Tuesday, March 22, 2005

We can't stand by and watch her starve to death

On JewishWorldReview.com, March 21, 2005/10 Adar II, 5765, Rabbi Aryeh Spero explains Jewish law as it applies to people like Terri Schiavo:

Long ago Jewish law made a distinction between withholding medication and special treatments from a patient as opposed to withholding food and water. Whereas there comes a time when we are no longer required to proactively employ "heroic" medicines and treatments to keep a non-functioning body operating, it is always necessary to continue feeding a patient...

...While medicating is a conditional decision, not so feeding. Feeding is not a medical question, it is the most basic human need whose purview is not the doctor's or judge's but inalienable. Not to feed one starving in front of you is: "Standing by While the Blood of Your Brother is Spilt."...
And he looks at America today:

...There is a much larger question here that has ramifications beyond the Terri Schiavo situation. There are those in the House, such as Rep. Henry Waxman, and liberal talk-show hosts who are irate and screaming at those wishing to keep her alive. The anger of the presiding judge can be attributed to that of ego —being challenged by elements questioning his reasoning and authority. But what is to be said of those who have no personal stake?...

American Jews have been screaming loud and long about this, but the media has been largely ignoring them, trying to frame this as exclusively right-wing Christian territory, at a guess.

Hat tip: http://bookwormroom.blogspot.com/

1 comment:

Bookworm said...

Thank you for linking to my blog -- especially since it gave me a chance to come on over and check out your blog, which I like very much.