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?
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?