Question

Terri Schiavo was a woman in a persistent vegetative state following a cardiac arrest in 1990. She died

in 2005 after her feeding tube was withdrawn per court order. At the center of the dispute were Terri’s husband, who asked the courts for removal of the feeding tube, and her parents and siblings, who objected to the removal. This case presents a legal and ethical situation relating to the separation of powers among the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. Both the Florida legislature and the US Congress intervened in the Schiavo court battle by creating laws that were signed by the governor and president, respectively, to compel reinsertion of the feeding tube. These laws were ruled to be unconstitutional intrusions in judicial matters and the decisions of the courts, supporting removal of the feeding tube, eventually prevailed.

What forces are at play that led to an ethical tension in this situation?

Setting aside personal beliefs about the removal of a feeding tube and the death that will follow, do you believe the courts should have considered the laws passed by both the Florida legislature and the US Congress?

Answer 1

In case of Terry s health condition, the conflict was very strong. The factors that influence the ethical tension are powerful . The patients right to undergone certain treatment, for hydration and nutrition, right of end of life care and so on are certain factors that cause an ethical tension and conflict .

The laws passed by the US and Florida government was just contradicted to that of court .Both the Florida legislature and the US Congress intervened in the Schiavo court battle by creating laws that were signed by the governor and president, respectively, to compel reinsertion of the feeding tube. These laws were ruled to be unconstitutional intrusions in judicial matters and the decisions of the courts.In my opinion, the court should not consider the laws which are accepted by the government. End of life care is patient s right, but at certain point, the court's order was perfect.