Florida lawmakers jump into Schiavo case

AP ^ | 10/21/03 | JACKIE HALLIFAX

[tutstar]

George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo, said he thinks the legislation would be unconstitutional. It is Terri Schiavo's right under the Florida Constitution to not be kept alive artificially, and the courts have affirmed that, he said.

Felos characterized the group's efforts as yet another attempt to undo repeated court rulings in favor of Michael Schiavo.

[tutstar]

food is artificial sustenance....

I'm going to post some info following this re Felos

[ChewedGum]

I would post more, but I need to go get some artifical sustinance. Be back later.

Gum

[shhrubbery!]

Same article, different website, has a different headline:

Fla. Senate Gets Into Comatose Woman Tiff

So the headline writer, at least, wants to trivialize the fight for Terri's life into a "TIFF."

[tutstar]

Author of Litigation as Spiritual Practice

Attorney George J. Felos is a nationally recognized expert in right-to-die cases. He is best known for the landmark case that helped establish an individual's constitutional right to refuse or have withdrawn unwanted medical treatment, Guardianship of Browning, and the current case of a vegetative young woman, Terri Schiavo, which was featured on NBC's Dateline program.

He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs including CBS's Early Show, CNN's Burden of Proof, Daybreak and Greenfield at Large, Court TV's Pros and Cons, Inside Edition, The Kathy Fountain Show, and NPR's All Things Considered. He has also presented seminars and debated end-of-life issues for various professional, civic and religious groups, and leads meditation and personal growth workshops.

Felos is the creator of Meditation for Lawyers, the first-of-its-kind instructional course accredited for continuing legal education. His article by the same name has been published and posted in various journals.

Felos graduated from Boston University School of Law, has practiced in Pinellas County since 1978, was a founding member of the National Legal Advisors Committee on Choice in Dying, and served as Board Chair of The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, the largest non-profit Hospice in the world.

A classical pianist, yoga teacher, Hospice volunteer, saltwater fisherman, and guest minister to various churches in his spare time, Felos resides in Dunedin with his son, Alexander.

[tutstar]

guest minister.........?????????

minister?????

[tutstar]

The spirit and the law

How many lawyers does it take to find enlightenment? There's no punch line; one of the lawyers in the Terri Schiavo case has spent his life seeking the way to "litigate without becoming a combatant.''

By SHARON TUBBS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 25, 2001

[Times photos: Scott Keeler]

Lawyer George Felos practices yoga at his Dunedin home to help him cope with the stresses of cases such as that of Terri Schiavo. Felos represents her husband, Michael Schiavo, in his efforts to have her feeding tube removed.

DUNEDIN -- A cluster of reporters wait, notebooks and pens poised. A cameraman counts down the seconds to the start of the press conference, which will be televised live. In walks lawyer George Felos, wearing a navy suit jacket, beige slacks, blue shirt, tie and -- excuse me? -- brown socks and Birkenstocks.

If he had his druthers, Felos and his Birkenstocks would be at a West Virginia monastery, where he'd sit cross-legged and meditate for hours at a time, as he did on vacation last year. Or maybe he'd be doing yoga and centering his chi.

Instead, in a controversial case, he is here to argue that 37-year-old Terri Schiavo should be allowed to die. Felos represents Schiavo's husband Michael Schiavo, who has been waging an intense and public fight to have her taken off life support after 11 years in a vegetative state.

Felos, 49, has taken on about 10 right-to-die cases in the last decade. He balances his quest for spiritual growth with his lawyerly duty to fight.

"Many people find the litigation process to be aggressive, to be combative, to be harsh," he says. "And the question is: How do you work within that type of system and not become hardened . . . and maintain a spiritual center? How do you litigate without becoming a combatant?

"I look at (the profession) as the opportunity to become more centered. To use it as an opportunity for growth, rather than a reason not to be spiritual."

A soul connection

Felos' spiritual and professional lives intersected in a public way 12 years ago, in the case of Estelle Browning. The case gained him a reputation as the person to see when you want to let someone die.

