Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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What is the Coptic Orthodox opinion in the Terri Schiavo's case?

Our Coptic Church is against ending the life of a person unless this person is declared brain dead. Note that a person in a coma is not necessarily brain dead. Brain death means a complete damage of brain cells leading to a total cessation of all brain functions. The Harvard University Medical School criteria of a brain dead patient is absence of receptivity, absence of responsiveness, lack of spontaneous movements, including spontaneous breathing, absence of reflexes, fixed, dilated pupils and absence of electrical brain activity on an EEG. All of these criteria should continue for a period of at least 24 hours.  

The Terri Schiavo case is definitely a unique situation; for although the court-appointed doctors ruled that she was in a persistent vegetative state with no real consciousness or chance of recovery, there is no real consensus that she is brain dead. Since there are serious doubts and questions, the Church is in favor of life.
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