May she finally rest in peace

So, Terri Schiavo has finally passed away. This from The Economist, which I think sums up exactly what was so wrong about the whole affair:

Nonetheless, both the public outcry about her and the frenzy of politicians to save her were also artificially inflated by technology, a culture of litigation and the power of the Christian right. An immense cloud of public interest came to conceal a dreadful, but private, dilemma that was for doctors and family members to solve with their consciences and their priests. As it was, in the current climate, there will probably be more Terri Schiavos.

Emphasis mine. One hopes the Schiavos and Schindlers will be able to put her to rest and say goodbye. One expects the media circus to make that very, very difficult indeed.

• 1 Apr 2005

• Thinking