Terri Schiavo Family Alarmed by Stark Admission From Michael's Attorney

LifeNews.com ^ | February 6, 2004 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- In a statement on Friday, the family of Terri Schiavo says it is concerned about a statement that appears in a Florida newspaper's editorial. George Felos, the assisted suicide advocate who is the attorney for Terri's estranged husband Michael, is quoted as admitting that "tens of thousands" of disabled persons like Terri have faced death over the years.

The editorial in the Lakeland Herald newspaper argues that the Schindlers are intruding into the privacy rights of Terri and Michael by attempting to save their daughter's life. Felos is quoted saying the Florida legislature has no right to intervene in the case and help Terri.

"Because of the notoriety of the Schiavo case, which ''is one isolated case out of tens of thousands over the years, I think the legislature is politically motivated to look like they are doing something," Felos says.

The admission that perhaps "tens of thousands" of people over the years have faced death in the same way as Terri has her family alarmed.

"People should be very frightened of how matter-of-factly Mr. Felos’ assertion is," Terri's brother Bobby Schindler, Jr., said in response. "He openly admits that we are once again killing the those deemed less worthy."

Felos has always been known to be an advocates of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Detractors say Felos has become the next Geoffrey Feiger, the defender of the notorious death doctor Jack Kevorkian, because he has taken on 10 cases similar to Terri's in the last decade.

The case of Estelle Browning sealed his reputation as the lawyer people want when they want someone to die.

Browning didn't want to be kept alive by artificial means should she ever become incapacitated. She drafted a living will saying so and a year later suffered a stroke. According to the St. Petersburg Times, however, her nursing home refused to stop feeding her because she was not officially brain-dead.

Doris Herbert, Browning's cousin and former roommate, asked Felos to take the case.

Felos is the author of "Litigation as Spiritual Practice," a book in which he claims he “soul speaks” to incapacitated patients.

He insisted on visiting Browning. Obsessed with the occult practice of yoga, Felos said his "spiritual side" allowed him to speak to Browning and he claims her soul told him, "Why am I still here?"

Browning later died of natural causes in 1989 with the legal case still unresolved.

However, the legal battle made an impact on the law as the Florida Supreme Court eventually ruled that a living will can require care providers to withhold nutrition from patients like Browning or Terri Schiavo, even though they may not be likely to die any time soon.

Felos won't admit whether or not he has the same "spiritual" connection with Terri's soul. However, he told the St. Petersburg newspaper that he must make sure Terri's feeding tube is removed.

It's necessary "to accomplish what I believe are Terri's wishes."

Nancy Valko, a representative of Nurses for Life who actively monitors end-of-life care issues, says for Felos, the Lakeland Herald newspaper, and many assisted suicide advocates, life is viewed in terms of dollars and cents.

Valko points out that the editorial contains a "dire warning that continuing to feed people like Terri Schiavo 'could oblige the taxpayers to spend large amounts of money to keep 'alive' patients who have virtually no hope of recovery.'"

"Unfortunately as with most issues, it finally comes down to money," Valko says.

Related web sites:

Lakeland Herald editorial -

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040206/NEWS/402060311/1036

Terri Schiavo's family - http://www.terrisfight.org

[kimmie7]

Thanks for the ping, nick. With all the junk going on right now, I'm kind of hit or miss on the Terri boards, and I regret that.

What "The fact is that we have a system in Florida that has worked well for the past 12 years," George Felos tells me is "We've gotten away with this for 12 years now and are really angry that someone finally had enough chutzpah (probably misspelled, LOL) to call us on it."

Let this post serve as a sad, prayerful bump for LIFE!

[Wampus SC]

"Felos is full of demons."

And now he says tens of thousands have faced Terri's fate. For that to happen there has to be a whole gang of the demonic, with Felos as spokesman.

[AnimalLover]

Ping

[texasflower]

I responded to the scene of an elderly woman who had suffered a severe stroke while visiting her daughter for the holidays.

She was unresponsive on scene, but I talked to her anyway. I spent only about 20 with this woman from the time I arrived on scene, to the time I turned her over to the care of the hospital. She was not even responsive to pain during the entire time I was with her.

I never saw her again, until almost 2 years later.

She was with her daughter in a grocery store that I happened to be at. She approached me after she heard me talking to my toddler. I was not in uniform.

She came up to me and said, "You are the paramedic that took me to the hospital after my stroke. I would know your voice anywhere, you sounded to me like an angel".

