Wesley J. Smith

I was traveling when Terri Schiavo died, the victim of a bitter injustice. It was a very sad day for her family and a black mark on the history of American jurisprudence. We can create a lasting legacy for Terri by acting legislatively to provide greater protections for people, who like Terri, are . . . . Continue Reading »

The Terri Schiavo debacle did not arise in a vacuum. For years, the bioethics movement has strived to deprive some people of their moral worth, based on not yet developed or impaired cognitive capacities. The danger of such thinking is becoming crystal clear, as I demonstrate in this article in . . . . Continue Reading »

“This [Terri’s dehydration] is what happens when law is not tempered with . . . . Continue Reading »

John Leo sees how important the Schiavo case is to the future of moral medical practice and our belief as a society in the sanctity and equality of human . . . . Continue Reading »

The Terri Schiavo case has been one of the most media saturated stories in recent times. And yet, many people, apparently, still don’t know the basic facts—even news reporters. This was brought home to me strongly today in three different manifestations. First, I was a guest on Fox and . . . . Continue Reading »

Jesse Jackson has publicly urged that Terri Schiavo be allowed to live. Ralph Nader, Jesse Jackson, unanimous consent of the United States Senate, half the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives. Clearly: This isn’t a right versus left controversy, this is a matter of casting aside . . . . Continue Reading »

This is an awful truth: Barring the unforeseen, Terri Schiavo is going to die. She has now been without food and water for so long that even if she were rehydrated, her organs might be so damaged that she would not regain her health.How are we to act in the face of such a profound injustice? Many . . . . Continue Reading »

There have been other food and fluids cases almost identical to Terri Schiavo’s. And these people had higher capacities. For example, Robert Wendland could roll a wheelchair down a hospital corridor and yet, a hospital ethics committee thought it was A-okay to dehydrate him to death. Wendland . . . . Continue Reading »

I participated in an on-line debate for Court TV yesterday with Florida bioethicist, Bill Allen. We mostly discussed Terri Schiavo. But we also got deeper into the context in which the Schiavo case is being played out, that is, the idea that some of us are not “persons” based on . . . . Continue Reading »

When Congress directed the federal courts to take a fresh look at the Schiavo case, it was to be “de novo,” that is, to relook at the evidence with a fresh eye. Yet, Judge James D. Whittemore looks to have been more of a rubber stamp. For example, the federal courts were to determine . . . . Continue Reading »