The will to live

It is claimed, by Terri Schiavo's parents, that she has the will to live.

That is why, the plug should not be pulled on her.

Had an interesting discussion during cell about 'Living Wills', ie a will you can draft out to specify what is your intention should you be in this state. Personally, I would want to be kept alive as long as (financially) possible. I am of the hope that I can wake up, recover, and possibly lead a normal life. But there are moral issues as well as spiritual ones to the Schiavo saga. Other reasons aside, could pulling the plug on such a patient be counted as murder? The rationalization being that, yes, the patient, although depending on artifical life support, still has a heartbeat, which means that she still has a spirit. She still has life - it could be argued though that the definition of 'life' itself is suspect. After all, she is nearly half-dead, and some have claimed that letting her live on is prolonging her suffering. Without the advances of medical technology, she could well be dead by now. But it is a form of euthanasia to pull the plug, even removing her feeding tube. Which is more or less humane? It just baffles me - Giving a quick injection for a speedy passing away, or a 2 weeks' starvation to death. Neither seems appealing.

In the face of it all, most importantly what does the patient want for herself? This, perhaps, no one will ever know. (Because she did not make a living will - then again none of us have) I am romantically inclined to believe that comatose patients can hear, have a mind and can respond, inwardly...they still have a will. That is why in Schiavo's case, she hung on for the last 15 years. She wants to live. Then again, perhaps she does not; but it is the artificial life support that forces her to keep breathing.

Asked my parents what they wanted for themselves if ever they were in this predicament and both said that I could (as a first-born child) make the decision to pull the plug. Perhaps my parents are fatalistic - well they believe that going to heaven earlier is beneficial for them - and also they would not want to be a financial burden to their children. Everyone knows how expensive medical care is here, furthermore one which could last for years could leave the ones left to care for them financially drained. This leads to another moral-spiritual question: If one is diagnosed with cancer at the Stage 3 /4 where there is usually no hope, due to financial concerns or other reasons, the patient refuses medical aid and treatment, is the patient guilty of suicide then?

It is a blessing to live.

Pastor Rick Warren said let us not forget that we are not only human beings on a spiritual journey, but spiritual beings on a human journey...

Let's focus on the eternal, then.