Question

analyze bioethical issue for the role end of life played in the Terri Schiavo case.
be sure to use appropriate terminology and support with secondary research.

Answer 1

Even if tragic, Terri Schiavo's plight provides a valuable case study. The contradictions and misunderstandings surrounding her case offer significant medical, legal, and ethical lessons. Despite media saturation and intense public interest, there remains widespread confusion about the diagnosis of persistent vegetative state, the judicial processes involved, and the appropriateness of the ethical framework employed by those entrusted with the care of Terri Schiavo.

The case was one of the most controversial in the history of bioethics. In this situation, the problems of removing feeding tubes and determining who was the right decision-maker had been largely settled by previous cases and observations. What made this case special was that a private family affair was forced onto the international stage by political and money interests who saw an opportunity to pursue their own agendas at the cost of the privacy and integrity of a family. Politicians passed laws, made speeches, and abused their legislative powers in order to win the spotlight.