I received this email:
If you are convinced that what Terri Schiavo has been experiencing over the last several years and now is cruel and inhumane, call the FL Abuse Hotline 1 - 800 - 962 - 2873
FL Statue 415.103 -- mandates reports of abuse by professionals. A "vulnerable adult" is an individual 18 years old or more whose daily living is compromised due to mental, physical, or developmental disabilites.
"Abuse" is defined by the statute as "any willful act or threatened act taht causes or is likely to cause significant impairment to a vulnerable adult's physical, mental, or emotional health." -----
At a certain point, you will hear this message: "The safety and well being of Florida's most vulnerable citizens is very important to us. Persons making reports in good faith are not subject to prosecution. Intentional false reporting is a violation of FL law."
This is when you need to carefully consider if you truly believe this is abuse or neglect.
You will be asked a number of questions on this long form -- all allegations are truly taken seriously! Most of us know those answers from our visits to the http://www.terrisfight.org website (address of victim, age, what your concerns are). Some I didn't know (phone number of facility).
The person taking the information was businesslike but sympathetic ("trained counselors" take the calls).
I am convinced that a precious citizen of the state of FL is being abused -- so I made the call. I'd expressed my concerns to the governor, and he said he's concerned, too, so I figure I'm in good company.
I started a food fast yesterday morning (by accident at first; funny how things work). I had to break it just now for the discomfort, and I've been taking fluids.