To the editor:

Terri Schiavo is not brain dead as Les Blevins claims in his recent letter to the editor. That would mean her EEG would be “flat.” On Feb. 6, a visitor reported that Terri was wide awake, alert, aware and responsive.

At various times she tried to vocalize response. She is able to breath on her own without artificial assistance.

There are several issues at stake in Terri’s case, the primary one being there is no “living will.” Terri’s husband (and legal guardian) has been living with a woman with whom he has children and will receive an inheritance from the death of Terri. Thus, many people question the intent of her spouse in seeking her death. They ask, why hasn’t her husband divorced her? Is he trying to get away with premeditated murder? Or if he truly loved Terri, then why would he be living with another woman?

It is my understanding (per media claims) Terri’s husband has spent the money awarded her for rehabilitation, not for rehab, but for lawyer fees to remove her feeding tube. What impact will this have in law if her husband is successful in having her feeding tube removed? Will it mean the closest of kin can at a whim have a feeding tube removed from a family member regardless of an intent that may be self-serving?

Carole Barry,

Lawrence