The fight against the Culture of Death manifests itself in many different ways—both at the beginning of life and at the end. Terri Schiavo’s case in Florida has brought to light the disregard of those who are disabled. Her trials are similar to many of our elderly as they near the end of their lives. The Culture of Death is glaringly present at the beginning of life: partial-birth abortions are still performed in the United States. Current evidence now reveals what Pro-Lifers already believed—that the unborn baby can most likely feel pain.
Please read this issue of the Pro-Life Update carefully to understand some of the challenges we now face and how you, as a Pro-Life activist, can help advance the Culture of Life. Please share this information with your family, friends and church congregations. Make copies. Spread the news.
Euthanasia vs. Compassionate Care
The fight for the life of Terri Schiavo, a disabled Florida woman who relies on a feeding tube for food and hydration, has brought end of life issues to the forefront of our media. Physician-assisted suicide was legalized in Oregon in 1994 (and later implemented in 1997), legally introducing euthanasia to the United States. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have long been practiced without legal consequence in the Netherlands--even though euthanasia was not officially legal until just a couple years ago. Documented cases already exist in the Netherlands where doctors have escaped jail time for non-voluntary euthanasia after being acquitted by the court system. Many Dutch citizens, in fear of the doctors, actually wear tags that state that they do not want to be euthanized.
We must ensure that the terminally ill receive compassionate care--pain management (a.k.a. palliative care), psychological care, and spiritual care. With this proper care, far fewer individuals will consider euthanasia. These individual lives are worth saving, and they add value to our society. Statistics from Oregon show that terminal patients worry about being a burden when they can no longer perform all the tasks they used to be able to perform on their own. Suicide is most often a cry for help--to see if anyone really cares and because a person’s discomfort is so severe. With proper and adequate pain management, much of the desire to end one’s own life disappears.
Florida Judge Rules Schiavo Law Unconstitutional
Last October, Terri Schiavo was sentenced to death when her husband ordered that her feeding tube be removed. Many were rightly appalled, and Governor Jeb Bush acted quickly to find a way to save her life. Governor Bush, by working with the Florida legislature, passed legislation to allow Terri’s feeding tube to be reinserted. “Terri’s Law” passed and has protected her, yet the debate continued.
This law was challenged in the courts and was recently struck down as being unconstitutional on the basis that Terri’s law violates the disabled woman’s right to privacy and delegates legislative power to the governor. “The governor believes very strongly that this statute is constitutional, and there are a variety of compelling state interests here. The first is the protection of innocent life,” said Ken Connor, Governor Bush’s attorney. Governor Bush will appeal the decision, and, during this time, Terri will keep her feeding tube.
Terri’s husband claims that Terri is only being kept alive artificially and would not want to live like this. But, stated Connor, “It is profoundly disappointing that the mere bald and naked assertions Mr. Schiavo makes go untested in this proceeding. The effect of all of this is that Mr. Schiavo gets to kill his wife through starvation and dehydration if this order is upheld.” Even those who are severely disabled are important and valued members of this society, and, furthermore, they are entitled to the basic human needs such as food and water.
Doctor Testifies that Fetus Feels Pain
Currently, pro-abortion groups are litigating three trials across America to challenge the constitutionality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Act. This gruesome procedure, also known as Dilation and Extraction (D&X or D&E), is used to abort preborn children who are 20 to 32 weeks old—or even later. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist uses forceps to pull the baby’s leg into the birth canal. The abortionist delivers the baby’s entire body except for the head. Then the abortionist punctures the back of the baby’s skull with scissors and spreads the tips of the scissors apart to enlarge the wound. A catheter is then inserted into the skull, and the child’s brains are suctioned out. The now-collapsed head is then removed from the uterus.
Through the course of these trials, abortionists have been called to testify. Dr. Timothy Johnson, during a trial in New York City, shared the following while being questioned by an attorney for the National Abortion Federation (NAF):
THE COURT: And although you have never done an intact D&E, do you know whether or not the incision of the scissors in the base of the skull of the baby, whether that hurts?
THE WITNESS: Well, I guess my response would be I think that the baby feels it but I’m not sure how pain registers on the brain at that gestational age. I’m not sure how a fetus at 20 weeks or 22 weeks processes and understands pain.
This testimony further clarifies what most Americans already know--partial-birth abortions are brutal and must be completely banned. Unfortunately, a procedure like this seems necessary to help people recognize the humanity of unborn children.