I had never seen this woman or her daughter prior to her stroke and had not seen her since. She had recovered somewhat and moved back to New York. She had just come back to visit her daughter again.

What you said is so true. People can hear and remember. If this woman remembered me two years later, having never seen me at all, Terri most assuredly knows her mother.

[LauraJean]

It is a lovely posting it. I am planning to show this to my son over the weekend. He just started his paramedic training. Thank you again.

[wisconsinconservative]

It looks to me like something is about to go down if Felos & Co. are back on full court press spewing their lies to the media. Look for something to happen in the next week or so.

[Golden Gate]

(1.-Dems)   2.-Terri

MURDER in the Making - in the Sunshine State! - (Florida)
* America,  Help Terri  -  Michael  Won't! *

Terri - Links = For those FReepers who support Terri's Fight, Please update your FR Personal Pages and include links and info in your email.
As a minimum, 'cut & paste' this Link to:
    The TERRI SCHINDLER SCHIAVO Foundation = Terri's Fight
    http://www.terrisfight.org   http://www.terrisfight.org  =  Terri's Fight . org
    Note: [Schiavo = (SHY'-voh)]   For more Link info, - Terri-Links, >link to us

---

* Democrats - Why Democrats need to change! - (or lose in Nov.)
* Why Republicans should care, and how they can help.   -[pending]-
  Visit Golden Gate

[fiesti]

.....to kill as many innocent disabled people as he can.

I may get freeped big time for my comments not but freep away...........some people will argue that people like terri should die because they cost the taxpyers too much money BUT in my opinion we waste too much taxpayers money on prisons and rehab that does not work for the prisioners.Look what just happened in Sarasota. They just get back in prison..hey they get 3 squares and all good medical care..college education if want color TV. Sorry folks maybe there was a day we were too harsh on prisoners but today we just coddle them and kill innocent people. According to Felos 10's of thousands disabled and how many babies murdered (aborted) I think they are others ways to cut taxes than by killing the dissabled....Would like to see Michael tried for murder and be sentenced to starving to death but oh no that is too inhumane....ty all just my 2 cents

[texasflower]

Please relay my best wishes to your son. It is a very rewarding career path.

[trustandobey]

NO argument from me! Prayers for Terri.

[cyn]

Thanks for posting this, and for the ping. Wonder where this "tens of thousands" figure comes from, and why Felos thinks it helps his case? Among many other things, it also shows his complete lack of understanding and compassion for those who are different from him.

[Dante3]

He and Michael have gotten away with their sadistic behavior because of corrupt judges.

[cyn]

Terri brightened up when her mother came in and started fussing over her as only a mother can -- this video series has convinced several doctors I know and have talked to.

Felos needs to keep images like this from public view, or dismiss it. That's one reason why he wants to tighten up on her family's visitation! Because when people see this, and find out more about what is happening here, they "get it".

What is so very sad is that there is no pretense at getting at the truth of Terri's condition -- not even basic ordinary care and rehabilitation are allowed, not even the standard swallowing test!:

[nicmarlo]

continuing to feed people like Terri Schiavo 'could oblige the taxpayers to spend large amounts of money to keep 'alive' patients who have virtually no hope of recovery.'"

I'd rather feed people like Terri, who've done nothing wrong to anyone, who haven't left a will stating their preferences, whose husband in name only clearly does not have any concern for her well-being, than to keep feeding "people" like Charles Manson and so many others who have long-been sentenced to death but liberal judges won't have them executed.

[sweetliberty]

I'd rather keep feeding people like Terri than to keep feeding people like Felos.

[nicmarlo]

wow! thanks for your post. how incredible, yet not (as the woman you tended wasn't dead, of course she could hear you); thanks again for sharing.

[nicmarlo]

touche! (I agree)

[pickyourpoison]

The Lakeland Ledger calls itself "The Newspaper With A Heart". Hope all the letters to the editor are more informed than the writer of this. Seems like a responsible editor would check his facts because Terri is not PVS

[HiTech RedNeck]

In the meantime, all Floridians would be well-advised to fill out a living will, if only as a matter of self defense against meddling politicians. The alternative is to risk a life sentence to medical limbo, suspended indefinitely between this world and the next.

Whatta crock of baloney. The Smudger fears that a line will get drawn so that someone who didn't legally commit themself to the "people-jerky therapy" doesn't (gasp) get it?