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Making Life and Death Decisions: Lessons Learned from the Terri Schiavo Case

Ethan Mitchell

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Published in If That Ever Happens To Me: Making Life And Death Decisions After Terri Schiavo (Studies In Social Medicine)

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<img class="rdY bmv _5Bj kY0" alt="Terri Schiavo Lying In A Hospital Bed If That Ever Happens To Me: Making Life And Death Decisions After Terri Schiavo (Studies In Social Medicine)" width="1360" height="900" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?q=Terri-Schiavo-Lying-In-Hospital-Bed&amp;w=672&amp;c=7&amp;rs=1&amp;p=t0&amp;dpr=1&amp;pid=1.7&amp;mkt=en-US&amp;adlt=on"> The Terri Schiavo case was a highly publicized legal battle that ignited a national debate about end-of-life care. Schiavo, a young woman in a persistent vegetative state, became the subject of a bitter legal battle between her husband, who wanted to remove her feeding tube, and her parents, who opposed the decision. The case culminated in a number of court rulings, including a controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, before Schiavo's feeding tube was ultimately removed and she died in 2005. The Schiavo case raised a number of important questions about end-of-life care, including: * What criteria should be used to determine whether someone is in a persistent vegetative state? * What rights do patients have to refuse life-sustaining treatment? * What role do families play in making end-of-life decisions? These questions are complex and there are no easy answers. However, the Schiavo case helped to highlight the importance of having these conversations in advance, so that individuals can make their wishes known and avoid unnecessary conflict. <h2>What is a Persistent Vegetative State?</h2> A persistent vegetative state (PVS) is a condition in which a person is awake but unresponsive to stimuli. People in a PVS may open their eyes, but they do not show any signs of awareness or consciousness. They may breathe on their own, but they cannot eat, drink, or speak. PVS is caused by severe brain damage, often as a result of a traumatic brain injury or a stroke. It is a permanent condition, and there is no known cure. <h2>Terri Schiavo's Case</h2> Terri Schiavo was 26 years old when she collapsed in her home in 1990. She was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and went into cardiac arrest. She was revived, but she sustained severe brain damage and fell into a PVS. Schiavo's husband, Michael, initially supported her parents' efforts to keep her alive. However, after several years, he changed his mind and decided that she would want to die. He filed a lawsuit to have her feeding tube removed. Schiavo's parents opposed Michael's decision. They argued that Terri was not in a PVS and that she would want to live. The case went to court, and a number of rulings were issued, including a controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. In the end, Schiavo's feeding tube was removed in 2005. She died 13 days later. <h2>The Impact of the Schiavo Case</h2> The Schiavo case had a profound impact on the debate about end-of-life care. It raised a number of important questions, including: * What criteria should be used to determine whether someone is in a PVS? * What rights do patients have to refuse life-sustaining treatment? * What role do families play in making end-of-life decisions? These questions are complex and there are no easy answers. However, the Schiavo case helped to highlight the importance of having these conversations in advance, so that individuals can make their wishes known and avoid unnecessary conflict. <h2>Making End-of-Life Decisions</h2> Making end-of-life decisions is never easy. However, there are a number of things that individuals can do to prepare, including: * **Talking to your loved ones.** Discuss your values and beliefs about end-of-life care with your family and friends. Let them know what your wishes are, and make sure that they understand your reasons. * **Completing an advance directive.** An advance directive is a legal document that allows you to state your wishes about end-of-life care. There are two main types of advance directives: a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. * **Choosing a health care proxy.** A health care proxy is someone who you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. This person should be familiar with your wishes and values, and should be able to make decisions that are in your best interests. Making these preparations in advance can help to ensure that your wishes are respected, and can avoid unnecessary conflict and confusion. The Terri Schiavo case was a tragedy, but it also helped to raise awareness of the importance of end-of-life planning. By having these conversations in advance, individuals can make their wishes known and avoid unnecessary conflict.