For those of you following the factual elements of the Terry Schiavo case (the right-to-die controversy down in Florida), her Independent Guardian has issued his report.
It is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, as to medical elements, he pretty much comes down totally on the side of the husband that Terry is not conscious and is not going to recover, ever. A little side research on the web helped me understand some of the videos making the rounds of Terry moving/smiling, etc. - involuntary reactions that are common to the condition but that do not indicate awareness or potential recovery (and which the Independent Guardian couldn't consistently elicit in response to repeated stimuli).
On the other hand, he doesn't (and really can't) address the core question: What were Terry's wishes? It is all very well and good to put to rest the PSV question, but her condition doesn't make a whit of a difference if she didn't really want to be killed under these circumstances.
So what does it all mean? Sadly, nothing. Litigation will continue down a variety of avenues, and while the medical question may now be settled, the factual question of what did this woman actually want may never be known. I think I'm going to put in my living will that I want to be killed if I'm ever at risk of having my unconscious body being used in the mass media as a grisly symbol for a cause.
Of course, not all forms of brain-death are inappropriate for the mass media. If you need to lighten your mood from all the recent hatchet burials, voting scandals and Kennedy-mourning, you can always check out Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie slumming it in a red state for a month on The Simple Life, a new "reality" show from Fox. Best moment of the first episode: Paris Hilton not understanding a reference to a soup kitchen ("what's a soup kitchen?"), tied with her asking if Wal-Mart is where you buy stuff for walls. I'm scared to think that she probably is that dumb. I mean ill-informed. No, wait a minute. I meant dumb.
| Terry Schiavo | Medicine | Florida | Reality TV |
I haven't seen the show, though part of me is curious . . . but since Mike moans about the end of humanity whenever the trailer for it comes on, I doubt I'll be watching it (at least when he's home . . . )
But I did read a review, which said that Paris admitted to the show's producers that she does know what Wal-Mart is, but thought it would be funnier for the show if it looked like she didn't. Now, I am by no means suggesting she is the heir to great comedic dumb blondes like Gracie Allen and Carole Lombard, but the whole idea of creating a real life Green Acres is pretty inspired, in its own sick way.
And any connection between reality and the "reality" of these shows is usually pretty tenuous. I mean, honestly, how often do you get locked in a house or stranded on an island with a dozen total strangers for weeks on end? (Joke responses, please . . . )
Debbie, you obviously don't know anyone who sells software to international trade banks. You've pretty much described 5 of my last 20 months.
Comment #2 :: link :: December 3, 2003 09:00 AM
