Why Is Terri Schiavo Be Kept Alive

Terri Schiavo was 26 years old and living in Florida with her husband, Michael Schiavo, when she went into a persistent state of vegetation (PVS) in 1990. She was in incapacitated to a point that she could not provide her own consent for continuation of life support or any medical treatment. While the main cause of her condition was unknown it was determined that she had experienced hypoxia, lack of oxygen, for several minutes which could cause neurological complications. Michael Schiavo and Bob and Mary Schindler, her parents, agreed in the beginning to fight to keep her alive. After a few years Michael Schiavo began the process of allowing her to die however, the Schindler’s maintained that she was cognitive and responsive and should be kept alive. She was breathing on her own but
Without this legal documentation it was up to the survivors to determine her guardian. Michael Schiavo was initially appointed guardianship but the Schindler’s would later protest once his decisions began to involve removal of the feeding tube and restriction of medical treatment. Sometime in the mid-1990’s the courts were then involved to act as proxy on Terri Schiavo’s behalf. In 2000 and again in 2002, the court had to determine if Terri was in a persistent state of vegetation as it was defined, if she had any chance of recovery, and what her wishes would have been regarding quality of life or end-of-life. A neurological specialist appointed by the court, two selected by Michael Schiavo, and one chosen by the Schindler’s examined Terri for determination of PVS and chance of recovery. Based on the testimonies of all parties and evidence presented in both cases the court decision was that she was in PVS and to cease life support due to her very low chance of recovery from her