Browning, of Dunedin, had written a living will in 1985, saying she did not want to be kept alive by artificial means if she ever became ill. A year later, she had a stroke. But the nursing home refused to stop feeding her because she was not technically brain dead. Her cousin and former roommate, Doris Herbert, asked Felos to take the case.

He wanted to see Browning for himself. She could not speak, but Felos says his spiritual side picked up on something. He says her soul cried out to his soul and asked, "Why am I still here?"

Browning died in 1989 of natural causes while the case was still unresolved, but the suit has had a lasting effect on the law. In 1990, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that a living will can allow caregivers to withhold food and water from an incapacitated person, even when death is not imminent.

After the Browning case, Felos became a volunteer for the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, sitting and talking with terminally ill patients. On his living room shelf sits a book for hospice training, Dying Well, by Ira Byock.

In recent years he has been writing a book of his own: Litigation as Spiritual Practice. In 320 pages, to be released this fall by Blue Dolphin Publishing, Felos contends that his belief in God is what drives him, even in the civil courtroom where the object is to win, or at least settle for an adequate sum.

A spiritual being

Who is George Felos?

"Well, what we are in essence can't be described by words," he says. "The mind is finite, and what we are is infinite. We know what we're not. We're not the body. We're not the mind. We're not our thoughts. We're not our emotions.

"In essence," he says, "we're spiritual beings."

Felos was a spiritual being first and a laywer second. He was in law school at Boston University when a friend asked if he wanted to try yoga as a stress-reliever.

Felos learned how to meditate, to "notice" his reactions to his thoughts. He says he learned the events in his life were only as important as he thought they were.

And he learned about other cultures and Eastern religions. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Greek Orthodox worship -- all may have a point, Felos says.

"I believe that Christ was God incarnate and was resurrected. But, by the same token, I believe that there were other incarnations of God as well," he says. "All the great religions in their essence express the same fundamental truths."

Sometimes, Felos says, he gets nervous or anxious before a hearing.

"If I find that I'm getting nervous or keyed up or off-center, what I'll do is -- which is a type of meditation -- just focus on my breathing," he says. "Home in on the sensation of breathing, the sensation of the air entering the nostrils and exiting the nostrils. If you do that for 30 seconds, you'll find that you're more relaxed."

If people are truly spiritual, that will permeate all aspects of their lives, not just during worship, not just at home, but at work too, Felos says.

"You can't separate your work life from your spiritual life," he says. "A spiritual seeker has no spiritual focus."

At least one opposing attorney sees little spirituality in Felos. Pat Anderson, one of the lawyers representing Terri Schiavo's parents, questions Felos' ethics in fighting to remove the woman's feeding tube.

Furthermore, Anderson says, "I find him to be uncommonly persnickety in his diction."

George Felos begins his morning with yoga, which he has been practicing for 25 years. That’s about as long as he has been practicing law: “How do you work within that type of system and not become hardened . . . and maintain a spiritual center?” he says.

Orthodox beginnings

Raised Greek Orthodox in New York, Felos did not aspire to follow his father into law. He spent too much time at his father's office, supposedly on his way to father-son outings but actually waiting for his dad to finish talking to clients.

"I went to law school because I couldn't think of anything else to do at the time," Felos says.

After law school -- and his spiritual awakening -- Felos and his first wife lived on a small Greek island for three months. Each morning, they would wake up and buy a fresh quart of goat's milk for 9 cents and a 10-cent loaf of steaming hot bread. It was one of the best times in his life, Felos says.

Then it was back home and back to reality. His family had moved to the Tampa Bay area, so Felos decided to try for work here. He got an interview with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's office.

"This is a tough job," Felos remembers the prosecutor telling him during the interview. "You've got to be hard. You've got to hit! It's a tough job. Can you do it?"

Having just spent three months living on an island and drinking goat's milk, Felos looked at the man and said, "You know, I really don't know."

