[The following letter concerns the death of Terri Schiavo in 2005. Because of an editorial oversight, this letter was not published last year, and it seemed appropriate to include it here.]
Charles Weijer's commentary on the death of Terri Schiavo1 represents opinion not based on fact. Terri Schiavo did not require “the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration” any more than any immature or dependent person requires food and water with the aid of someone who cares for them. If her nutrition was “artificial,” then so it is for many patients in hospital, some people with disabilities, and children too young to feed themselves.
Terri Schiavo was not a burden to anybody. Her parents were quite content to provide all she needed. What was startling, in fact astonishing, to all people who love life, was that the judges would not allow her parents to care for her, but enabled medical staff to starve her to death, a lingering and painful way to die. There is nothing noble in this.