This WEB log considers issues involving assisted suicide/euthanasia, bioethics, human cloning, biotechnology, and the dangers of animal rights/liberation. My views expressed here, as in my books and other writings, reflect my understanding that the philosophy of human exceptionalism is the bedrock of universal human rights. Or, to put it another way: human life matters. (The opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of any organization with which I am affiliated.)
The Terri Schiavo debacle did not arise in a vacuum. For years, the bioethics movement has strived to deprive some people of their moral worth, based on not yet developed or impaired cognitive capacities. The danger of such thinking is becoming crystal clear, as I demonstrate in this article in National Review Online.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 7:51 AM
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12 Comments:
The press seems very confused about this case and seems to think that Congress is trying to interfere with the fact finding province of the courts. Wish a Constitutional scholar would put out a press realease on the real issues. I have personally decided to leave the Democratic party over this.
This week I was intent on removing a branch of an oak tree that was threatening the roof of my home. Since I was the property owner of both the house and the oak tree, I naturally assumed I had the authority to remove this insignificant limb of my tree.
Not so. Only moments before I was about to rip this defenseless limb from the tree, my neighbor arrived and asked if I had a permit. A permit! It’s my tree on my property! Besides, I was only going to trim off a branch, not kill the tree. Little did I know that all the oak trees in my neighborhood were protected by a higher power. This protection included a ban on the removal of any live limb larger than two inches in diameter without a permit. I asked the neighbor, who I am sure had the best interest of the tree in mind, what was the determining factor that the object of my chainsaw was indeed dead. That, he indicated, had to be determined by a certified botanist. And if it was indeed alive, the botanist had to certify that the removal of the limb would not endanger the tree.
Moral (or absence of): Even in a vegetative state, if in fact she is, I am left to believe that Terri has less value to society than the limb on my oak tree.
ccepdx- As events have evolved the last two weeks, this is clearly not a political issue for most people, although some politicos had hoped it would be. I do believe party lines have been blurred on this issue, and personally I see that as a positive. I never thought I'd see the day that I was on the same side as Lanny Davis on an issue.
wes- I'd like to thank you for this web site. I'm trying to do a little research on the pro-death bioethicists who are lurking in our ivory towers. Short of hit and miss with the internet search engines, is there a better way to read up on this? Additionally, do you possibly have a way to share the '97 op-ed piece written by Dr.Cranford for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star? I've only seen snippets of what he stated and would like to read it in its entirety. Any suggestions are deeply appreciated.
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Thanks, Faith. I agree that party lines have been blurred and also see that as a good thing. Yet I am chagrined, especially now that Terri has died, that one of my Oregon senators, Ron Wyden, among others, tried to block federal intervention. If that issue hadn't become so contentious, perhaps she could have been saved. In the past, the Democrats represented a party that was not process obsessed and would act to protect and enpower the downtrodden. I am disgusted by the hypocricy.
cceipdx- indeed, Americans all rallied to protect the innocent and those who can't care for themselves. This has been highly disappointing and hideous, but nonetheless, there are positives to be found. Those who have been working diligently to steal the basic tenets of our culture, and most certainly our Constitution can no longer hide behind a rock. And this goes far beyond party lines.
g walker- you might enjoy reading this news release about a fellow who cut down a tree and the ruling that followed from Judge Whittemore (who, by the way, ruled against saving Terri Schiavo.) I'm sure we can all agree that our environment is precious, but human life holds more value. In this instance Judge Whittemore protected a nest! Not an eagle, but the nest!
http://www.reelfoot.com/eagle_tree_21105.htm
G. Walker's attitude explains why disability rights activists are so terrified by recent events. Once some of us can be dehumanized as worthless, there is nothing that cannot be done to them. Eugenics anyone?
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Wesley,
I am only just beginning to wake up to some of the underpinning issues of this Schiavo case. When I first got really involved I was led to seek out the Scientology connection on matters pertaining to the brain injured being non-persons. Your article regarding an exchange with Bill Allen was illuminating.
A few weeks ago I say a "debate" between this Bill Allen and one of the senators, I think it was Dr. Weldon. The body language of Bill Allen was very interesting because to me he seemed to be uncomfortable with the real issues. He of course, kept up the mantra that Terri was not cognitive etc. despite the evidence to the contrary.
On the other hand I had been in some discussion with Dr. James about what I had discovered about the case, and he alerted me to the fact that these bioethicists were producing statements that are so very chilling and dangerous.
Your article has brought out the finer points of what is wrong with bioethics, especially the kind that is favoured by Peter Singer. I had read a lot of what Peter Singer had to say on the issues of abortion, and other life matters. It always seemed to me that he had more interest in chickens being housed in a big barn that any interest that is related to human life.
If my cat and dog can communicate with me,letting me know when it is feed time, when they want to go outside, when it is time to play, and all those other forms of communication (including a woof of thanks for the morning treat) then people like Terri who have a human brain also have the means to communicate in other ways.
This makes what happened to Terri under judicial seal something that is quite dangerous to those who have mental and physical disabilities.
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