It is easy for facts to become distorted in order to promote a certain point of view, and many times people believe what they are told without taking the effort to examine the facts.

In the Terri Schiavo case, her estranged husband and guardian Michael Schiavo would have people believe death by removing her feeding tube will be a painless and peaceful process. However, deprivation of food and water leads to seizures, cracked skin, nosebleeds, vomiting, and extreme hunger and dehydration. Think about how you would feel if you did not eat or drink anything for just one day.

Terri will suffer much more than that. After winning a malpractice lawsuit and stating his intent to use the money to care for her, Michael has not provided Terri with physical therapy, medical care or dental care for years. He did not even allow a priest to visit her. Terri is not in a vegetative state because she is able to respond to her environment by smiling, following with her eyes and showing emotion.

She is not dependent on machines, is able to breathe on her own and does not drool, leading doctors to believe that with therapy, she could learn to swallow. Instead of denying Terri therapy and concentrating on trying to let her die, her husband should provide her with proper care. It is not right to jump to conclusions and say that care has not helped, when in reality, basic medical care seemlingly has not even been provided.