Permanent Vegetative State Case Study
CO-250-Middlesex
Permanent Vegetative State: The Case of Terri Schiavo
The case I have decided to study is case 5 in chapter 10, which is a case that created ethical dilemma. This is the case of Terri Schiavo, a twenty six years old female that suffered a heart attack and permanently lost consciousness. Three years in coma she was finally diagnosed with Permanent Vegetative State (PVS). This is a state where by a patient loses one or both of the brains’s hemisphere and patient is unaware of the surroundings. There is no hope for recovery. In the case of Terri Schiavo, electroencephalogram was done, she was observed for three years and lots of physicians came to conclusion that Terri will never recover. Although Terri was still breathing on her own, moan, cry, and occasionally opens her …show more content…
First I will like to start with the natural law theory. This theory “identifies natural values as including those things that human beings innately desire and need” (Burnor and Raley, 183), this includes but not limited to life, health, liberty and property. In order to sustain life human beings need food, water and comfort.it also states that these natural values are good and that we have a moral obligation to promote them. However, according to natural law theory, there is no moral obligation in keeping a patient alive by nonnatural means. In the case of Schiavo, surgical insertion of a feeding tube is not natural; a feeding pump which is an electrically operated machine is also needed to get the nutrition and hydration through the tube. Another aspect of the natural law theory to explore is the issue of natural right, right holder and autonomy. In case of Schiavo she has lost autonomy in every sense of the term, if that is the case, there is no moral obligation to keep her alive with the resources meant for bonafide right holders. If there is no autonomy there is no
Permanent Vegetative State: The Case of Terri Schiavo
The case I have decided to study is case 5 in chapter 10, which is a case that created ethical dilemma. This is the case of Terri Schiavo, a twenty six years old female that suffered a heart attack and permanently lost consciousness. Three years in coma she was finally diagnosed with Permanent Vegetative State (PVS). This is a state where by a patient loses one or both of the brains’s hemisphere and patient is unaware of the surroundings. There is no hope for recovery. In the case of Terri Schiavo, electroencephalogram was done, she was observed for three years and lots of physicians came to conclusion that Terri will never recover. Although Terri was still breathing on her own, moan, cry, and occasionally opens her …show more content…
First I will like to start with the natural law theory. This theory “identifies natural values as including those things that human beings innately desire and need” (Burnor and Raley, 183), this includes but not limited to life, health, liberty and property. In order to sustain life human beings need food, water and comfort.it also states that these natural values are good and that we have a moral obligation to promote them. However, according to natural law theory, there is no moral obligation in keeping a patient alive by nonnatural means. In the case of Schiavo, surgical insertion of a feeding tube is not natural; a feeding pump which is an electrically operated machine is also needed to get the nutrition and hydration through the tube. Another aspect of the natural law theory to explore is the issue of natural right, right holder and autonomy. In case of Schiavo she has lost autonomy in every sense of the term, if that is the case, there is no moral obligation to keep her alive with the resources meant for bonafide right holders. If there is no autonomy there is no