Brain-Injured Wife Goes Without Food or Water for Seven Weeks September 17, 2010 (Terri’s Life & Hope Network) It has been 49 days since Trisha Duguay has gone without any food or water after her feeding tube was removed. Her husband made this decision shortly after Trisha had unsuccessful surgery for a brain tumor that was discovered just after the couple was married.
The family has started a Facebook page to lend support to Trisha and her family titled, “From Bride to Angel.” So far, over 4,000 people have supported the family.
While what is happening to Mrs. Duguay is not receiving a lot of media attention, Terri’s Life & Hope Network expresses concern with the manner in which some media outlets are portraying the situation, treating Trisha’s prolonged death and going without food and hydration—for over 7 weeks now—as an act of compassion.
I think it is important to be reminded that dying this way is not compassionate, peaceful or pleasant. My family witnessed, first hand, something quite the opposite. Terri went through almost two weeks without food and water before she died, and it was heartbreaking. Her death was cruel and barbaric and she suffered horribly. We must continue to educate the general public that food and water is basic and ordinary care and despite one's intentions, it does not change the nature of the act.
Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network was established by the surviving family members of Terri Schiavo to protect the rights of people with disabilities. It has communicated and supported with more than 1,000 families, and has been involved in hundreds of cases since Terri's death—families who have loved one's living with brain injuries.