He didn't get the job and eventually went into civil practice with his father. The two worked together as Felos & Felos until James G. Felos died in 1995.

Every morning these days, Felos is 160 pounds of elastic on his bedroom floor. He does yoga, inspired by a framed portrait of Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of spiritual realization. He does more stretches and takes out a machine that helps with his chi, or body energy.

The purpose of the morning routine is to be "present in the sensation of his body."

He takes out a throw pillow and meditates for a half hour before showering and drinking a concoction of protein powder, banana, orange juice, yogurt and goat's milk.

Each morning he checks to see if something has grown on the mango tree and bamboo he planted in the front yard.

Felos visits different places of worship about twice a month, he says. He has spoken at several, including the Palm Harbor Unity Church, the Center for Conscious Living and a spiritual awareness center in Crystal Beach.

He hangs out with friends -- ministers, yoga teachers, but no lawyers. He bought a Steinway grand piano and plays Beethoven on it. He invites friends over for chanting -- "I am that I am. I am that I am." -- while he plays the harmonium.

"He has a good sense of humor, and he has a gentle and kind soul," says Debi Chapman, a Palm Harbor yoga instructor who met Felos about seven years ago at a retreat. "It's just a heartfelt space, a very spirit-filled connection that George and I have."

Felos' reading material includes Handbook to Higher Consciousness, God Talks With Arjuna, The Experience of Insight, In the Meantime.

His home looks more hippie-ish than lawyerly -- red couch with big pillows, multicolored chair in hot tones, mint green carpeting, spry yellow kitchen and one living room wall painted neon blue.

He spends weekends with his 14-year-old son, Alexander, from his first marriage. They fish for mullet in St. Joseph Sound, the body of water that doubles as Felos' back yard. Caladesi and Honeymoon islands are in the distance.

Felos is in the final stages of a divorce from his second wife.

"If I did relationships as well as I did law," Felos says, "I'd probably be happily married." The journey continues

Felos does not mention Schiavo in Law as Spiritual Practice, but says he wants to start a second book when the case is over. He may talk about his spiritual journey with Schiavo then. For now, he is preparing for a hearing before the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland on June 25. He thinks the court will agree that her feeding tube should be removed.

That is what is necessary, he says, "to accomplish what I believe are Terri's wishes."

Does Felos believe Terri Schiavo's soul has spoken to his?

Felos declines to answer, showing his lawyerly side. "It's a pending case," he says.

[tutstar]

http://www.cnsnews.com/Culture/Archive/200309/CUL20030917c.html

Conflict of Interest Charged in Florida Euthanasia Case
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
September 17, 2003

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Supporters of Terri Schindler Schiavo, the 39-year-old disabled Florida woman whose husband is attempting to remove her feeding tube which would end her life, charged a possible conflict of interest in the case Tuesday, one day after the judge postponed a decision on therapy for the woman to help her re-learn to swallow nutrients given to her by mouth.

The group working to get therapy and rehabilitative services for Terri alleges an improper link between the husband's attorney, George Felos, and court-appointed physician Dr. Peter Bambakidis, who was charged with providing an impartial review of the medical evidence in the case. Felos refused to comment on the allegation.

"Supporters of Terri believe that attorney George Felos had a personal relationship with either the Bambakidis family or with Peter Bambakidis prior to Dr. Peter Bambakidis being assigned as an independent examining physician in April of 2002," said Pamela Hennessy, spokeswoman for the group.

Hennessy referred to marketing materials distributed by Felos in which he lists some of the professional and social organizations in which he holds membership.

"A member of the Florida Bar and Clearwater Bar Association, Felos served as a member of the Clearwater Bar Appellate Law Committee, as governor of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association (AHEPA), and as chair of numerous National Association of Securities Dealers arbitration panels," the document states.

AHEPA is a Greek fraternal organization that counts among its members Gust Bambakidis, chairman of the physics department at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and the older brother of Peter Bambakidis.

