Terri Schiavo's Last Day For Food

Tampa Tribune | October 15, 2003

[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.

[Autie]

This is my first post and I am just sick over this and I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong place. I have written everyone I can think of to no avail. I just do not understand how this could happen in this society and feel Michael should be in jail as a suspect for attempted murder when this all began. My prayers are with the Schindlers.

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[vanmorrison]

There is no way in holy hell that I would not be at my daughter's side if they tried to kill her through court-ordered starvation. I would make such a stink that the international community, these lousy goddamn judges, the rotten go-along police, and every other denizen of the devil would know there was at least one person in this world who would fight this evil to the last. They'd definitely have to pull their guns on me!

[Skooz]

Thanks for the post. You done good.

....because the Schindlers were told not to have their daughter undergo therapy without permission from the court.

I would like to see any court on this planet deny me the right to provide medical treatment for my seriously ill daughter. Anyone who got in my way would be another number in a body count.

This is absolutely insane. If ever there was a case for civil disobedience and defiance of a (kangaroo) court order, this is it. Of course, the silence of the mainstream media a deafening.

[End Times Sentinel]

Pardon me for getting to the conversation REAL late, but Terri Schiavo didn't sign a living will or anything?  She's having the feeding tube removed because her husband thinks that's what she'd want?

Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”

[Skooz]

They'd definitely have to pull their guns on me!

Ditto. And then pull the trigger.

[manna]

Prayer sent ...

[PleaseNoMore]

If ever there was a case for civil disobedience and defiance of a (kangaroo) court order, this is it.

I totally agree. By the time Greer is voted out, if he is at all, Terri will be dead. Sometimes you have to do more than vote people out.

[TonyWojo]

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.

Is Greer synonymous with GOD?

[fishbabe]

no,he may have strangled her which led to her condition,so he does not want her to wake up....of course,the 1.6 million he gets after she dies is pretty good motivation,too.....

[Theodore R.]

It appears that Jeb Bush does not believe in civil disobedience after all -- on his watch.

[Ferret Fawcet]

Thanks for the post, I feel just as you do. I e-mailed about 20 people (politicians and media) and I don't think any of them even bothered to read what I wrote.

I know horrible, evil things like this happen every day, but I sill have trouble understanding how nothing can be done to stop Terri's torture and murder. This is still America, right...?

Prayers going up.

[joesnuffy]

Where are the great evangelical Christian leaders from florida
James Kennedy for example...a friend of Joni Errikson-Tada's.....
And all the others I would think they would be all standing linked arm in arm around the hosptial
Where is Jesse Jackson...the great humanitarian..
or Bill and Hillary the great champions of the "little people"
...

They are Elian Gonzalez' ing her.....shafted and shipped out...to the next world...
God Bless her and her family ..be with them and protect them...from our leaders...

[Theodore R.]

This is still America, right...?

No, this is not "America," haven't you heard -- Hitler really won WWII, not militarily, but his ideas triumphed in the long run? Ideas endorsed by Democrats and Republicans, it so appears

[pollywog]

Yes joesnuffy, you are right!! Florida will now have a second " Elian" on their record.!!!Not a STATE I WOULD want to live in!!!!

[DianaN]

That they would sanction the starving to death of any individual is an absolute travesty!

[DianaN]

If it was my husband and I thought there way any chance of rehabilitation, I would have kidnapped him long ago and taken him away from those who sought his murder.

[Skooz]

Is Greer synonymous with GOD?

In his little mind, I'm sure it is.

What a putrid little robed tyrant.

[TxBec]

Please pass this on

---

I have just signed a petition to Governor Jeb Bush of Florida in the hopes that he will intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo, a disabled woman whose life is under fire in the Florida Courts.

I urge you to get involved and do the same. Please visit the web site published on Terri's behalf at www.terrisfight.org and sign the petition.

We cannot let this terrible injustice to continue.

[Lee Heggy]

Very disturbing stuff. I can understand how Terri's husband would feel that his wife would not wish to exist in her current state. I believe he will regret his actions the rest of his life. My wife died of brain cancer and it took only six months from the time of her diagnosis untill the end. About a month before she died it was clear that she was no longer with us. Gradually she lost all physical ability to move or control anything. Eventually she was unable to swallow and there was nothing I could do except be with her and make sure that she wasn't suffering from dryness of the mouth or from being soiled. I tried oh God, I tried to do everything but in the end I couldn't breathe for her and she passed away in my arms. Death came as a friend for her and I. I still would not be able to do what Terri's husband wishes and yet, I understand.