Good Richard's Almanac: Forced starvation is a wonderful thing

March 21, 2005

Forced starvation is a wonderful thing

As reported everywhere,

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore wrote that Terri Schiavo's "life and liberty interests" had been protected. Despite "these difficult and time strained circumstances," he wrote, "this court is constrained to apply the law to the issues before it."

And so... Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is removed and will remain that way.

This is something that goes on 100 times a day in our country, that people, their wish to die with dignity is not a federal issue."

"What this judge did is protect the freedom of people to make their own end-of-life decisions without the intrusion of politicians."

"A good thing."

"Artificial feedings."

"Nearly six in 10 people said they think the feeding tube should be removed."

The asininity of the Terri Schiavo situation has reached incomprehensible levels.

Previously, I asked the question of whether the government was over-stepping its bounds, or was doing its job. While I'll refrain from answering that question, I'll point out a gaping hole in the judge's ruling: no injunctive relief.

Generally, injunctions are issued when a litigant will be irreparably harmed throughout the course of a trial and can reasonably establish that fact. The injunction compels action (or inaction) by one of the involved parties in order to prevent the irreparable harm.

So, how damaged is Terri Schiavo?

And how damaged is Michael Schiavo?

So why hasn't an injunction been issued?

Richard

Posted by Richard at March 21, 2005 8:07 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.goodrichardsalmanac.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/6