The Papal Death Watch and the Debacle of Terry Schiavo are two case studies in the important issue of death and dying.
The Pope is not going to a hospital to die...and he is not getting every known form of life saving medical attention.
Schiavo on the other hand was kept alive for 15 years! On tubes and antibiotics...as a virtual vegetable.
Now in fairness to Schiavo massive brain damage in younger people is tricky. There is the initial attempt to 'give them a chance' but then....once the tracheostomy is done the lungs can be "suctioned" almost indefinitely and the threat of dying by pneumonia subsides....sometimes for years! Pneumonia is an old man's best friend it is often said...it kills quickly by "blood poisoning" not by suffercation as many think.
Nusing homes are literally filled with brain damaged patients.....few people without massive brain damage need nusing home care, so the "merely" disabled need not fear being placed in a nursing home nowadays.
And the religious right, so catered to by the Republicans, are looking very foolish today.
Clearly, they should have sought to let Terry "walk with Jesus," and NOT insist on perpetuating her long tortured "mindless wakefulness" that persisted for 15 years!
