The One and Only Blog on Terri Shiavo

I have been avoiding hearing about the Terri Shiavo case. I just wanted it to go away. But recently I have been thinking a lot about the case. Not so much as a right to life issue, but as an issue to discuss ethical process.

Interestingly this case poses a conundrum that is surfacing more forcefully. Many of our ethics are simultaneously public and personal. Many on the side of removing Terri's tube emphasize the deeply personal nature of life and death decisions. Yet, the parents and the right to life movement (agree with them on this specific issue or not) have correctly proved that all ethical decisions have communal and coorperate ramifications.

I talked with our visitation minister about her desire to have everyone she knows have a living will. She wants all individuals to have their wishes known. She also argues that most of the people in persistent vegitative states are younger, so we should all plan how we are going to deal with these situations now. I am not there yet. Part of the reason is that if I am in that situation, I would rather others have input on that decision too. Especially my faith community and my family. Not so much the government though.

We are living in a dream world if we do not think that our ethical decisions are not connected to our community, nation, and world, and do not speak to them in powerful and profound ways. In the last few weeks we have seen how a woman in a persistent vegitative state can profoundly effect congress, the Supreme Court, and the President. No matter what you believe on this issue, know this; we make no ethical decisions in a vacuum. Like a rock thrown in a pond, the decisions we make ripple out all around us.