Tom Delay and his father...

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

There was no point to even really talking about it," Maxine DeLay, the congressman's 81-year-old widowed mother, recalled in an interview last week. "There was no way [Charles] wanted to live like that. Tom knew — we all knew — his father wouldn't have wanted to live that way."

The letters U F and B come to mind.

Of course this is different:

"The situation faced by the congressman's family was entirely different than Terri Schiavo's," said a spokesman for the majority leader, who declined requests for an interview.

Yeah, right...

There were also these similarities: Both stricken patients were severely brain-damaged. Both were incapable of surviving without medical assistance. Both were said to have expressed a desire to be spared from being kept alive by artificial means. And neither of them had a living will.

This is turning into a really bad made for TV movie.

[Pete (Premo)]

I can see a difference. In the Schiavo case the only medical assistance needed is a feeding tube. In the DeLay case he needed a ventilator and dialisys (sp) due to renal failure in addition to probably a feeding tube.

Or is that what you were saying

[Animal]

Biggest difference I see between the two is that with old man Delay they all agreed to the course of action.

[Tonio]

Maybe the medical differences in the two cases aren't relevant. I don't know what is in DeLay's head, but here's my theory--maybe DeLay really didn't want to take his father off the machine, but went along with with what the rest of the family wanted. So he could still feel guilty for not doing something to "save" his father, and could be using the Schiavo case to alleviate his guilt.

[Fred Hoeck]

The fundamental difference is that a ventilator is extraordinary means, a feeding tube is normal means. Feeding someone who can't feed themselves is like feeding a baby. Many people can not feed themselves and rely on feeding tubes.
Micheal Schivio gave up his spousal rights when he took a common law wife and had two children by her, he does not necessarily have Terri's best interests in mind.
Everyone needs to let their family know their wishes, in writing. Medical personnel should be required to get written authorization from the family member(s) allowing termination of any care, a verbal grunt or shug when people are thinking should not suffice. If any good comes of this incident that is it.
The mainstream media do not report both sides, Micheal Schivio has been reported to want his wife, Terri, dead for the money, there is suspicion of abuse, it is not clear cut.

[somdcrab]

Delay, Tom [defined] an OX moron

[willie]

This is the crap that Al Franken and the du will jump all over and scream "hypocrite". Both sides of the case are doing their best to look like fools. DeLay doesn't need any help being a fool and any group that makes a comparison of his situation and Schiavo is equally a fool.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

The fundamental difference is that a ventilator is extraordinary means, a feeding tube is normal means. Feeding someone who can't feed themselves is like feeding a baby.

I disagree. A friends kid is on a feeding tube. It is not 'just' a tube. It's a pretty substantial set up. A baby can suck and swallow. This kid and Terri can do neither although Jason after 9 months, unlike Terri after 15 years, is making process. He is starting to be able to chew and swallow.

Schivio gave up his spousal rights when he took a common law wife and had two children by her, he does not necessarily have Terri's best interests in mind.

This is up to Florida state law and they disagree. He is still responsible for her and they have found, after 15 years no reason to disqualify him from his responsibilities.

The timeline on the terrisfight web site paints a pretty clear picture as to what this case has gone through.

In any event, it would be nice if we all had our wishes understood. In Maryalnd however, I understand that even if it is in writing to let you go, your spouse can refuse to allow that to happen.

Messy, sad affair.

[somdcrab]

Originally Posted by willie

This is the crap that Al Franken and the du will jump all over and scream "hypocrite". Both sides of the case are doing their best to look like fools. DeLay doesn't need any help being a fool and any group that makes a comparison of his situation and Schiavo is equally a fool.

da reberend Al said:
"Delay dat krakka a fool"

[willie]

No doubt Maryland is screwed up in the personal rights department but are you sure about this:
Larry said, In any event, it would be nice if we all had our wishes understood. In Maryalnd however, I understand that even if it is in writing to let you go, your spouse can refuse to allow that to happen.

Messy, sad affair.
What is the purpose of a living will? The one I have has everything, I hope, spelled out that has been contentious in Schiavo's case. Feeding with the tube is included. It is a long document. The Executor is only burdened to make initial decisions until the doctors determine that I'm toast then the Executor is out of the picture. A proper living will makes it so cut and dried that it could be decided in traffic court in 5 minutes if it were contested.