The elder Bambakidis confirmed to CNSNews.com Tuesday that it was his brother, Peter, who testified in the Terri Schindler Schiavo case.

"He was down in Florida because he was, I think he was asked to be an expert witness in a case. I think that's what that was all about" Gust Bambakidis said.

Gust Bambakidis said his younger brother is not a member of AHEPA, which was confirmed by the group's national headquarters. The older brother also said that he does not know George Felos.

Peter Bambakidis did not return calls to his office seeking comment for this report.

Felos refuses to answer questions

Felos Tuesday refused to answer questions about his client's case or about any possible relationship with the Bambakidis family, saying CNSNews.com's coverage of the controversy was "atrociously biased so I'm just not going to participate in it."

"In one of your articles ... I was described, not by someone else, but by the author of the article as a 'euthanasia attorney,' or 'pro-euthanasia attorney,'" Felos claimed, "which is inaccurate. I don't support euthanasia, I never have, I've been very clear about my position."

Felos was unable to identify any article in which the alleged description of him occurred.

Of the 16 articles CNSNews.com has published regarding the Terri Schindler Schiavo case, only six have contained the word "euthanasia" and none have done so referring directly or indirectly to Felos.

He has been identified by CNSNews.com as "a noted author and advocate in Florida's so-called 'right to die' movement," and as "a well-known advocate of the so-called 'right-to-die'," along with variations of the phrase "Michael Schiavo's attorney."

Felos authored the book Litigation as Spiritual Practice, which includes in its promotion by Blue Dolphin Publishing the statement that "Attorney George Felos became the legal advocate of Estelle Browning's right-to-die and in the process plumbed the depths of death and dying and spearheaded a social revolution to enable death with dignity in the state of Florida."

Felos has been described as a "right-to-die lawyer" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Orlando Sentinel has described Felos as the author of "a book about his right-to-die advocacy."

Judge set to rule on removal of feeding tube, swallowing therapy

Pinellas-Pasco, Florida, Circuit Judge George Greer refused to hear the Schindler family's motion that Terri be given immediate therapy to help her re-learn to swallow food on her own, before her feeding tube (technically referred to as a "gastrostomy" or "g-tube") is removed. Greer told attorney Pat Anderson that the issue is still being considered as part of the decision about when the tube will be removed.

"He told litigating attorneys that he would deliver a ruling on the removal of Terri's feeding tube as well as the emergency motion for immediate therapy ... on Wednesday," Hennessy told CNSNews.com. "But he's not calling another hearing. It's assumed, at this stage, that he's going to deliver whatever ruling he has via facsimile or courier."

Terri Schindler Schiavo suffered a brain injury due to oxygen depravation in 1990 under questionable circumstances. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, first petitioned the court to remove her feeding tube in 1998 shortly after winning a $1.2 million medical malpractice lawsuit on his wife's behalf. Terri's parents and siblings are seeking therapy and rehabilitation for her based on claims by some medical professionals that she could partially recover with additional care.

[Annie03]

Thank you for posting this. Felos has an agenda, thinks he's some angel or spriritual giant here to put people out of their misery. There are excerpts on his sicko book in a lawsuit that can be found on www.terrisfight.org. Or you can google it to get the direct link on her sight. Search criteria: 8:03-CV-1860-T-26-TGW

[Diva Betsy Ross]

This is where he made his mistake, He has been trying to sell this as a right to die case. This is not a right to die case. Now everyone knows it.

[tutstar]

Independent Doctor had relationship with Shiavo's Attorney Contact: Pamela Hennessy

Phone 727-445-1766

email: phenn@zimp.org
1133 Drew Street

Clearwater, FL 33755


Press Release

Assignment – Terri Schiavo Case

Has collusion been a factor in the Terri Schiavo case? Supporters of the disabled Pinellas woman think so.

Clearwater, FL September 16, 2003: Supporters of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have uncovered a possible link to collusion in the legal proceedings involving attorney George Felos (representing Michael Schiavo) and the neurologist Dr. Peter Bambakidis (court appointed, independent, examining physician).



