The past two months have highlighted the deaths of two prominent figures. Internationally, Pope John Paul II was such a staunch voice for the weak and vulnerable everywhere. In the United States, Terri Schindler-Schiavo lost her life fourteen days after her feeding tube was removed. The juxtaposition between these two deaths shows the need to create a will to live. Pope John Paul II was able to die naturally, with dignity, and with loved ones by his side. Terri, however, was forced to starve to death because of a legal battle over whether or not she would want to be kept alive by “artificial” means (receiving nutrition and hydration through a tube, since she was unable to swallow). Please remember them and their families in your prayers.
Please read this issue of the Pro-Life Update carefully to understand some of the challenges we now face and how you--an educated Pro-Lifer--can help advance the Culture of Life. Please share this information with your family, friends and church congregations. Make copies. Spread the news.
Pope John Paul II’s Message Will Live On
After 26 years of being pontiff of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II passed away on April 2, 2005. His respect for life was evident even in his last days. Pope John Paul II was an amazing religious leader and a staunch Pro-Life supporter. His encyclical Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life) expressed the importance of building a Culture of Life and respecting human life at all stages. While clearly opposing all abortion and euthanasia, he was still compassionate towards those who have experienced the pain of abortion:
The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope… With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone’s right to life. (Evangelium Vitae §99)
Texas Right to Life is saddened to lose such a strong international voice for Life. We pray that the next pope will promote the sanctity of innocent human life as aggressively as John Paul II has.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo Loses Battle for Life
Texas Right to Life is also saddened by the death of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. After six state and federal courts denied reinserting Terri’s feeding tube, she died on March 31, 2005. She had been living without food or water for nearly 14 days. Her parents and siblings were not permitted to be with her during her death. They have now vowed to focus the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation on assisting other desperate families in their efforts to protect vulnerable loved ones.
President Bush shared in the country’s mourning:
Today millions of Americans are saddened by the death of Terri Schiavo. Laura and I extend our condolences to Terri Schiavo’s families. I appreciate the example of grace and dignity they have displayed at a difficult time. I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected, especially those who live at the mercy of others. The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak. In cases where there are serious doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life.
The tragedy of Terri’s death is unfortunately common across our country. This highly publicized case will help Americans to understand the struggles that our elderly and disabled face.
Write Your Advance Directive
Many people create an estate will prior to their death to minimize the possibility of disputes among the family; however, as the case of Terri Schiavo has shown us, an advance directive and a medical power of attorney or a Pro-Life will to live is even more important. Many people who do not want medical technology to prolong their last days may sign a living will; however, you should be concerned that the terminology used is not specific enough. Webster’s Dictionary defines “terminal” as “of or in the final stages of a fatal diseases.” Many doctors and hospitals, however, arbitrarily decide that a patient is terminal when that patient simply needs rehabilitative care and medicine; sadly, you are deemed terminal even if your life could be saved by medical treatment, so long as you would still have a permanent disability of some kind. Appointing a person to make medical decisions for you when you become incapacitated allows for medical treatment decisions to be made more effectively and easily with your medical ‘agent’ and your doctor.
For example, one widely used living will declaration states, “If I should be in an incurable or irreversible mental or physical condition with no reasonable expectation of recovery, I direct my attending physician to withhold or withdraw treatment that merely prolongs my dying.” This is an extremely broad statement. Technically, if you have a permanent limp or even blindness in one eye, you could have an irreversible physical condition. Also, this statement offers no time frame for recovery. Legally, every life-saving medical treatment prolongs dying.
Furthermore, the classification of persistent vegetative state (PVS) is often used to justify withdrawal of nutrition and hydration or other life-saving medical treatments. Thus, this diagnosis should be seriously questioned. Patients (such as Terri Schindler-Schiavo) are routinely labeled as PVS due to some incapacity or disability, but an accurate PVS diagnosis is difficult to make, because many patients have only some impaired faculties, while other mental and bodily functions are fully operational. PVS is a term frequently used, but there are no widely accepted standards as to what symptoms (or lack of) constitute a PVS. Also important to note is the fact that countless patients have emerged from so-called PVS after years and even decades.
If you do not want medical technology to prolong your last hours but also do not want to be starved or dehydrated or allowed to die just because you have a disability, the medical community will be far more likely to respect your wishes if you sign a properly prepared advance directive, Pro-Life will to live, or designate a medical power of attorney. Like any legal document, you should consult a lawyer to ensure that you completely understand the legal implications of your requests. Please also consult the National Right to Life website (www.nrlc.org).
