffer a life sentence and torment themselves over their prospective afterlife.

I didn't want to see Terri Schiavo's tube pulled - it probably would have been best to follow the terms that she layed out with her husband, but because of the ridiculous legal battle I have *no* clue what those terms were.
Pantylvania
19-03-2005, 19:22
I was for letting Terri Schiavo die until I read how they plan to do it. I thought they were just gonna give her some cyanide or something
Lunatic Goofballs
19-03-2005, 19:29
I was for letting Terri Schiavo die until I read how they plan to do it. I thought they were just gonna give her some cyanide or something

In Oregon, maybe. But not in Florida. There's no legal protection to such an act. Scary isn't it that the only way they can let her die is to terminate care and let her wither away. *shakes head in disgust*