Ivan Flores - The Battalion

A matter of life

The state cannot sanction the killing of a defenseless, innocent citizen

By: Joshua Dwyer

Posted: 3/9/05

The first victims of the Holocaust were not Jews, but the physically and mentally disabled. It seems that the Nazis developed their tactics and honed their murderous skills on those who were least able to resist before trying to exterminate all the European Jews, according to the BBC.

Even without the dire lessons of history, there would be plenty of reasons to be concerned about Terri Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman sentenced to die on March 18. One who is able to identify with her is my older brother, Christian.

Ten years ago, Christian's doctors predicted that he would live the rest of his life in a persistent vegetative state, unaware of his surroundings and unable to recognize or communicate with his family. And that was if he lived at all, which they were not even sure that he would.

Christian was hospitalized after sustaining multiple brain, spinal cord and internal injuries from a truck wreck in a Colorado blizzard. After several emergency surgeries to stop bleeding in his brain and chest, Christian lay in a coma, and the doctors offered no hope.

All of the medical evidence supported their predictions. Brain scans showed a devastating amount of damage, leaving about one-third of the right side of his brain destroyed. He was connected to multiple monitors and a machine helped him breathe. As one doctor noted, he suffered every complication imaginable other than death.

Defying the opinion of countless experts, Christian now paints, recites poetry and converses intelligently about politics, religion and culture. He also makes time to give motivational speeches to various community organizations.

Christian understands that Schiavo's fate concerns more than just her.

"Her situation sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who is handicapped, because it puts their humanity in jeopardy," Christian warns. "It sends a message that if a person is not wanted, then they can be disposed of at any time for any reason."

He is exactly right.

Schiavo's worth as an individual should not be measured in light of her abilities, her contributions to society or her status. She has inherent rights as a person. She is nothing less, and she does not have to do anything to earn her rights or prove herself worthy of them.

But even if Schiavo's recovery is not as miraculous as Christian's or her future is never as promising, that is no reason to kill her. Her family wants the chance to take care of her and assist in her rehabilitation, which her husband has neglected, though he is her legal guardian.

Despite media reports to the contrary, there are several doctors and nurses who have signed affidavits stating that Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state, according to www.terrisfight.org.

For Judge George Greer to hand down a death sentence because he says he is "no longer comfortable" waiting on the appeal process is the height of arrogance. He is not ruling on contract dispute or a minor point of law. He is sitting in judgment of another person's life, and so far he has only demonstrated his inability to fulfill his responsibilities.

If she is mercilessly starved and dehydrated to death, it will be because she was deemed not to have the same rights as criminals in prison or the rest of us. The Fourteenth Amendment - which provides equal protection under the law - was adopted to prevent just such an act.

The U.S. government cannot withhold food and water from captured members of al-Qaida even though they have sworn to harm American citizens. The fact that it appears willing to condone the exact same actions against one of its own is disturbing.

Even after years of rehabilitation, Christian's physical therapy continues as he relearns how to control various muscle groups, hoping to one day to no longer need his wheelchair. He knows it won't be easy. "Daily victories are sweeter in uphill battles," he says.

Fighting for Schiavo may be a cause that fails, but given the potential ramifications, it is worth attempting.

If German citizens knew what was about to happen when the first disabled individuals were murdered, history would be very unforgiving. Let us hope that we escape a similar judgment now that we know.