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SCHWARZ (A Doctor) DELIVERS FLOOR STATEMENT ON SCHIAVO CASE
MI GOP ^ | 3-22-05 | Joe Schwarz

Posted on 03/22/2005 2:23:12 PM PST by Dan from Michigan

SCHWARZ DELIVERS FLOOR STATEMENT ON SCHIAVO CASE

"I shall not try to influence the opinion of anyone on this issue. I will simply share with you my opinion, the opinion of a physician of almost 41 years duration."

Following is the text of a speech given by Rep. Joe Schwarz in the House chamber on Sunday, March 20, regarding S. 686, "A Bill to Provide for the Relief of the Parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo."

Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I shall not try to influence the opinion of anyone on this issue. I will simply share with you my opinion, the opinion of a physician of almost 41 years duration.

I am a head and neck surgeon. I have done cancer surgery almost all of those years. I have done much maxillofacial trauma all of those years and dealt with situations like this on numerous occasions.

Terri Schiavo has spontaneous respiratory activities and respontaneous cardiac activity. She is not on life support, as we routinely define it. She is not intubated and she is not on a respirator.

And I give the gentleman from the State of Washington credit for his knowledge of the physiology of the brain stem. He is right, it is very robust, and that certainly is one of the things that is driving her now. But she does have some cognition and some cortical activity.

Removing her gastrostomy tube will ultimately cause her demise, a commissive act that will cause the death of a human being.

How many others in this country are now in long-term care facilities with feeding tubes, but able to breathe on their own, their hearts beating strongly? Should their feeding tubes be removed as well? I think not.

I believe it is wrong to remove a feeding tube from an individual whose cardiopulmonary function is stable and who has some remaining cognitive abilities. It is unfortunate in many ways that this venue is where this issue will be decided, but removal of this feeding tube under these very public circumstances is a slippery slope down which we and the United States should not tread.

This bill deserves our support.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: investigatemichael; schiavo; schwarz; terri; terrischiavo
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Those who have followed my threads on the 7th district primary know that to say that Joe Schwarz and I do not see eye to eye on most issues is an understatement.

That said, I have to give him strong kudos here however for not only doing the right thing, and giving an eloquent defense of it. This hits close to home for him as a doctor.

1 posted on 03/22/2005 2:23:14 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
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To: Dan from Michigan
Good for him for trying.

Will the bigamist Michael also get to arrange her funeral services? I wonder where his new commonlaw wife and children will sit during the service.

2 posted on 03/22/2005 2:30:02 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: Dan from Michigan

3 posted on 03/22/2005 2:33:26 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat (I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: Dan from Michigan

And how about all the people in nursing homes who cannot feed themselves without assistance? Nursing homes could save a ton of money by just not feeding them. Pretty soon, nursing homes will probably charge extra if they actually have to feed your aged loved one, because after all it's keeping that person alive.

Is that what's next?


4 posted on 03/22/2005 2:34:12 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (God Save the vulnerable from the bullies. --overturn Judge Greer)
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To: Dan from Michigan

Nice speech. BUT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO ACTUALLY DO NOW?!!

Is everyone going to go to dinner now and let Terri continue to starve to death? For God's sake, why doesn't someone DO SOMETHING?!!!!!!!!!


5 posted on 03/22/2005 2:35:11 PM PST by Saundra Duffy (Terri Schiavo is my hero!!!)
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To: Saundra Duffy

I've been trying to keep busy today and not scour the net for news. It didn't help. This thing is making me physically ill. I watched three loved ones on their death beds recently and this brings it all back.

I can't believe that our nation is doing this to an innocent person. We've turned into barbarians.


6 posted on 03/22/2005 2:39:03 PM PST by EggsAckley
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Re: "Will the bigamist Michael also get to arrange her funeral services? I wonder where his new commonlaw wife and children will sit during the service"


He is having Terri cremated (against Catholic teachings) IMMEDIATELY after her death!


Does that tell you something?

Why is he sooo anxious to have her cremated where no one will be able to do an any autopsy on her to find out what happened to her original collapse?

And why did he have her medical records sealed for so many years?


These are the things the courts - especially Judge Greer -refused to address!


7 posted on 03/22/2005 2:39:52 PM PST by Anita1 (God is a just God and He will reward everyone according to his own deeds!)
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To: Saundra Duffy

You mean to tell me a pretty speech from a politician ain't enough?


8 posted on 03/22/2005 2:40:20 PM PST by proust (It's dangerous to assume someone wants to die because they signed no paper stating otherwise.)
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To: Dan from Michigan

I have to give credit where credit is due, and Schwarz's statement was right on point, and especially poignant coming from a physician who is pro-abortion.

What have the pro-life Dems Kildee and Stupak said about the Terri Schiavo situation? What about Dingell?


9 posted on 03/22/2005 2:42:52 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.)
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To: Recovering_Democrat

A brief history of the Democrats....


10 posted on 03/22/2005 2:43:14 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (PIRA, CIRA, RIRA - separate leadership, common membership)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
Will the bigamist Michael also get to arrange her funeral services?

What funeral? Michael has already stated that she wanted to be cremated and her ashes taken to PA...Judge Greer ordered that done immediately upon her death.

11 posted on 03/22/2005 2:43:35 PM PST by Krodg (If the Clintons don't kill you, their judicial appointments will.)
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To: Recovering_Democrat

Re: "I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!"

You mean the Party of DEATH and Destruction! Democrats: Pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, pro-infanticide


12 posted on 03/22/2005 2:44:14 PM PST by Anita1
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To: Dan from Michigan; rhema

Ping


13 posted on 03/22/2005 2:46:08 PM PST by Caleb1411
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To: EggsAckley

I agree.

We are a barbaric nation.


14 posted on 03/22/2005 2:46:18 PM PST by tomahawk
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To: Dan from Michigan
here is the perfect place for michael schiavo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. An oubliette was a form of dungeon which was accessible only from a hatch in a high ceiling. To exit an oubliette was impossible under any circumstances, without outside help. The word comes from the French oublier, "to forget," as it was used for prisoners whom it was desired to forget about. One example of a particularly claustrophic oubliette is in the dungeon of Warwick Castle, in central England. The castle is in Warwickshire County, the town of Warwick, and overlooks the River Avon. The access hatch consists of an iron grille secured by a hasp and (now) padlock.

put him in one with his scum lawyers and these two fool judges and let them knaw each other to death

15 posted on 03/22/2005 2:54:41 PM PST by Charlespg (Civilization and freedom are only worthy of those who defend or support defending It)
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To: Anita1

Whoa. I didn't know that.


16 posted on 03/22/2005 3:00:08 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: Charlespg

If not in this life, it may be in the next.


17 posted on 03/22/2005 3:00:14 PM PST by tflabo (Take authority that's ours)
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To: EggsAckley
"I can't believe that our nation is doing this to an innocent person. We've turned into barbarians."

How true! Got a question. WHY the heck did we go into Iraq? To get rid of Sadamm Hussein???? And to show those people over there how "civilized" people live?? What a joke. We're sure doing a good job, huh? THE WORLD IS WATCHING!!! What a "great, civilized" nation we are! Don't we set a good example?

18 posted on 03/22/2005 3:00:58 PM PST by jackibutterfly
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To: Charlespg

Great idea for Michael Schiavo. Honestly, where is the clarity? This is so simple. You kill someone because they can't TALK? You protect the most innocent among you? Gee, I don't know ....


19 posted on 03/22/2005 3:01:03 PM PST by bboop
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To: jackibutterfly

Yours is a very good question.


20 posted on 03/22/2005 3:02:20 PM PST by EggsAckley
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