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.

[MarMema]

and seriously consider the facts as we know them

Yes, and the facts are this. If you or I were denied food and water, we would die. If anyone posting here was denied food and water, they would die. If your dog or your neighbor's dog is denied food and water, the dog will die.

In each of these situations, it is the removal of food and water that is causing death.

[MarMema]

If it weren't for modern medicine she would have died long ago.

Since several qualified therapists have submitted statements to the court saying she could be trained to eat on her own, your statement is incorrect. Since her legal guardian has denied the chance for her to even try to eat or drink on her own, you don't really know.

[MarMema]

May God Bless His soul! Memory Eternal. +

[TexasCowboy]

Re: #98
And that brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you.

Eric, if you have been keeping up with Baby Logan on the threads, you know that the Termite was born at 23 weeks with less than a 20% chance of survival.
God saw it differently.
I've held that little miracle in my arms, and felt the power of God at work.
I'm closer to God than I've ever been in my life because of a little baby boy I didn't even know two months ago.

Miracles do happen, Eric, with a lot of prayer and a lot of care.
This could be one of those times.

[Sabatier]

"...[it's] as if we went into her room and smothered her. By changing it to passively 'allowing' her to starve herself, we delude ourselves to think we are not actively killing her."

I think you make a good point here. The simple fact is, it's not just that they have removed her feeding tube , it's that no one is allowed to handfeed her! If anyone tries they'll be arrested!
This is not like when you take someone off a respirator and they stop breathing.
This is refusing to feed someone because they can't feed themselves!!! How barbaric is that?

[EggsAckley]

I watched my mom die from cancer, and your description brings tears to my eyes. The dehydration is the worst part. I could tell she was so thirsty and the best we could do was put crushed ice on her lips. But she couldn't swallow anymore, so it didn't do much for her.

Let's hope your dad and my folks have met up, up there in Heaven. Maybe they're playing three-handed pinochle even as we type. Bless them all.

[novacation]

OH MY GOD! You're her husband!

[EggsAckley]

Hahahahahah!!!

Thanks for the belly laugh!

[Sabatier]

"The Legislature finds that adjudicating a person totally incapacitated and in need of a guardian deprives such person of all her or his civil and legal rights and that such deprivation may be unnecessary." Thanks for posting that. If under Florida law Terri could retain her civil rights it seems like there should be grounds for the government to intervene to make sure her rights haven't been violated.

[mware]

Her attorney was on O'Reilly last night. She said there is a law on the books that makes it illegal to deny nutrients to a disabled person in Florida.

[Sabatier]

Thanks for sharing that. It takes real courage for a family to get past their own discomfort and stand by someone in need of love and care.

There's something about our modern society where everyone is supposed to look young and cute and move like an athlete or risk not being valued. Real love sees beyond the disability to the person's essence.

[spunkets]

"If under Florida law Terri could retain her civil rights it seems like there should be grounds for the government to intervene to make sure her rights haven't been violated."

The legislature specificallly intended just that. Hearsay and presumption that Terri would not want to live any longer is repugnant to the legislature's intent and the intent of the feds. Terri's thoughts on the matter aren't known. The presumption should be that the best interests of the incapacitated are served by protecting that person's life when their is no first hand testimony of will from the guarded to the contrary. That is fundamental.

[PleaseNoMore]

For me, the memories of his inability to eat or even drink are the worst. I hope that they are both up there together having whatever foods and beverages they love. And yes, knowing my father, he is having a wonderful time playing pinochle with your mom. I know this, I certainly look forward to the day I can see daddy again. He was my best friend and I miss him terribly.

[EggsAckley]

I know how you feel. Both of mine were my best friends, and I miss them every day. Mom left us just a year ago, and I'm starting to think I'll never get over it. And yes, I'm hoping my mom is enjoying her nightly glass of chardonney with crushed ice every day now.

[fml]

Oh, and you have the full grasp on the subject? Her brain functions - she opens her eyes when asked and responds when in the company of her family and others the only way she can, with actions and expresions. She is not hooked up to life support, only feeding tubes, her bodily functions all work with out assistance. There is no poor husband, he has denied her care, profited from her condition, moved onto another relationship and started another family. I am sad for you for the way you feel, while greed is the motivation for some in this case all you have to gain is a sick and morbid sense of superiority - .

[Netizen]

Not being coy, I am curious as to why this has caused so much attention.

I think the case has caused so much attention because she does mover her eyes towards moving objects. She is not unaware of what is going on around her.

She has been denied, by her husband and guardian, any attempt at rehabilitation. She breathes on her own.

Yet, because she is unable to speak for herself, not unlike unborn babies, that too rely upon another for subsitence, her husband wants her subsitence denied.

This could set quite a precedence in this country for people that have severe injuries, or are severely disabled, but cannot talk nor feed themselves.

Should they all be denied food and water, when their existence becomes 'inconvenient'? When their spouse desides it's time to marry the women he has been shacking up with for several years and already has one child by, and is awaiting the delivery of the second?

[pickyourpoison]

bump

[Capitalist Eric]

Why should their hearts be broken?

Because they have no legal standing. A friend of mine is going through this, right now. She's lost everything, and she's bitter.

But the law is the law.

If you don't like it, then I suggest doing what you can to change it. If enough others agree with your opinion, you might get it changed. But for now...? As I said before, it's pretty cut-and-dried.

FReegards,

[Capitalist Eric]

1. Collasped under unknown circumstances.
2....
3....
4.... etc.

To all of these things you mention, there are either personal opinions or irrelevant issues.

As I keep saying, from a legal standpoint, the issues you address are moot.

The legal system functioned exactly as intended... That you disagree with it, is also irrelevant.

[Capitalist Eric]

OH MY GOD! You're her husband!

OH MY GOD! ANOTHER emotional, irrational outburst!!!

< /sarcasm >