Rest in Peace, Terri Schiavo

Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman who has been confined in a Florida hospital for years, has finally died, after 13 days without food. State and federal courts had ordered the removal of the feeding tube 13 days ago, allegedly, upon the doctor's opinion/suggestion that she will never heal again. For years, she has lived as a vegetable and it's saddening to see her pass away after life support was taken off.

Now, this opens a debate upon the right-to-die vs. the right-to-live scenario. Given the facts that this woman had been living as a vegetable and the doctors saying that she practically had no chance to heal, was it right for the courts to order the removal of life support? In fact, is it right for anyone to take away whatever keeps one alive? I can see and understand the family's plight, that maybe - just maybe - a miracle might happen and one day, Terri will just wake up from a deep, deep sleep. But was it the court's rightful decision to order the removal of such feeding tubes? This may have its roots in government cost-cutting measures because it is spending for the machines that keeps Terri "alive". Was it right for them to take it away, possibly on the grounds that it is costing them valuable dollars? Was it right to take off the life support in the first place? Or was it Terri and her family's right that she be kept on life support while waiting for a miracle?

You be the judge.