I cannot understand why so many people are skirting the real issue: a human being—yes, she still breathed on her own, she still had a heartbeat, she still had a soul—was, with careful deliberation, starved to death. What is wrong with the world? May God have mercy on us.
Michaila Kwiatkowski
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Sadly this is an eye-opening experience for people to put final wishes in writing and have it notarized. Don't just talk about it, do it so that this can't happen to you. It shouldn't be up to the courts, but then most things that tie the courts up shouldn't be there to begin with. No one should be denied the right to die with dignity. That is what is going on right now.
Kay Needham-Green
Santa Barbara, Calif.

Medical experts have compared Terri Schiavo's mental capacity to that of a six-month-old. Most people would agree that starving a six-month-old would be inhumane, so why would starving a human being in the same mental state be any different?
Veronica
Houston, Texas

For those who say that they wouldn't want to be kept alive through artificial/non-natural methods: the last time I checked, food and water weren't artificial. It is perfectly natural to supply the body with essential nurishment. The removal of Terri Schiavo's source of food and water is what is not natural.
Kelsey Fletcher
Elkhart, Ind.

People accuse Michael Schiavo of lacking compassion, but if anything he is the most compassionate figure in this tragic situation. After 15 years of living in purgatory, the most compassionate thing would be to grant Terri her wish and let her go, rather than indulge the selfish desires of her parents.
Scott Lakso
Geneva, N.Y.

As I see it, there are two conditions involved here. One, she is essentially brain dead and there is no point to allowing her body to continue to function. Two, if she were somehow aware, then that would be the most intolerable condition, like being buried alive. Death would be merciful.
Robert Splan
Palatine, Ill.

It is continually ironic to hear Bush and other conservatives speak of a "culture of life," yet support the death penalty. Is not ALL life precious? This double-standard should make their supporters cringe and start to look at their leaders in a new light.
Aldo
Washington, D.C.

Terri Schiavo's body may be able to live with the assistance of a feeding tube, but Terri Schiavo—the daughter that the Schindlers raised, the woman that Michael married—died 15 years ago. Her parents' insistence on keeping her shell alive only serves as evidence that her physical presence is more important to them than her mental or spiritual one. They need to get grief counseling to accept the loss of their daughter and let Terri, Michael and the entire country move on.
Rachel Blubaugh
Lewisville, Texas

Why is it that the only compassionate answer is to keep Terri alive? If she is a devout Catholic, one would assume that, spiritually, she was right with God before falling into this PVS state. Why then would the Christian "right" be so against letting her physical body pass and her spirit going to heaven where she would have the ultimate healing? This makes no sense.
Carole Helms
Snellville, Ga.

The government has no place in determining whether someone has the right to live or die. Life is a precious gift that is in the hands of the Creator, not a gavel. Terri was brought into this world by her parents, which should give her parents the right over her short-time husband. How do we know he's not in it for the insurance money—she has no will. Her parents have dedicated all these years to their precious daughter with hope and continuing passion for her. Give the paretns' the rights God gave them as her guardian.
Erin Campbell
Fredericksburg, Texas

As harsh as it may sound, I think that Terri's family is being extremely selfish. I don't think that she would want to be shown in national television as a vegetable with no independent life. I know for sure that I would not appreciate my family not wanting to let go if it was for the best. I know for a fact that my mother loves me so much that she would accept the fact that I would be better off without artificial methods of keeping me alive.
Valerie Acosta
Crofton, Md.

