Random Thoughts From Marybeth

Schiavo, Death Row, and Living Wills

I was listening to the radio yesterday when I was out doing errands. Not surprisingly, some of the news coverage was about the Schiavo case. One of the other stories I heard was one about efforts to remove prisioners from California's death row.

It just struck me as ironic that some people think Terri Schiavo should die because her brain doesn't function at a "normal" level and others (?) think murders should live because they are low functioning.

A few notes:
1. Most California members of the House didn't show for the vote on Sunday.
2. One of the factors that inmates need to show to prove mental retardation is a history of impairment from childhood/adolescence. I guess Terri's problem is that her disability came too late...and she didn't kill anyone first.
3. I have no idea what to think of the Schiavo case. The information I have read about her current condition is conflicting. What little information there is about the cause of her condition is also conflicting. I know what I would want for me, or at least what I think I would want. This is no reason for me to think I know what she would have wanted.
4. If you haven't done so yet, put your wishes in writing (regardless of what you have told to whom). It's more than just what measures should or should not be taken, it is also about designating someone to make decisions for you. If you don't want to do this for you (and who wants to think about this when they're healthy?), do it for the people who love you.

Printable Advance Directives by state and related worksheets and resources from the American Bar Association. The resources include who you can or cannot choose as a proxy, how to begin a discussion with your family, and things to consider when determing what type of care you would want to have.