Reader the Second, and Ranchwife, I too second your thoughts.
My husband and I were discussing this situation last night. I told him, I just don't know which is more "cruel" making Terri sit there and suffer living a life I would guess she wouldn't want to be living, or to suffer while being taken off food and water.....
That being said, I told my husband that if I were in that position, I think I'd like assisted suicide or to be "Kavorkianed" (?spelling) even though it's illegal. That would definitely decease the level of suffering.
When I was 15 my Grandma had a stroke and also had a living will. She did ok for awhile but went downhill in the nursing home. I personally think she didn't want to live anymore because she couldn't talk to anyone. I was really upset that the family decided to take Grandma off the life support systems, and my dad being the good father he is, said something like you wouldn't let a cow lay there and suffer why would you want Grandma to lay there and suffer-made a lot of sense to a 15 year old that not lot of stuff made sense to.
Ranchwife thank you for being responsible enough for yourself and to your family and friends to have a living will drawn up. My husband and I need to get our rear's in gear and do the same.