MajiKthise has another excellent piece on this issue.

1. What is the issue here?

Morally and legally, the Terri Schiavo case is about a patient's right to refuse medical treatment. This piece by an editor of the American Journal of Bioethics gets to the heart of the matter. (I believe the author is Professor Glenn McGee.) As he notes, there is an overwhelming consensus any adult has the right to refuse any medical treatment. Disabled and incapacitated patients retain this right. The only difference is that these patients must be represented by guardians charged to speak on their behalf. read the full article

A common myth is that Michael is in it for the money:

Judge Greer found that the Schindler's financial motivations were just as conflicted as those of Michael Schiavo. Michael was awarded $300,000 for his own loss, and the Schindlers demanded that he share it. The money was paid out in February 1993. Schiavo and the Schindlers last spoke on February 14 of that year. Judge Greer wrote that that the Schindlers fell out with Schiavo over Michael's share of the malpractice settlement. read on