During the 2002 trials, the court ordered that two physicians would be chosen by Michael Schiavo, two would be chosen by Bob and Mary Schindler (Terri Schiavo’s parents) and one would be appointed by the court as an independent examining physician. All five physicians would later give testimony to the condition of Ms. Schiavo. The independent physician, Dr. Peter Bambakidis of Ohio, would testify in favor of Michael Schiavo in that Ms. Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state and without hope of recovery.



Supporters of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have learned that Dr. Bambakidis and attorney George Felos may have had a personal relationship prior to Dr. Bambakidis being assigned to the case on April 24, 2002.



In marketing materials promoting his seminars, Mr. Felos notes that he has served as a Governor for the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association (document here).


Upon research, supporters discovered that the Ohio chapter of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association was managed by Gust Bambakidis (link here).



Both Gust and Peter Bambakidis are graduates of Case Western University (Gust, Peter) and are believed to be related. Both were born in Ohio and live there currently. Additionally, Nicholas Bambakidis (son of Gust and a neurologist) had, for some time, worked with Peter Bambakidis (link here).



During testimony in 2002, Dr. Peter Bambakidis was asked repeatedly by attorney Patricia Anderson (representing Bob and Mary Schindler) if he had any personal relationship with attorney George Felos (link here). Dr. Bambakidis insisted that he did not know of Mr. Felos prior to being appointed by Judge Greer though he could not provide sufficient explanation as to his appointment nor had he ever testified in any similar court case prior to the 2002 trial of Terri Schindler-Schiavo.



The supporters of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation believe these coincidences to be indication of possible collusion in the case and are calling on state officials to launch a full and thorough investigation. This apparent connection raises many questions by the Foundation as to the neutrality and integrity of the proceedings. Supporters have complained that neither state officials nor press have investigated these irregularities. By copy of this release, notice will be given to Governor Jeb Bush, State Attorney Bernie McCabe and Florida’s Attorney General Charlie Crist.


http://pub162.ezboard.com/flacipetersonmurderforumfrm30.showMessage?topicID=13.topic

[The Red Zone]

newage sewage

[incindiary]

A spiritual being

Yeah. What kind of spirits?

[tutstar]

20.10.2003
Pres of Hospice Patients Alliance Announces WorldWide Boycott of Florida
COPY OF LETTER SENT:
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY NOTICE OF THIS BOYCOTT
The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor
Executive Office of the Governor
400 S. Monroe Street
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Dear Governor Bush,
Your inaction with regard to the Schiavo case is abominable, and I am not
fooled by your public posturing. You are allowing the terrorizing of the entire disabled community, who fear being put to death now as a result of YOUR inaction!

You know you could act AS GOVERNOR to intervene to save her life, until the fraud perpetrated through the courts against Terri Schiavo were to be
investigated.
She is NOT in a coma, and YOU know it! She is responsive and YOU know it!
She has a right to live! and you know it. And Michael Schiavo's testimony
about her supposed wish to die, is obviously fabricated, and YOU know it!
A WORLDWIDE BOYCOTT HAS BEEN INITIATED AGAINST FLORIDA TILL YOU ACT, not
promise to do something. There are too many vulnerable elderly, disabled
and chronically ill in Florida for you to let this precedent stand.

You have bit off more than you can chew and infuriated those who are YOUR
BASE OF SUPPORT! Reconsider and act now. We will NEVER forget what you
have NOT done to protect Terri Schiavo. Your legal action was bogus and
did not include all the reasons the Greer court was biased and unfair.
Your posturing by visiting the Schindlers was disgraceful since you
obviously never intended to use YOUR AUTHORITY as Governor to save Terri.

