Schiavo’s case underscores the importance of considering end-of-life issues early in life and making sure your wishes are documented.

U.S. District Court Judge James Whittemore ruled early Tuesday morning that Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube would not be re-inserted, dashing the hopes of her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who don’t believe their daughter would want to end her life. Schiavo’s husband, Michael, maintains Terri told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially.

This fundamental disagreement between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers has mushroomed into a national debate on right-to-life and end-of-life issues, involving even the U.S. Congress and President Bush, who cut the Easter recess short to pass special legislation requiring a review of the case by a federal judge. They hoped Whittemore would order the tube re-inserted while the case was under review, but he didn’t.

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While the debate rages, Terri Schiavo is dying. She hasn’t received nutrition or hydration since Friday, and doctors estimated she wouldn’t live much longer than a week after the tube was removed.

Schiavo’s case underscores the importance of considering end-of-life issues early in life. She has no living will. Her husband says she made her wishes clear to him, but he has been forced to spend years in court proving this. It’s worth remembering that a Florida court found by clear and convincing evidence that Michael Schiavo, as Terri’s legal guardian, had the right to make this determination and that his claims were credible. Nevertheless, a duly witnessed legal document would have saved everyone a lot of heartache.

Many things about this case are troubling. Many conservatives are outraged at the idea of allowing someone to starve to death rather than live in a persistent, helpless, vegetative state. They are further outraged that Schiavo has started a family with another woman, which does muddy the water somewhat, though the state court found that it didn’t have any bearing on his legal status as Terri’s guardian. Many liberals wonder why the conservatives aren’t more outraged by the federal government’s attempt to circumvent the state court order that the tube be removed in the first place. Isn’t this a matter of state sovereignty?

The Washington Post reported that the GOP circulated a memo saying the Schiavo case is “a great political issue” that will clearly galvanize the base. The federal government has clearly overstepped its bounds, all in the name of political gain. The Florida law is clear:The decision to withdraw artificial life support belongs to the spouse in cases like this. Furthermore, public opinion polls by ABC News, Fox News and the Washington Post show that most Americans support Michael Schiavo, saying the decision in these matters should rest with the spouse, not with the parents. None of this seems to trouble House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who pushed hard for “Terri’s Law” and said he doesn’t care what Michael Schiavo says. So much for the sanctity of marriage.

We should all put ourselves in Terri Schiavo’s place, while we can still speak for ourselves. Make your wishes clear to your loved ones. Draw up a living will. Don’t leave these matters to the politicians.