More on the Schiavo Case

March 29, 2005

I thought the following letter to the New York Times really hit the nail on the head.

David Brooks doesn't address the central aspect of the Terri Schiavo case. The circuit court found what it called clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Schiavo would not have wanted to be kept alive indefinitely on a feeding tube.

The state is not deciding that Ms. Schiavo's life has less value than Mr. Brooks's or mine, but rather that Ms. Schiavo herself would want the feeding tubes removed.

What the moralists are really arguing is that a competent Ms. Schiavo would not have the right to refuse the feeding tube and that the laws allowing for living wills, health care directives, health care powers of attorney and the like are immoral.

I personally hope that what we are seeing is the crack up of the right. It cannot come to soon.