The legislative consequences of the Terri Shiavo case

[Walt Starr]

My expectation is there will be a national law requiring advance directives for a feeding tube to be pulled. This will be the fallout of the Terri Shiavo affair because, quite frankly, it's Florida law that put everybody into this position.

If Terri Shiavo had lived in New York, the tube could not be pulled because New York law requires written advance directives that explicitly states.

Florida's laws are considerably more relaxed and as such, put George W. Greer, the Shiavos, and the Schindlers on a collision course for this to happen.

So when some religiously insane asshole starts to blame Greer, get on their case because all Greer did was to apply the law as presented to him by the Florida legislative and exeutive branches. Jeb Bush and the Republican controlled Florida Legislature are 100% of the reason this could even get to this level!

[Nite Owl]

1. What would that do to the

law that * passed in TX? There the hospital decides basically. Even if there is no directive the family doesn't get a choice unless another hospital takes them. Could be one reason why a national law requiring written advance directives like NY has would not pass, it would mean he made a mistake and that wouldn't sit well with the boy king.

[BuyingThyme]

2. I disagree.

No new ground has been covered here.

Ignore the circus. Not everybody hangs by their hair from the ceiling.

[Walt Starr]

3. Barney Frank has already expressed a desire to introduce legislation

I believe it's a state's rights issue, but I fully expect a national requirement for a written directive before the pulgs and/or tubes can be pulled.