Posted on 10/15/2003 5:31:41 AM PDT by Autie
PINELLAS PARK - Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is going to be removed today, and her parents fear they will not be allowed at her bedside when she dies. Bob and Mary Schindler had been warned by Schiavo's husband and legal guardian, Michael, that if they released a videotape of Terri Schiavo, their visitations with their daughter would be restricted.
The Schindlers released the tape Tuesday anyway, as they were surrounded by supporters carrying signs outside Hospice House Woodside, which is providing care for their daughter. Hours later, one of Michael Schiavo's attorneys, Deborah A. Bushnell, made that warning a reality.
Now, the Schindlers can't watch over their daughter as she slowly dies unless they are accompanied by her husband or someone who represents him, according to a letter from Bushnell to the Schindlers' attorney, Pat Anderson.
The back-and-forth is just the latest between the Schindlers of St. Petersburg, who want to keep their daughter alive, and their son-in-law of Clearwater, who doesn't believe his wife would want to exist in her current condition. Most physicians have said she has been in a persistent vegetative state since suffering unexplained heart failure 13 years ago that cut off oxygen to her brain.
The restrictions on visiting Terri Schiavo came at about the same time Anderson was coming to the conclusion that all legal appeals to block the tube's removal have been exhausted.
``We will try to have Mike or a representative there as much as possible after the feeding tube is removed, hopefully at all times,'' said Bushnell, Michael Schiavo's attorney.
``I told Pat we would accommodate the Schindlers to the extent that we can.''
Anderson voiced skepticism.
``I'd say it's likely Terri is going to die without her mother at her side. ... It's pretty heartless of Michael to do this.''
Bob and Mary Schindler, along with their son, Robert Schindler, tried visiting their daughter after Bushnell faxed her letter. They were turned away by one of the Pinellas Park police officers hired for security by the hospice as a precautionary measure.
Robert Schindler told WFLA, News Channel 8, ``Terri is going to die alone without her family.''
Anderson explained that all legal avenues have been exhausted.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland on Tuesday rejected two motions filed earlier. One asked the appeals court to reverse its decision denying ``swallowing therapy'' for Terri Schiavo.
The other motion that was denied asked that Circuit Judge George Greer be disqualified. Greer, on the strength of medical testimony, ruled therapy was unlikely to have any effect, and his rulings have been upheld.
On Tuesday, Anderson filed a motion with Greer. It asked, among other things, that Terri Schiavo be fed by mouth. But Greer denied that request, Anderson said.
``I've done everything in this case,'' Anderson said. ``I've turned over every rock.''
Stetson University College of Law Professor Mike Allen said it might take intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the order removing the feeding tube today, but that is highly unlikely. ``They've made a stop at every level of the state judiciary at least once,'' said Allen, who has been following the case closely.
The Schindlers now can only seek an emergency stay, either from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who handles the South, or from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta - and neither of those is likely, Allen said.
Gov. Jeb Bush doesn't plan to intercede, either, although he has been sympathetic with those who want her kept alive.
``The governor does not have the authority to overrule a court's ruling,'' said Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre. ``The governor has the responsibility to both ensure the laws of the state are faithfully executed, and give a voice to the citizens of the state. And he's done both, with a letter to the judge and the friend-of-the- court brief he filed.''
The videotape released by the Schindlers Tuesday was taken two years ago in defiance of an order by Greer that no more videotaping take place.
In the five-minute tape, Terri Schiavo, 39, makes a moaning noise as her mother coos affectionately the words, ``ma, ma,'' repeatedly within inches of her face. To the Schindlers, the tape is further evidence their daughter is ``a live human being,'' Bob Schindler said.
But Bob Schindler acknowledged the videotape was similar to one which has already been made available to the media. At Tuesday's news conference, the Schindlers also spoke of their daughter nearly falling out of her chair when a new-age healer told her over the phone if she didn't get up, she would die.
