Every day, thousands of people quietly face decisions as agonizing
as those made famous in the Terri Schiavo case. Throughout that
controversy, all kinds of people--politicians, religious leaders,
legal and medical experts--made emphatic statements about the facts
and offered even more certain opinions about what should be done.
To many, courts were either ordering Terri's death by starvation or
vindicating her constitutional rights. Both sides called for simple
answers.
If That Ever Happens to Me details why these simple
answers were not right for Terri Schiavo and why they are not right
for end-of-life decisions today.
Lois Shepherd looks behind labels like "starvation," "care," or
"medical treatment" to consider what care and feeding really mean,
when feeding tubes might be removed, and why disability groups, the
faithful, and even the dying themselves often suggest end-of-life
solutions that they might later regret. For example, Shepherd
cautions against living wills as a pat answer. She provides
evidence that demanding letter-perfect documents can actually
weaken, rather than bolster, patient choice.
The actions taken and decisions made during Terri Schiavo's final
years will continue to have repercussions for thousands of
others--those nearing death, their families, health-care
professionals, attorneys, lawmakers, clergy, media, researchers,
and ethicists.
If That Ever Happens to Me is an excellent
choice for anyone interested in end-of-life law, policy, and
ethics--particularly readers seeking a deeper understanding of the
issues raised by Terri Schiavo's case.