03/18/2005: "Biased/incomplete polls"
OK, this finally got to me. I've often read the SF Chronicle online and they frequently have online polls. But just about every stinking time, the options are incomplete. Take todays:
Should a law be passed to prevent the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube?
a. Yes, no one knows what she wants.
b. No, her husband is acting on her wishes.
c. Pass a law - to keep politicians from getting involved.
Now this either need to be a yes/no survey, or there need to be more options. My answer would be "Yes, we are ethically obligated to feed people even if their husbands don't want to." My answer isn't option a. I don't care what she wanted (although I believe that her husband is mis-stating the situation). I don't think people have the right to commit suicide and I don't think a feeding tube is "life support".
But I don't get that option. I get a biased set of options that doesn't even recognize the possibility that there is something greater than personal choice involved here. That just chaps my hide. I'm going to spend the next few weeks (or however long it takes to get a good sample size) collecting these polls for a stick it where the sun don't shine letter to the editor.
