The Sound of Silence

Quote of the Day:
"In a country where the sole employer is the State, opposition means death by slow starvation. The old principle: who does not work does not eat, has been replaced by a new one: who does not obey shall not eat."
~ Leon Trotsky ~


After thirteen days without food or water, Terry Schiavo has died. The "man" she was married to has said that she had told him she would not have wanted to live in a debilitated condition. There was no evidence or written testimony from Terry, only this "man's" word.

This "person" who loved her denied her any food or water for those last thirteen days.

It is reported that Terry died in a 'hospice' environment. This is very disturbing. Traditionally, hospice organizations are dedicated to providing palliative care to the terminally ill. Hospice services are provided through and regulated by the Federal Government. In order to be admitted to Hospice certain condition must be met.

"The purpose of the hospice benefit is to provide for the palliation or management of the terminal illness and related conditions. Under Federal guidelines, the hospice benefit is available to individuals who have been certified by a physician to be terminally ill. An individual is considered to be terminally ill if he/she has a medical prognosis that his or her life expectancy is 6 months or less." Center for Medicaid

Palliative care can be defined as pain control, a comfortable, familiar, safe environment and hydration or nutrition if possible. The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine has issued a position statement on the administration of food and liquids to a dying person. The last sentence in this article states, "Clinical judgement and skill in assessment of individual clinical situations is necessary to determine when artificial hydration and nutrition are appropriate measures to apply."

In Terry's case, the only reason fluids and nutrition were withheld were at the insistence of her "husband." The "man" who said he loved her condemned her to death by ordering the feeding tube which sustained her life to be permanently removed.

Despite the bellowing of politicians and the vigils of friends and supporters, the one Truth concerning Terry Schiavo has not been spoken. She was not terminally ill. She was not dying.

The silence that surrounds the Unspoken Truth is deafening.

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