Tampa. Right near where Terri Schiavo died and home to the most powerful Scientology nest in the country. They are very pro-death and control all of the state offices in that area, either because the office holders are actual Scientologists or because the Scientologists have paid their way into office.
Nobody in the state seems to have the courage to take them on. Jeb Bush tried, but even he had to back down when they got the entire judiciary and legislature to go against him.
I don’t know if there’s any personal connection in this case, but what does exist is the influence of Scientology in shaping a harsh, unforgiving bureaucracy that is entirely on the side of the state and death and believes that it is enforcing some ideal when it “lets” (forces) people to die.
The very definition of the word "coward".