The Wilson Research Strategies group found that 46 percent of Americans sided with the pro-life advocates in the case of Terri Shivao - the Florida woman who has been at the spotlight of the pro-life debate for the past several years. Meanwhile, August 13-15 study found that 32 percent of poll respondents sided with Terri's infamous husband Michael, who believes Terri should be disconnected from her feeding tube and allow her to die. The remaining 20 percent of the poll gave no comment.
Terri Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 after her heart stopped beating for several minutes. Oxygen was cut off to her brain, leaving her in what doctors call a “persistent vegetative state”. Her husband contends his wife never wanted to be kept alive artificially, but her parents express objection saying Schiavo did not leave any written instructions for such wishes.
After learning the poll’s result, Terri’s father Bob Schindler explained that the percentage favoring continuation of Terri’s life would be much higher if those who were polled knew about Terri’s potential to recover.
American public needs to know that this was one of the first polls to accurately describe Terri’s ambiguous condition, according to Lifenews.com. As reported on the same website, pro-life organizations say previous media-sponsored polls were not clear on Terri’s condition, often inaccurately saying Terri is in a vegetative state or non life support. This new poll shows more accurate results.
"Clearly, more Americans agree with the family of Terri Schindler-Schiavo, the Florida legislature, and the Governor of Florida that Terri has a right to life and should not be starved and dehydrated," Dillon, director of Media Reations for the National Right to Life Committee, said.