My thought is the person speaking on Terri's legal behalf abandoned the marriage when he entered into another marriage-type relationship. Terri is no longer his priority. But my real question is that I think you should post a question with all the supports of Terri's death sentence. Would they be willing to sign a statement to be maintained by the courts, so that just in case they or someone in their own family was in the same position, their vote on this case could be used as the final word for their loved one? I am sending that statement to as many stations as possible. I bet most people would decline. I would be more than happy because I have a nephew on a feeding tube, and I know first hand that it is not life support! But I can tell you that not one person in my family would opt for removing it so he can die a horrific death, as this woman is.
Joyce Schofield
Michigan

I think Michael Schiavo forfeited his right to make any decisions about Terri's care years ago. The judicial branch of the government is out of control. I feel encouraged that Congress would get involved on behalf of one person. It is NOT just a "family matter". Most of all, I am disturbed that she could not even have ice chips or drops of water to moisten her lips. That would hardly be part of the whole "artificial means" argument. Michael Schiavo and the judges involved are murderers.
Constance Moore
Arlington, Va.

The actions that have been taken for the past 15 years with Mrs. Schiavo have been extraordinary in their effectiveness at keeping her body alive. Even if she were aware, if she can't communicate in some form, enjoy being able to touch or feel or do anything for herself. She has been fed, bathed, dressed and groomed by other people for 15 years. She's been living in purgatory—isn't it beyond the time her spirit be allowed to go onto its next level? The time has come and gone for her parents to let Terri move on so they can celebrate her life and remember her as she was, not keep her body alive for their own selfish reasons. Isn't it possible the phrase her parents have been saying she tried to utter was, "I want to die!" Set Terri free and allow her find the next stage of her life!
Erik Saltrones
Tacoma, Wash.

As usual, the American judicial system is a fascinating and frightening contradiction in terms. You think little of starving a living, breathing human being to death but rail hysterically at the harvesting of stem cells for research-the very same research that one day may prove to save the Terri Schiavos of the world. How hypocritical!
Diane Liebling
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The reactions of activist Republicans are very concerning. Aren't these people, albeit well-intentioned, in the act of protesting the will of Terry's husband, undermining the sanctity and right of marriage that they value too highly to share with homosexuals?
Jason
Oakland, Calif.

It is cynical that politics has taken the lead in this sad case. It is a shame to try to obtain a political advantage from such a tragedy. I wonder how someone can state that Terri Schiavo is alive—she has been nothing but a larva for a long time. The removal of the tube is an act of mercy and civility.
Francisco Di Grazia
Rome, Italy

I find it extremely sad that our courts cannot afford a little compassion. I believe that is one of the reasons that the House and Senate as well as the President intervened. Losing someone you love is extremely painful and the pain seems compounded because of a judge and son-in-law who lack compassion. It is so obvious the profound pain this family is experiencing. I am glad our President as well as the House and Senate leaders have demonstrated compassion by their attempt to intervene. Less than a year ago I lost a very dear brother from the same type of illness. His neurologist was very quick to let us know that very little is known about the brain and so for this judge to not air on the side of life seems too harsh for me. Life is precious.
S. Hewitt
Antioch, Calif.

Don't tamper with life and death. These are difficult subjects we know very little about. Reinsert the tube and let Terry live or die by herself.
Oduvaldo Ferreira
São Paulo, Brazil

I am a Catholic but nonetheless, I think that to maintain artificial, hopeless life is not within God's will. If Terri's health were to have improved, this would have started more than 10 years ago. She is no longer there—why insist?
Ana-Maria
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Am I the only one who has noticed the glaring irony here? The same conservatives who gleefully marched into Iraq and slaughtered 100,000 innocent people in their war of choice are concerned about life and its preservation? Or maybe some people's lives are more important than others, depending on their choice of religion and country of origin.
Victor Karani
Bronx, N.Y.

Terri is not enjoying quality life anymore—it seems to be quantity now. [After] Fifteen years of quantity...it's time to let her go.
Karen
Swift Current, Sask., Canada

The struggle about life support and when and how to withdraw it is a daily discussion in any intensive care unit in this country. Every one of us has difficulty dealing with issues about the end of life; these discussions are personal, painful and often spiritual, but none of us can avoid the inevitability of death. Artificial mechanisms were never meant to keep bodies alive forever. They are a medical tool that buys time until the acute event can be overcome. Prolonging this period when the outcome will be death in any account only delays and probably magnifies the sadness and pain experienced by those left behind.
Carla S. Alexander, M.D.
Baltimore, Md.

