[Dialogue] Letter to Editor

[jim rippey]

Submitted to Omaha World Herald 3/27/07

NO to Dr. Prioreschi 

I'm sure Dr. Plinio Prioreschi is loved and respected by many due to his professorial career at Creighton Medical School. But I have to disagree with what he proposed in his article, "Life-support removal is illogical solution," on Saturday's opinion page. The essence of what he said is that even if you have a valid living will and family members agree with it, even if family and doctors agree that you are in a persistent vegetative state, he says "life support should not be withdrawn." Period. Ever. Note, however, that is not a medical opinion, it is his religious belief, and it should not be imposed on those who believe otherwise.

Unfortunately, the Schiavo case demonstrates how determined "pro-life" people can be. Some have even been demanding that Florida's Gov. Jeb Bush send armed men to take over Terri Schiavo's care, in defiance of court orders. This is potentially serious. It has only been 40 years since it was illegal to buy or use contraceptives in Connecticut, even if you had a doctor's prescription. There is today an organization of "pro-life" pharmacists who don't believe in filling prescription for birth control pills, and some won't. Wal-Mart stores won't fill prescriptions for "morning after" pills. Don't underestimate the power of people who are determined to impose their beliefs on you.. 

An ironic twist to Dr. Prioreschi's proposal is the question of who will pay. Experts estimate cost of life support for persistent vegetative patients at $100,000 per year. On the 15th of this month, Texas officials in Houston removed the life support of five-month-old Sun Hudson despite his mother's protests. He died in her arms shortly after. This was possible because of a 1999 law signed by then Gov. George W. Bush. It allows hospitals/doctors to do this in "futile" cases when no one can/will pay for indefinite care. A further irony: Rep. Tom DeLay who spearheaded the Congressional effort to "save" Terri Schiavo, just recently voted, with other Republicans, to cut $15 billion from the Medicaid budget. That is the agency designated to take care of people too poor to pay medical bills. 

James C. Rippey Sr., Bellevue, NE


NO to Dr.N

Submitted to Omaha World Herald 3/27/07

NO to Dr. Prioreschi (Letter to WH Public Pulse) March 27, 2005

I'm sure Dr. Plinio Prioreschi is loved and respected by many due to his professorial career at Creighton Medical School. But I have to disagree with what he proposed in his article, "Life-support removal is illogical solution," on Saturday's opinion page. The essence of what he said is that even if you have a valid living will and family members agree with it, even if family and doctors agree that you are in a persistent vegetative state, he says "life support should not be withdrawn." Period. Ever. Note, however, that is not a medical opinion, it is his religious belief, and it should not be imposed on those who believe otherwise.

Unfortunately, the Schiavo case demonstrates how determined "pro-life" people can be. Some have even been demanding that Florida's Gov. Jeb Bush send armed men to take over Terri Schiavo's care, in defiance of court orders. This is potentially serious. It has only been 40 years since it was illegal to buy or use contraceptives in Connecticut, even if you had a doctor's prescription. There is today an organization of "pro-life" pharmacists who don't believe in filling prescription for birth control pills, and some won't. Wal-Mart stores won't fill prescriptions for "morning after" pills. Don't underestimate the power of people who are determined to impose their beliefs on you.. 

An ironic twist to Dr. Prioreschi's proposal is the question of who will pay. Experts estimate cost of life support for persistent vegetative patients at $100,000 per year. On the 15th of this month, Texas officials in Houston removed the life support of five-month-old Sun Hudson despite his mother's protests. He died in her arms shortly after. This was possible because of a 1999 law signed by then Gov. George W. Bush. It allows hospitals/doctors to do this in "futile" cases when no one can/will pay for indefinite care. A further irony: Rep. Tom DeLay who spearheaded the Congressional effort to "save" Terri Schiavo, just recently voted, with other Republicans, to cut $15 billion from the Medicaid budget. That is the agency designated to take care of people too poor to pay medical bills. 

James C. Rippey Sr.

Bellevue, NE

O to Dr. Prioreschi (Letter to WH Public Pulse) March 27, 2005

I'm sure Dr. Plinio Prioreschi is loved and respected by many due to his professorial career at Creighton Medical School. But I have to disagree with what he proposed in his article, "Life-support removal is illogical solution," on Saturday's opinion page. The essence of what he said is that even if you have a valid living will and family members agree with it, even if family and doctors agree that you are in a persistent vegetative state, he says "life support should not be withdrawn." Period. Ever. Note, however, that is not a medical opinion, it is his religious belief, and it should not be imposed on those who believe otherwise.

Unfortunately, the Schiavo case demonstrates how determined "pro-life" people can be. Some have even been demanding that Florida's Gov. Jeb Bush send armed men to take over Terri Schiavo's care, in defiance of court orders. This is potentially serious. It has only been 40 years since it was illegal to buy or use contraceptives in Connecticut, even if you had a doctor's prescription. There is today an organization of "pro-life" pharmacists who don't believe in filling prescription for birth control pills, and some won't. Wal-Mart stores won't fill prescriptions for "morning after" pills. Don't underestimate the power of people who are determined to impose their beliefs on you.. 

An ironic twist to Dr. Prioreschi's proposal is the question of who will pay. Experts estimate cost of life support for persistent vegetative patients at $100,000 per year. On the 15th of this month, Texas officials in Houston removed the life support of five-month-old Sun Hudson despite his mother's protests. He died in her arms shortly after. This was possible because of a 1999 law signed by then Gov. George W. Bush. It allows hospitals/doctors to do this in "futile" cases when no one can/will pay for indefinite care. A further irony: Rep. Tom DeLay who spearheaded the Congressional effort to "save" Terri Schiavo, just recently voted, with other Republicans, to cut $15 billion from the Medicaid budget. That is the agency designated to take care of people too poor to pay medical bills. 

James C. Rippey Sr.

Bellevue, NE