Terri Sciavo

Terri Sciavo's body has died.

Whether the part that mattered was still around is a matter of debate. We can hope the part that would have felt suffering through the process of dehydration was not functional.

The fact that she lasted nearly two weeks after the removal of the feeding tube, though, may be a sign that her body was in pretty good health. And interestingly enough, don't they usually quit looking for survivors in piles of rubble after about a week? I wonder if this story will be remembered after the next quake or building collapse.

Much more significant, though, is the lingering statement this story makes about our default options.

What is it that makes a life "worth living"?

Who gets to decide?

In cases of disagreement or doubt, where we could be making a mistake, on which side of the line do we err?

There are thousands of people in Terri's condition – some worse, some better. The decisions made in this case will affect them all.

[Update: Added a link to a NRO editorial I found half an hour later.]