All I Have To Say

( Bush Culture of Life Political Cartoon )

Thanks to kyburg via fortysomething for the political cartoon by scottbateman.

Political Surfing

Links related to the current life determination issue:

Schiavo, Hudson and Nikolouzos

Life Support Stopped for 6 Month Old in Houston

Basic overview of the Texas Futile Care Law:
In 1999, the Texas "living will"/durable power of attorney for health care law was amended to include a policy which states:

"If the patient is requesting life-sustaining treatment that the attending physician and the review process have decided is inappropriate treatment, the patient shall be given available life-sustaining treatment pending transfer…The physician and the health care facility are not obligated to provide life-sustaining treatment after the 10th day after the written decision…is provided to the patient or the person responsible for the health care decisions of the patient unless ordered to do so…"

A court can order an extension of the time period, at the request of the patient or his agent, only if it finds that there is a reasonable expectation that a physician or health care facility that will honor the patient's request for treatment will be found in the time granted.

(By the way... the Catholic Church opposes Living Wills, and believes they have contributed to the destruction of medical ethics in the United States. This really shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone, considering their track record on other life issues including abortion, the death penalty and suicide. They don't believe you should have any input whatsoever in when you or anyone else leaves the planet, or how you go about it. It's not about dignity, folks, it's about sanctity!)

Bonus: Bush's record on the Death Penalty in Texas