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Terri Schiavo might still be alive had she been in a hospice in New York State... | Poem

March 20, 2005 / 11 Nissan, 5765

If Terri Schiavo were an Orthodox Jewish NYer would she still be alive?

By Stewart Ain

"Terri Schiavo might still be alive had she been in a hospice in New York State rather than Florida."

If pigs could fly we would not need hog wash.

"...a feeding tube is not medicine and must be inserted into a patient who cannot swallow unless the patient had provided explicit instructions to the contrary."

A feeding tube is a medical procedure that requires surgery when inserted into the stomach (like the one Terri had) and is duly noted on the hospital bill.

"Schiavo's husband, Michael, had the feeding tube removed from his wife because he said she would not have wanted to be kept alive by a tube. Terri Schiavo did not have a living will or health-care proxy."

Michael Schiavo was Terri's health-care proxy.

"The first Halachic [Jewish law] principle of medical intervention is that whenever it is possible to increase the longevity of a patient, it should be done."

Let us all give thanks and praises for separation of church and state where Jews can follow whatever their laws are when it pleases them and allow for those of us, like Terri, may follow our own beliefs.

"suffering serves to increase a person's merit, and therefore prolonged suffering is a good reason to prolong life in order to erase sins and to allow the person an opportunity to repent."

We are climbing Jacob's ladder - but the only up is down. Heavens to pergatroid! Close all the hospitals! Fire all the doctors - increase a person's merit! Let them all suffer!

"... the insertion of such a tube is not a medical procedure but rather "the act of providing sustenance to a living person."

Cutting open a stomach is not a medical procedure?

"...cause of death by 'gradual starvation and hydration,' and not from the underlying disease," Ritholtz wrote."

Hydration is the giving of fluids.

Is it not hypocritical to beat one's chest in public for Terri who did not suffer when her feeding tube was removed while 10's of thousands of human beings are starving to death all around the world - and THEY feel the agony of it for months and even years?

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