The fight for the removal of the feeding tube in the Terry Schiavo case is a glaring example of a fight between logic and emotions. Keeping a person alive in a persistent vegetative state for the past 15 years with no hope of recovery only shows the weakness of the human mind to accept reality. On the other hand it also speaks volumes in the progression of medical science.
Medscape.com has mentioned in its article that “Schiavo’s parents have argued their daughter responds to them and could improve with treatment”. The complete story can be found here. Any physician will point out that this is not possible. A person who is in persistent vegetative state is not capable of responding as the brain has suffered irreversible damage. The only other explanation that is possible is the Terry’s parents have such a strong emotional bond with their daughter that their mind is not ready to accept reality and interprets any movement (if there is any) of Terry as a sign that she is responding.
In my opinion Terry’s parents should be counseled by a psychiatrist because the emotional trauma which they are undergoing may be phenomenal, which has effectively shut the doors of logical thinking. This could eventually lead to an end of the long legal battle which is being fought between emotions and logic.
For people who want a review of the whole case, there is an excellent article at ars technica.
