vc318

FOXNews.com - Florida Man Battles Mother-in-Law to Remove Wife's Feeding Tube - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla — A Florida man and his mother-in-law are in a legal battle over whether to remove his wife's feeding tube.

Raymond Weber has been granted temporary guardianship of Karen Weber, who is 57. She has been in and out of a nursing home and hospital since suffering a stroke in December. Her mother says she is now hospitalized on a feeding tube and suffering from meningitis.

Raymond Weber sought to have the feeding tube removed earlier this year and to have his wife transferred to a hospice ward, where she would likely die. He says she is in a vegetative state and would not want to live this way. But Weber's mother says that her daughter has been alert and responsive at times and doesn't want to die.

The arguments in this case are similar to those made over Terri Schiavo, whose husband successfully had her feeding tube removed against the wishes of her parents. Schiavo died in 2005.

This really is sad and it does bring me back to the Terri Schiavo case that happened not to long ago. That's why it is so important that couples have something drawn up when serious health issues arise because these sort of fights do end up breaking out. In the end, if the hospital has done everything in their power to help this woman then I think the husband has the right to make the final decision. That is her spouse after all.

sunnykerr

Absolutely. Look at what happened with Terry Schiavo. Autopsy revealed that her brain had shrunk to such an extent that she would have had no cognitive abilities. But her parents saw what they wanted to see. And who can blame them, really. I can't imagine the pain you must be in when that's your child.

And I do think that the person who lives with you from day to day has a better idea of where you head is at, in the end.

Of course, that opens up a discussion on gay rights, because gay partners have very few recognized rights in this area, if any. Heck, hetero non-married life partners have little to no rights as well.

At the end of the day, this really is a question of being open as soon as possible about these things, with all of our loved ones. And, if need be, to indeed draw legal documents to that effect.

vc318

Sadly, some of these spouses really do want to see their partner go. I'm guessing they don't want to see them suffer anymore.

sunnykerr

That would be my assumption as well.

I know we live in disturbing time where we have seen ample evidence that some men (and women) out there are truly sick and seem to have absolutely zero understanding and respect for the sanctity of human life.

I just have to believe that they're not in the majority.

And, so, if there's ever a situation where a spouse and his/her in-laws disagree on the treatment of someone who's unable to speak for themselves... first of all, I have to wonder what the situation is there that they would be in such a disagreement... second of all, and most importantly for me, you don't choose your parents, but you do choose your spouse. If the spouse is still a factor, then I'd rather go with their opinion as I think they'd be more likely to know where their spouse's head space is at.