Conservative attorneys urging Bush to intervene in Schiavo case

Florida Times Union ^ | Thursday, October 16, 2003 | MITCH STACY

[nickcarraway]

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - The parents of a severely brain-damaged woman and others fighting to keep her alive stepped up the pressure on Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene in the case Thursday.

The feeding tube keeping Terri Schiavo alive was removed Wednesday, culminating a decade-long legal fight between her parents and her husband. Doctors say she will live as long as two weeks without it.

[Capitalist Eric]

I'll keep that in mind. ;)

[joesnuffy]

I agree with everything you've said here
If Terri wanted to die
She has sure put up a rather amazing fight to stay alive
against all odds
Including a totally unsupportive husband...who has been rootin for her to die
and she just wont give him (or Eric and friends)
the satisfaction....

Jesus left us with a very basic exortation..to love one another...I would say
keeping her alive ..give her the care & therapy she needs and see what God has in mind

[Babalu]

"Did I miss anything?"

Yes. You missed the part about how any of your points numbered 1 through 5 are morally superior to the overriding need for the state (and mankind) to respect the sanctity of life.

You see, not everyone believes that tough issues like this can be wrapped up neatly in a package numbered 1 through 5, and sum it up by quoting Descartes.

[Qwinn]

Ya know, I still can't get over this notion that after 13 years they'd -have- to know if a woman on a feeding tube can swallow. It's like gagging someone for 13 years and then saying by now we'd know if they can whistle.

Qwinn

[huck von finn]

What would be the harm in trying?

Oh nothing--just that she would likely choke to death, that's all. Honestly...leave the medical decisions to the medical professionals. I know you have read a lot of stories about what's going on, but it's best to leave the medical decisions to them.

Considering we KNOW they never tried to feed her - uh, yes. They wouldn't have a clue. Why would they? The only hint her caregivers could have would be if she drooled - and she doesn't. There's nothing else about being with someone on a feeding tube for 13 years that would give a clue as to their ability to swallow.

You don't know this. You know the claims you have read on the internet, but you don't know this for a fact. As for DROOL to be the only indicator as to whether a human being can or cannot swallow well enough to eat regular food, or even liquids--I'd bet a physician would disagree with you on that one.

Have you ever been involved with hospice care?

[MarMema]

Her brain is gone, she's as cognitive as a turnip.

At which cut-off point do you feel it is acceptable to kill people because of their lack of function? If they can operate a wheelchair, wave to people, say words, play simple card games, chew food if fed by someone else? Define when a person deserves to live by virtue of their function.

She'll never function again in society, and can never take care of herself.

So then you must believe that anyone who can no longer function in society should die? We should empty all the nursing homes in this country and kill the people in them, because chances are that the people in them fit your definition.

And while we are on this topic, how do you KNOW that a person will never again function in society?

[ladyrustic]

Yes, you missed something.

Her mother and father love her deeply and want to take her under their care.

Why must she be killed when there are people who love her and will be blessed by her presence in their life? They ask for nothing-- just the right to take their daughter home.

Why should their hearts be broken?

[PleaseNoMore]

You are wrong. The hospice workers were barred ( FORBIDDEN )from ever trying to feed her.Why is she in hospice care anyway? She isn't terminal? Could it be that Felos, her husband's attorney, was on the board there? Also, withholding medical treatment from the disabled is a crime in Florida. Her husband deliberately withheld antibiotics from her when she suffered a couple of infections. I am also curious to know about his fiancee's connection to the insurance company that paid the malpractice suit and soon after went out of business. Same last name a coincidence? I think not.

[huck von finn]

Have you ever been around hospice care or had a relative who received it?

[huck von finn]

Also, withholding medical treatment from the disabled is a crime in Florida.

Then the hospice wouldn't do it. If they did, they'd be out of business in a minute.

[MSCASEY]

1. Collasped under unknown circumstances.
2. Husband has been living with someone else for 7 years.
3. Husband accepted a large amount of money for her rehabilition care then spent it on legal fees for her death.
4. Husband has NEVER shown any desire for her to progress (other than the monetary trial so he could be awarded money)

So he would not be the best person to decide what is best for her as he could not care.

MCD

[Qwinn]

"Have you ever been around hospice care or had a relative who received it?"

Yes.

Qwinn

[LADY J]

"Also, withholding medical treatment from the disabled is a crime in Florida. Then the hospice wouldn't do it. If they did, they'd be out of business in a minute."

You don't know what you're talking about. They did it and their minute is up.....They are NOT out of business.

If anyone can get an investigation going - that could change!!

[huck von finn]

Why is she in hospice care anyway?

Because she is a human being minus a cerebral cortex.

[PleaseNoMore]

To answer your 109 & 110.

My father was cared for by hospice while he was dying. Believe me when I say I went more than one round with them concerning there methods. To say that they wanted to hasten his dying would be an understatement. Because of the actions of our local hospice they have been completely overhauled and are more diligently overseen.

Refer to the above. Hospice has had so many cases of negligence filed against them. There is even a website devoted to keeping up with them and to providing patients and their loved ones the TRUTH concerning their rights as a hospice patient.

While hospice does provide a service that can be invaluable to a dying person and their family, their overall business is death. Think about it. Geesh.

[MarMema]

To say that they wanted to hasten his dying would be an understatement

The culture of death ghouls....how wonderful that you were there for him.

[PleaseNoMore]

I want to tell you all that starvation and dehydration is indeed painful. I know this as my father died from this. He had throat cancer and a large tumor grew cutting off his esophogus. He was unable to swallow liquids and he was too weak to undergo the procedure to inset the feeding tube. I remember him standing in our kitchen desperately trying to swallow water but it came out of his nose instead. It would not go down. He literally cried in agony because of his thirst and hunger. He would beg me to wipe his skin with lotion because of the dryness from the dehydration. I did and cried for mercy with each stroke. That on top of the pain from the cancer was so unbearable for him. I will swear to you that this death is the most horrible death to die. I cannot imagine it being purposely inflicted.

[TexasCowboy]

"and all the "suspicions" and possible monetary or personal motivations are irrelevant.

Did I miss anything?"

Yes, you missed a lot.

If there were no relevancy to the possible monetary or personal gains to be made by the husband, and if there were no evidence that this woman might recover, at least partially, Jeb Bush's name and his possible intervention into this matter would have never come about.

People are taken off life support systems everyday to die, and nothing is heard of it.
The fact that this has become a prominent case with as many turns as a pretzel indicates that it is unusual and deserves to be investigated before she is put to death.

There is a lot here to look at.
It is far from cut and dried.

[Lion in Winter]

You are right.

The troll eric is just looking for trouble here.

We should ignore him and shun him on this CONSERVATIVE site.

[MarMema]

KILL ALL THE RETARDS! SINCERELY, CAPITALIST ERIC

LOL!!! Thanks for this post.