In the Schiavo case, her critical mistake lies in the following:

She left no living will.

The United States of America provides a legal mechanism by which one can dictate the quality and length of life support in brain-damaged conditions. It’s a mechanism of making your will known when you are otherwise incapacitated, but still alive. And it’s the mechanism that Terri Schiavo should have used to dictate the extent of her life support. Since she hasn’t, the decisions made about her life support are arbitrary and fair. If she receives full support until her body gives out, or if she receives none, it’s the same.

Some other opinions:

• http://hereticalideas.com/index.php?p=2830
• http://www.poppolitics.com/archives/000120.html
• http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/03/jeb-to-seek-custody.html
• http://newcovenant.blogspot.com/2005/03/how-undignified.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schiavo
• http://www.professorbainbridge.com/2005/03/limited_governm.html