Bushnell said, if true, this, too, constituted another violation of a court order, because the Schindlers were told not to have their daughter undergo therapy without permission from the court.
Supervising the video release was Randall A. Terry, president of the Society for Truth and Justice, which he described as a Judeo-Christian pro-life and natural law group based in St. Augustine. Bob Schindler and Terry both said releasing the video violated Greer's old court order and that Schindler risked arrest on a charge of contempt of court.
``Obviously, all bets are off because her life is on the line,'' said Terry, who also founded the antiabortion group Operation Rescue.
The roughly two dozen sign- carrying supporters who served as a backdrop for the video release vowed to keep vigil as Terri Schiavo dies. Some protesters were right-to- life supporters, others anti-euthanasia and many Catholic.
Their number appeared to swell and lessen depending on how many news organizations were around.
Reporters Tom Krause and Rick Barry contributed to this report. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 823-3303. Reporter Rod Challenger can be reached at (727) 536-8443.
Why does he OWN his wife under the law? You'd think the feminists would be completely outraged that an adulterous husband actually owns his cheated on wife's life and he can demand she die. Why on earth do her own parents, the family who still loves her have no say at all?
How can he live with himself if he doesn't? He should put something before politics.
She wouldn't be alive if she didn't have a will to live. He has no way of knowing how she feels now at this moment ---- but he's been committing adultery for years with another woman. All he needs to do is divorce the wife --- or just let her family have her and decide for her. Never trust your life to someone who is cheating on you ---- he has money motives too ---- insurance policies that he wouldn't get if he just divorced her and moved on.
Her family has mentioned that he may have tried to kill her.
I hope there will be an explanation of his motives some day.
Meanwhile, Greer has talked about the case publicly, to the press, much more than he should.
Greer's a gabby guy, all right, and acts like he deserves to talk openly about the case when he wants to.
That's how we know he thinks Terri should only be judged for her current condition, not how she was in the past.
Then again Greer is secretive when he shouldn't be, like when he secretly arranges for higher fees to come out of Terri's money to pay Schiavo's lawyer, George Felos.
Just wanted to be sure you had this:
"....Judge George Greer: Ruler of the Kangaroo Court set on killing Terri Schiavo. Impartial? Not in the least! Worked side by side as county commissioner with Barbara Sheen Todd (county commissioner) for eight YEARS. Barbara Sheen Todd is on the board of the hospice. Also, Judge Greer's fellow judge, Judge John Lenderman is the brother of Martha Lenderman (also on the hospice board! See the Hospice Board members! Greer accepted as the basis of his rulings, the questionable testimony of Michael Schiavo (and his family) that Terri would wish to be killed, yet Michael never stated that before he got about a Million Dollars to care for Terri forever. Greer also accepted as the basis of his rulings, the "opinion" of a third doctor who just happens to be the brother of a close associate of George Felos, right-to-kill attorney, and very significantly, former CHAIRMAN of the hospice board! If there ever was a rigged court, Judge Greer's is it!...."
You go on to write, "....the source of her injuries doesn't have any relevance to the situation at hand....."......Wrong again palmer.
The report to Judge Greer from her first court appointed guardian focused on the state of her past injuries. He sealed it from public view, and replaced that guardian with Terri's unfaithful husband.
Recall also that it was this dishonorable judge that pow-wowed with his buddy the Sheriff about the case in his court....an ethical violation. But then there are so many paths to cover in a case implicating government, media and organized religion that it should be expected a good number of meetings have taken place to be certain they are all reading from the same script.
Did you contact others about the vigil? I meant to ping 'freeparoundtheclock' who I know has been at the Hospice. Forgetful today. I'm sorry.
Received an answer to an e-mail of the 'Legal info' to Raquel A. Rodriguez (General Counsel to Governor) -> raquel.rodriguez@myflorida.com.
She thanked me and said she was passing it on.
Don't give up.
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