It is one thing to say you cannot question the court, but as Governor you
COULD order an independent investigation into all the myriad of obviously
flawed conclusions of the Greer court which clearly violate the laws of
Florida regarding the rights of Florida citizens to live
(something quite basic!!)
Sincerely,

Ron Panzer
President, Hospice Patients Alliance
4541 Gemini Street
Rockford, MI 49341
616-866-9127

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=1005175%2C1

[ConservFlguy]

As sad as this story is...and as much as we grieve for all the family, this is a mis-guided action. After the family had its day in court (with over 10 court rulings). The evidence pointed to the opinion thatTerri Shiavo HAD told her husband that she would not want to be kept alive as in such a state.
By over-riding the courts ruling, this bill puts logically in jeopardy any count decision in the future. If you don't like the court ruling...just get your legislator to pass a special law placing the decision with the governor. This bill is irresponsible and politics at it worse.

It also means that from this time forth citizens will be at the mercy of ANY family member who might disagree with their confided medical choices. It will require that people in Florida hence forth need to pay lawyers to prepare living wills to protect their rights when it comes to medical choices. (But, I suppose the legislator could pass a special law to over-ride these as well and again place the responsibility with the governor).

[tutstar]

SEE IS INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They link it back to FR but I never saw the post tmr....


http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:lXzmCxQs7_IJ:www.m-blog.com/terrischiavo/+george+felos&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Thursday, October 2, 2003 2:51 PM
More Conflicts of Interest than Letters in Alphabet Soup - Something REALLY stinks!!!!!

1.Michael Schiavo's Attorney:
George Felos

It's posted that attny George Felos has received almost 500K so far.

2.The Judge presiding over this case is:
Judge Greer

3. Both George Felos (Schiavo's attorney)
and
Judge Greer (presiding judge)
served on Hospice's Board at one time or another.

There was an overlap between when Felos was on the Board and when he took her husband as his client. We believe the Board position and representation of hubby were concurrent for a brief time.

4. County Commissioners together:
Judge Greer was a county commissioner from 1984-92.

Barbara Sheen Todd - hospice board member also a county commissioner from 1980-98

5. Gus Michael Bilirakis is on the board at Sun Coast Hospice. His father, Michael Bilirakis (the elder) has been a congressman for many years. He also was recently elected as a congressman or representative or something of that nature.
994 posted on 09/02/2003 9:39 PM PDT by Ohioan from Florida

Link: at Free Republic

[tutstar]

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/sep/03091707.html

Supporters of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have learned that Dr. Bambakidis and attorney George Felos may have had a personal relationship prior to Dr. Bambakidis being assigned to the case on April 24, 2002. In marketing materials promoting his seminars, Mr. Felos notes that he has served as a Governor for the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association. Upon research, supporters discovered that the Ohio chapter of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association was managed by Dr.
Bambakidis' brother Gust. Moreover, Gust's son Nicholas had worked with Dr. Bambakidis.

During testimony in 2002, Dr. Peter Bambakidis was asked repeatedly by attorney Patricia Anderson (representing Bob and Mary Schindler) if he had any personal relationship with attorney George Felos. Dr. Bambakidis insisted that he did not know of Mr. Felos prior to being appointed by Judge Greer though he could not provide sufficient explanation as to his appointment nor had he ever testified in any similar court case prior to the 2002 trial of Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

[The Red Zone]

Most states require written living wills, for good reason. They are no harder to do oneself than an ordinary will and no lawyer is needed, only a notary. The reason Schiavo's claimed recollection of Terri's wishes prevailed under FloriDUH law is that nobody could testify to the contrary... even if he lied, how do you prove a negative? This is far, far too weak a moral reed to support such a grave decision.

[Agnes Heep]

Refusing food and water is not keeping someone alive artifically. It's active destruction of life. The result would be the same if they put a pistol to her head, left her exposed naked to the elements, or threw her into a open fire.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The right to die is very important and worth protecting -- the state doesn't own our lives. However, there is a distinct lack of credible evidence that Ms. Schiavo wishes to exercise that right at this time.

[muskogee]

It must be Florida law that says Schiavo's claim is indisputable? Otherwise, couldn't you prove she wished to live or prove that she changed her mind and wants to live now via witnesses?