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For immediate release: Thursday, March 31, 2005
For more information:
Megan Dillon, (202) 626-8825
NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE “DEEPLY SADDENED”
BY THE DEATH OF TERRI SCHIAVO
National Right to Life joins with countless others worldwide in expressing
sympathy to the Schindler family over the death of Terri Schiavo. Terri died
of starvation and dehydration today, nearly 13 days after her feeding tube
was removed under court order. The following statement may be attributed to
Burke Balch, J.D., Director of the Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics
at the National Right to Life Committee:
“We are deeply saddened by Terri’s death and extend our heartfelt sympathy
to the Schindler family. Terri Schiavo’s death is a gross injustice and it
marks a sad day in our history when our society allows Terri and others like
her who have severe disabilities to be discarded in such a cruel and
inhumane manner.
We must redouble our efforts to protect those with disabilities. We will
continue working to ensure that they are not dismissed by some “quality of
life” standard which dictates that some lives are less worthy than others.
National Right to Life is promoting a pro-life living will called the ‘Will
to Live’ for those who wish to make sure they are not put to death by
starvation and dehydration. It is important to recognize that many standard
living will forms are written to reject food and fluids, not to insist on
them and we encourage people to consider signing a pro-life living will.”
“Will to Live” forms, along with instructions on how to complete them are
available for each state at www.nrlc.org.
NRLC is the nation's largest pro-life organization, with 50 state affiliates
and approximately 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. NRLC works through
legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion,
infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide. |
