MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

The Real Experts on the Schiavo Case

• Posted by Beth on March 22nd, 2005 filed in General, Schiavo    

Ed Smith is a quadriplegic and a full-time writer for the Canadian press (CBC news). He has some thoughts from the perspective of the disabled:

Given the politicization of the Terri Schiavo case it’s easy to lose sight of the real issue, which is that a determination has been made that a brain-damaged person does not deserve to go on living. A judgment has been made on the quality of this person’s life, and since that quality does not meet the standards of those involved, it has been decided she should cease to be.

My concern is: (1) that she’s being euthanized because she’s disabled; and (2) by extension, the fact that there has been created the infamous slippery slope on which tens of thousands of incapacitated and disabled human beings will now find themselves.

I see two basic procedural and human problems here.

CONTINUE READING…

Pinellas Park, FL, March 21, 2005 — “Disability Rights is a progressive cause in the tradition of civil rights movements. Progressives should get this — it’s not ‘life’ versus ‘choice,’ but the right of people with disabilities to live, ” proclaimed Eleanor Smith, a person with disability, “and we are here in Florida to tell the world about this disability issue. Capital criminals have habeas corpus in federal court, yet Ms. Schindler-Schiavo only crime was being a disabled person!”

“It’s time for the press to talk to the real experts on the Schiavo case — the disability rights movement”, declared Diane Coleman, president and founder of Not Dead Yet, leading the disability community’s opposition to non-voluntary euthanasia for a decade. “That’s why 26 national disability rights organizations, including groups like Not Dead Yet, and Disabled Queers In Action (DQIA), have adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo’s right to continue to receive food and water,” affirmed Stephen Drake, research analyst for NDY.

The “right to life” movement has embraced Terri Schindler-Schiavo as a cause to prove “sanctity of life.” The “right to die” movement argues that people in guardianship should have no protection against private family decisions to kill them. Yet the life-and-death issues surrounding Terri Schindler-Schiavo are first and foremost disability rights issues — issues which affect tens of thousands of people with disabilities who, like Ms. Schindler-Schiavo, cannot currently articulate their views and so must rely on others as substitute decision-makers.

Even the National Organization for Women (NOW) resolution’s addressed this issue in “Envisioning Disability Rights” by affirming that “… that persons with disabilities have the choice to remain in their own homes rather than be institutionalized; and … that the medical and legal system would rather declare a person helpless mentally and physically than deal with the facts of that case.”

The facts are that Terri Schindler-Schiavo is not a ‘vegetable’ nor ‘in-valid’ but a person with a disability using a feeding tube and no other ‘life’ supports. She is not terminally ill nor has failing health except denial of food and water by the court. The news failed to clarify:

* At the 2000 trial, Schiavo suddenly remembered that Terri would not want “to live like that.” Despite conflicting testimony, the judge authorized her starvation.

* More than half of the $750,000 settlement in 1993 for her care was given to Mr. Schiavo’s lawyer and they still refuse the most basic rehabilitation for Terri (even though he promised the court he would use the money for treatment).

* Medical experts disagreed about her vegetative state, therapy, and quality of life issues. However, research shows that non-disabled people and medical professional devalue the quality of life of disabled people. This case illustrates disability rights issues, and how all our systems: budgets, legislative, legal, and executive branches have routinely devalued people with disabilities except for this last minute effort. We urge you to Congress to support Disability Rights by securing permanent rights, affirming the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) and funding for appropriate supports/services.

* In 1998, the court-appointed guardian ad litem found that Mr. Schiavo had a conflict of interest, since he would inherit the money intended for her care.Upon Mr. Schiavo’s request, the judge dismissed the guardian and never appointed another!

Furthermore, the news and ads for charities show excruciating pictures of starving children in torment yet the news declares starvation a ‘painless death’ for Terri? Why is society creating a double standard based on a person’s health? Why don’t disabled people receive the same suicide prevention that others can take for granted? If starvation (and assisted suicide) are really “voluntary,” then why aren’t they available to anyone, at anytime, for any reason?

Sadly, the news presents an illusionary choice to die instead of listening to people with disabilities. Until all options of living: disability rights, food/water, and attendant services/supports are exhausted and absolutely clear written directives based on facts not myths such as “better off dead than disabled”, then Ms. Schindler-Schiavo must be allowed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And in case you needed MORE to show you that the ACLU is an organization of sick hypocrites, “ACLU of Florida Welcomes Judge Whittemore’s Ruling in the Schiavo Case“. Note that disability advocates have appealed to them in the past.

See also: “Schiavo Case is About Disability Rights.”