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.

[Naspino]

Can you summarize what state she is in? Haven't heard about this until recent and I see lots of different descriptions.

[Naspino]

Nevermind I found what I was looking for. Yes I think the guy is just out for the money in this case. At the very least just let the parents take her and deal with her.

[alwaysconservative]

You folks might think I'm being too much of a Pollyanna, but I am relying on the "with God, all things are possible" belief and my study of the benefits of prayer and fasting. (Note: fasting is not normally starving!) I believe that Terry, like many others who were "given up", can recover from this with God's help. There are numerous Biblical examples of the power of fasting and prayer, both in the Old Testament and New. It might be the most wonderful trigger to her recovery to allow her body to fast while we are supporting her in prayer, so that she can recover and regain her strength and voice. (And wouldn't that bite her "husband" and the legal system that failed her in the posterior!) May we all support her in our prayers, that God's power can be revealed.

[NebraskaTrailrider]

Sure
I'll do my best but I've not personally assessed her. Just witnessed the video, medical notes and witness statements on her behaviors at the site www.terrisfight.org.

I'm an RN who has backgrounds in several types of rehab. I have had patients like Terri.
I would describe her has having symptoms similar to a stroke victim. But in Terris case the muscle weakness was not caused by paralysis, but by neglect.

Terri is alert, oriented certainly to her mother and dad. She may not know where exactly where she is but neither do a lot of people I know. She has an emotional affect. Meaning she responds with tears/smiles/laughter ect. She is able to respond. RESPOND. EVEN ONE LITTLE RESPONSE is enough to make a Dr. doubt coma. Terri has had tons of responses. The judge and killers and Mr. Schiavo report these responses as 'reflexes'! REFLEXES??? Like she is already dead???? Comatose people don't respond.

[Pegita]

Your assessment means that, like stroke patients, Terri would benefit from retraining ... and that is exactly what her parents have said all along. But the courts have always sided with the husband ... if I were his "significant other," I would be thinking twice before saying "I do" ...

[NebraskaTrailrider]

I've heard of that too. Fasting can do something in the body. But in Terris case? She is so weak already I would guess. And when they give her Morphine. Her respiratory system may fail. I hope to the Lord of Heaven she responds. I hope she rips out her tube herself and yells "Get the hell out of my room and get me my mom!!!" Sorry just remembering some of my former patients and fantasizing a little.
I remember one of the beattitudes Jesus taught us

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Righteousness...for they SHALL be filled.

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

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.

Me too. I've called and written various parties on numerous occassions since I happened onto this story about six months ago. We're losing America faster than I ever imagined.

[texasbluebell]

Poor Terri wasn't lucky enough to have a husband like you...

[pollywog]

Where oh where is the ACLU?

CALL THEM AND FIND OUT!!! I just called the ADA and they said it was not in their jurisdiction to handle a problem like this as it comes under the " right to life". They suggested to get the ACLU involved. I SUGGEST EVERYONE CALL the ACLU at this point.

[NebraskaTrailrider]

My whole family is watching this unfold. My 16 year-old daughter told me this morning that she no longer wants to live in America. She wants to move away when she graduates. I told her it's no better anywhere else. She is very sad and deeply moved about this as she is a diabetic and is familiar with the story about the little diabetic girl who died because her parents didn't believe in giving medicine for illness. She told me in no uncertain terms "Mom, I no longer want to live in America"

I don't ever ever remember having that serious of a thought about America when I was 16. Troubling indeed.

[Pegita]

Go to this thread ... Terri Schindler Schiavo Call All Freepers Pt2 ... The Schindler family is now meeting with Governor Bush ...PRAYER NEEDED ... Post 2433

[Robert Drobot]

Post # 10 - She is not in a coma. She is awake and alert, and will watch and feel the trauma of starvation and her own death.

[Salvation]

Prayers for Terri and the Schindler family.

They would love to take care of her!

[MagnoliaMS]

You're right, she is not comatose. IMHO, the media (including, I hate to say, Fox News) is doing far more damage than good, by constantly putting out false information. I could not believe how screwed up John Gibson and Judge Napolitano were on their facts yesterday, not to mention Alan Colmes the night before, calling her so-called husband "concerned" and "loving." It's very distressing.

[lrslattery]

There is a grave moral imperative to rescue this woman who is about to be murdered.

Sick and maimed animals are treated better than this. If one were to treat a pet or other creature this way, he could be charged with a crime and possibly imprisoned. Where is the cry of PETA in all of this?

Criminals receive better care than this, even those condemned to death. At least they are not starved to death!

I suspect that more serious form of "civil disobedience" will need to be taken in order to save this poor woman's life. There are, many times, great consequences in doing what is right and just. I believe that those who are able must take whatever drastic measures are necessary to rescue this woman from a horribly unjust and sickening death sentence, regardless of the consequences, if the governor fails to act. I suspect this may even include the use of force.

Is there any other way? I pray that the Lord will intercede.

[bonfire]

My 16 yr old daughter walked in while Hannity was discussing this last night. I gave her a run-down and showed her the videos on the internet. She was in tears and couldn't believe this could happen in America. My college son and his g/f were JUST here and I showed them the same. THey were horrified and I can't repeat what my son said he would do.

Great world we are leaving to them.

[MarMema]

Because she has the right to die. See my FR page for more on this...