Her mother is quoted on CNN: "Stop this cruelty, stop the insanity." Indeed. Her parents have exhausted just about every possible legal angle—twice—to keep their daughter alive, and the courts have turned them back every time at every level, both state and federal. Let it go, and let her go.
Scott Kitchen
Bridgewater, N.J.

I don't think this should be about politics at all. This is a matter of a family who has lost someone very important to them and can't seem to let go. The government should not have gotten so involved in this because it really is not their place. Schiavo's family needs to let go. We all have to do it at some point, now it's their turn. She's not coming back (and i don't want to sound harsh), but they just need to let go and the government needs to back off.
Shannon
Encinitas, Calif.

I am very concerned that our government is entering into areas where they do not any valid reason to go. As unfortunate as Terri's plight is, would we all not be better off if government stayed out of these family decisions? I am a supporter of President Bush but I am extremely upset that his actions in this case are being construed as pandering to the religious right.
James English
Jacksonville, Fla.

Many Christian activists have stated that Terri Schiavo should remain alive as a testament to G-d's will and His decision on human destiny. Isn't it true that with the medical intervention that has already occurred on Terri's behalf, we've already negated G-d's will and maintained only a human desire to control what is a 'right to life' hypocrisy?
Becca Hallock
Canton, Conn.

The issue at hand can be localized to just one thing: brain activity. In the event that brain activity is anything higher than zero percent, all efforts in my opinion should be made to keep the patient alive. In the event that brain activity is at zero for a fixed period of time, it would be in the better interests of the patient to let nature take its course.
Shazad Ahmad
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I disagree with Congress's decision to get involved. This is not a matter the federal government should get envolved with. Her parents lost their rights [to decide for their daughter] to her husband when she married him. I believe [her husband] when he states she would not want to live this way. As a parent, I would not want to see my daughter live a "non-life" like Terri has had to endure. I think Terri's family should stop fighting the decisions already made by the courts. Terri was lost to them years ago when she fell into the coma.
V. Joulwan
Schuylkill Haven, Pa.

If, as Terri's parents insist, she is cognitive and is alive and able to think, then her treatment the last fifteen years is cruel and unusual punishment—no, it's torture. Imagine being able to think and be in a straight jacket and not express your wishes for such a long time. Because she is a devout Catholic, the Pope should declare her a saint, and declare [that] it's time for her to take her rightful place in heaven.
Don Carlson
Cambridge, Minn.

I am extremely disappointed by the words and actions of Bill Frist, M.D.—the Senate majority leader. He stated that Ms. Shiavo "has open eyes, is breathing without a machine, is not in coma". All this despite multiple confirmations from the independent consultants that Ms. Schiavo is in a permanent vegetative state. Mr. Frist, more than anyone else in the Congress, is well-equipped to embrace the medical reality of the case. If he didn't, it can be for one of two reasons (and none of them good): 1. he is an ignorant as a physician or 2. he is a cynical, political player. I am glad he elected to move from medicine to politics. I wouldn't like to have him at the hospital bedside—neither for me nor for my loved ones.
Piotr Michalowski, M.D., Ph.D.
Bellevue, Wash.

We have an odd ideology in our society that dictates that being alive is the most important thing above all others. It would seem to be common sense, but when you look at it it is not. It fails to take into account being a living person and being brain-dead. Terri Schiavo is no longer living by the definition of any reasonable person. The areas of her brain that would hold her essence are long dead. Her life as it were ended years ago. What remains is a body that symbolizes Terri Schiavo. It is this symbolic life that people are embracing irrationally. The ideology of life is a noble pursuit but it must be tempered with practicality. Terri Schiavo is dead. It is time to let her rest in peace.
Devon Kruggel
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

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