May 3, 2008

Bobby Schindler at Princeton University

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March 31, 2008

Remembering Terri Schiavo Three Years Later

Three years ago today, Terri Schiavo died after thirteen days without sustenance, having been denied by court order the most basic of necessities. We were stunned, watching in disbelief while this brain damaged, but otherwise healthy woman, was publicly subjected to a slow, excruciating death that her caregivers called "compassionate". Could this really have happened in our beloved country? Have we sunk so low that we are willing to termiate the lives of the weak and helpless because they do not have our capabilities or an acceptable "quality of life".

BlogsforTerri remembers...

We've learned many things, or at least realized and appreciated more deeply truths that were rarely tested. Life is precious and its value is independent of a person's capabilities or health status. All individuals, no matter how severe or hopeless their illness, have the basic right to nursing care, emotional support, food, and water. Our critics have a hard time understanding that diminished capabilities or suffering does not change the dignity of the individual's life.

Many have adopted a utilitarian standard on which to evaluate the acceptability of a person's life. Severe brain damage is therefore seen as dehumanizing rather than just disabling. When we asserted that Terri's life was intrinsically valuable, antagonists responded viciously, caustically attacking in the most vile and aggressive manner. Again, we were surprised.

Continue reading "Remembering Terri Schiavo Three Years Later"

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March 25, 2008

Kevorkian Runs for Congress

They let him out of prison to run for congress?

Jack Kevorkian, who spent eight years in prison for his role in an assisted suicide, will take on another crusade Monday: a race for Congress....

Kevorkian, 79, is expected to run as an independent. He was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder in the Sept. 17, 1998, death of Thomas Youk, 52, of Waterford. Youk had Lou Gehrig's disease. Kevorkian has said he participated in at least 130 assisted suicides during the 1990s. He was released from prison in June.

Actually, the reason he left prison is that he was expected to die of Hepatitis C within a year (of May 2006). Since then he's promoted assisted suicide via paid speaking engagements and now wants to represent Michigan constituents in congress.

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February 1, 2008

Lauren Richardson

Lauren Richardson, a 23-year old non-dying citizen of Delaware, is in grave danger of being dehydrated and starved to death by order of the state, against the wishes of her father. - details at Defend Life

The Delaware Pro-Life Coalition is leading the fight to keep Lauren from being murdered by order of the state. They organized a prayer vigil yesterday afternoon near the Arbors Rehab Center in New Castle, DE [map]. If you would like to help out, the point of contact is Bess McAneny, 302-593-7876, bmcaneny@aol.com.

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January 18, 2008

Are You Attending Blogs4Life 2008?

The Third Annual Blogs4Life Conference (blogs4life.com ) is scheduled for Tuesday January 22, 2008 in Washington DC. I'm writing with some exciting news with the hope that you'll be able to attend.

The Family Research Council is providing a first class meeting facility just a few blocks from the annual March for Life, the massive pro-life event which draws tens of thousands of pro-lifers (some estimate the crowd at well over 100,000) . A morning session is scheduled before the March with over a dozen well-known pro-life speakers including Kevin McCullough (MC), Jill Stanek, Judie Brown, Eric Scheidler, Barbara Curtis, Dawn Eden, Phill Kline, Michael New, Michael Illions, Maggie Datiles, Michelena Fredenburg, Peter Shinn and Rep. Chris Smith.

Yes, it will be action-packed and lively!

An afternoon session from Noon to 4 PM will be held in a luxurious room close to the Capitol building overlooking the March for Life. Internet access will be provided for live-blogging and a 50-inch flat screen monitor will broadcast the Rally and March for Life as it occurs. In addition, several pro-life leaders will be available for interviews and commentary.

If you plan to attend, please let us know by registering at Blogs4Life.com. Space in the afternoon session is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

More Information: Blogs4Life.com

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January 17, 2008

The Modern Anathema of Living with Brain Damage

Many families are faced with decisions about what to do when their loved ones suffer serious brain injury. When individuals are unlikely to come out of so-called "vegetative states," should we discontinue nourishing them by tube feeding? Is there anything wrong with causing patients in compromised states to die from starvation and dehydration under these circumstances? We all lived through such a decision when Terri Schiavo died in 2005 in Florida. Her death raised disturbing ethical questions that continue to reverberate in society today.

read the rest

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January 16, 2008

Jack Kevorkian visits Florida

The infamous proponent of assisted suicide was greeted by over 4,000 protesters:

As dozens of pro-life advocates rallied outside, assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian delivered an angry and rambling speech. Although he can only talk about euthanasia in a limited fashion, he advocates the legalization of assisted suicide and blasted President Bush, calling him a tyrant.

The AP reports the unrepentant words of the man convicted of assisting in 130 suicides:

"I am a physician. I knew how to do it. ... I did it humanely," Kevorkian told 4,867 students and faculty.

(...) "We have a criminal group in Washington. We have a bunch of cruel dictators," he said. "Everyone should refuse to vote. That would send the tyrant a message."

(...) Kevorkian, who was paid $50,000 for his speech, said assisted suicide was a medical procedure -- something the law shouldn't be concerned with it.

(...) "It's got to be decriminalized and the law has to step out of the picture," said Kevorkian, wearing his signature blue sweater.

LifeNews reports:

He told the audience that he would be violating the terms of his parole to discuss euthanasia in an expanded sense. His attorney, Mayer Morganroth looked on during the speech.

However, he said that Greece and Rome used assisted suicide and said the ancient cultures are ahead of ours, even though America exists in a modern time.

What a mockery of the criminal justice system that let him out on parole and the taxpayers who are (indirectly) footing the $50,000 bill.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation was critical:

The Terry Schindler Schiavo Foundation also submitted a petition with more than 5,000 signatures asking UF to cancel the speech. The foundation was established after the death of Terry Schiavo, a Florida woman who died in 2005 after being removed from a feeding tube in a high-profile battle between the woman's husband and her parents and siblings.

"My concern is this, you are paying a convicted murderer $50,000," said Bobby Schindler, Terry's Schiavo's brother. "It is poor judgment that would allow this man to speak."

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January 15, 2008

Fighting for Javona

The parents of Javona Peters have disagreed on whether to remove a feeding tube and end what's left of her life. - more The teenager has been in a state described as "vegetative" since an "unforeseeable reaction to a routine anesthesia agent" during brain surgery in October 2007. Recent legal maneuverings appear to set an unfortunate stage for the young girls future.

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January 11, 2008

Active Euthanasia

Canadian doctors fight to end their patient's life opposed by family members.

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November 23, 2007

An Apology Due Terri Schiavo

George Stephanopoulos and ABC News owe the family of Terri Schindler Schiavo an apology.

He owes one to the American public too as does Fred Thompson, Republican presidential candidate.

How can the public have any trust in such grossly uninformed media figures as Stephanopoulos who obviously doesn't take the time to learn the facts of an issue or Thompson who aspires to be President. Is that how he would run the country, by basing his opinions on major issues by guess, gosh and speculation rather than facts?

Last Sunday, Thompson appeared on ABC's "This Week" with Stephanopoulos when Stephanopoulos openly demonstrated his total ignorance of the facts of the Schiavo case by flippantly, and wrongly, stating that an autopsy had shown that Terri was "brain dead".

Read the rest at the North Country Gazette

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