1. None of the medical experts who have reviewed Schiavo's case debate that she is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) - the only disagreement is whether she could eventually learn to swallow on her own. That is what "recovery" means in this case - not that she would ever have cognitive function or consciousness, but whether she could be rehabilitated to the point where she could SWALLOW. What the fuck kind of life is that?!? And all of the medical experts who have been called in by people OTHER than the parents have agreed that even this small level of recovery is basically impossible.
2. The husband's words were not the only words considered by the court - they listened to testimony from dozens of her friends and acquaintances, after which they (the court) found "clear and compelling" evidence (which is actually a pretty high legal standard) that she would not want to be kept in a PVS.
Further, the husband is not "advocating" for anything - he has turned over guardianship of her to the courts and left it up to them to decide; this matter is not really between the parents and the husband, as it has been framed, but between the parents and the courts, who have found over and over and over and over AND OVER that the woman is not coming back and that she would not want to "live" like this.
Please understand that this is not about disability - it's not like she's a quadriplegic, or has Down's Syndrome, or has localized brain damage that renders her incapable of communicating. THE PART OF YOUR BRAIN THAT MAKES YOU HUMAN IS GONE!
http://biology.about.com/library/org...blcerebrum.htm
Cerebrum
Function:
* Determines Intelligence
* Personality
* Interpretation of Sensory Impulses
* Motor Function
* Planning and Organization
* Touch Sensation
Do you want to see how much of the brain the cerebrum makes up?
[img]http://eduweb.brandonu.ca/~science/diagrams/cerebrum_1.gif[img]
Educate yourself before you go comparing me to Hitler.