So then what would have been timely, sufficient and serious?

The statute Congress should have enacted would have done two things: (1) if any person and/or institution initiated the discontinuation of nutrition and/or hydration to (either just Terri Schiavo or, better yet, any patient with family members willing to arrange for his or care even against the will of a court-approved guardian) such person and/or institution would be immediately and automatically debarred from participation in any federal health care program; and (2) offered the resources of the US Department of Justice, including Federal Marshals, to prevent a discontinuion of nutrition and/or hydration as described above and to defend any health care provider in state proceedings arising from such provider's adherence to the intent of section 1 above.

I realize the language isn't sufficiently statutory in nature, but Congress has hordes of geeks who can take care of that. This statute could have been enacted before Judge Greer's latest decision and, thus, prevented the starvation and dehydration that have undoubtedly weakened Terri and foreshortened her life already.

The statute would have meant that any provider who pulled the feeding tube would have by so doing pulled the plug on his or her own career in health care in the U.S. If enacted before Judge Greer's decision, it could have prevented the latest order to kill Terri.

There's no way I'm the first one to think of this as an option. It had to be thrown out, probably for being too politically risky.

I'm not nearly as upset with Mr. Schiavo, who has been through a long and arduous experience, as I am with the lawmakers who should have some vestigal honor and sense of responsibility.