Time to oppose legal euthanasia

To the editor:

There have been a lot of lies, myths and misconceptions about Terri Schaivo. She isn't in a vegetative state relying on respirators and other machines to keep her alive. She just needs food and water.

Terri's husband pretended to love his wife until the day she won a court settlement in the amount of $1.5 million. As soon as the money was deposited, he suddenly remembered that Terri had at one time confided that she wouldn't want to live like she is now. Since then, he has put "Do not resuscitate" in her records, hoping she will die of an infection. He hasn't allowed her any therapy or system to communicate. He wouldn't allow the nurses to put rolled-up wash cloths in her hands so her fingers wouldn't curl in. He had Terri's cats euthanized, melted down her wedding ring, moved in with another woman, fathered two children and hired a lawyer who is a proponent of euthanasia.

Over the years, Terri's parents have indicated they want to be her legal guardian in order to spare her life and give her proper therapy. They agreed to hand over all the settlement money to Terri's husband if he would allow them to have Terri back. He has refused.

This is a test case for legal euthanasia. Please call and write your federal legislators and the attorney general in Washington, D.C., to tell them you want them to do something to stop this atrocity and keep euthanasia illegal.

GEORGE and CAROLYN SPINNER, Cape Girardeau