Contrary to AP, Terri Schiavo is not comatose or vegatative

The Associated Press ^ | 10/18/2003 | MITCH STACY

[walford]

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Two state courts have denied last-ditch efforts by the parents of a disabled woman to reinsert a feeding tube was keeping her alive, in a legalbattle that pitched the parents against the woman's husband.

AP Photo

AP Photo Slideshow: Fla. Woman's Feeding Tube Removed

The husband, Michael Schiavo, successfully fought to have the feeding tube removed this week, but her family vowed to fight to have it reinserted. Doctors say Terri Schiavo will die within two weeks.

The last-minute legal tactic would have directed Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene in the case, supporters of Schiavo's parents said.

A Tallahassee judge rejected the request, saying it should have been filed in Pinellas County where the case originated. The 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee then denied the request without comment.

Through several years of legal battles, Bob and Mary Schindler have maintained hope that their daughter, who has been in a vegetative state since her heart stopped in 1990, might one day be able to talk.

Schiavo's husband, Michael, said his wife would not have wanted to be kept alive artificially. He won the fight, and the tube was disconnected Wednesday.

"I hope and I pray that (people) never have to go through watching their son or daughter die a horrific, cruel death — slowly, minute by minute," Mary Schindler said.

Bush has been sympathetic to the Schindlers' efforts, but said he has found no legal means to override the courts.

The Schindlers wanted the court to compel Bush to order an investigation into their allegations that Michael Schiavo has abused Terri Schiavo. They say they want the tube reinserted so law enforcement can investigate.

Michael Schiavo has adamantly denied mistreating his wife, and state police and prosecutors have declined to investigate the claims.

Pat Anderson, the Schindlers' attorney, said she was not surprised by the judge's swift denial. The legal battle between the Schindlers and their son-in-law has passed through the hands of 19 separate judges and now six different courts.

"There has been an awful lot of judicial attention to this case," Anderson said. "Judges don't like to second-guess each other."

George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, said it was preposterous to think that any judge or court would issue an order requiring the governor to intervene. "Apparently the judges (in Tallahassee) felt the same," he said.

[walford]

It's all well and good that this issue has gotten many of you thinking about ensuring that your wishes are made plain, just in case. You might change your mind when it comes down to it. Browse through the threads on this subject. Click on the links.

There is one post by a nurse who described a patient who left written instructions not to be taken to the ER if needed again. When the occasion arose, the patient changed his/her [don't remember which sex] mind. The patient went to the ER. Fortunately, that one could speak. Hope you're so fortunate!

In this case the husband has a demonstrable vested interest in her wife's death. He told the malpractice jury that the funding was needed to keep her alive. He's been trying to kill her ever since he got the money. Don't you have anything to say about that?

Further, none of you have expressed any squeamishness over the fact that Michael Schiavo, his brother and his sister in-law are the only ones who have affirmed Terris desire not to be kept alive in this way.

None of you have shown any disdain for the fact that he has impregnated another woman twice while married to a disabled wife, yet refuses to divorce her. He has said explicitly that he will not do so, because he is afraid that her blood relatives may persist in trying to keep her alive. We can only speculate about the money held in trust for her medical care and what happens to it if she dies. She reportedly has no will.

Michael reportedly has a $80,000 Mercedes. No one knows what he does for a living to afford that and nearly ten years of legal fees pursuing his wife's death.

There were skull fractures found in a routine bone scan. His doctors say it's because of brittle bones. No outside doctors have been allowed to explore this. Does that bother you?

None of you have had any comment on the assertions by at least 10 doctors who have testified that her condition could be improved through rehabilitative therapy, which Michael forbade within months of the malpractice award. Instead, he took the word of two doctors, one of whom always has voted for death by dehydration/starvation.

None of you have said anything about the financial links that Judge Greer has to the Hospice industry.

None of you have expressed any suspicion about why it is that the judge severely restricted access to Terri by her blood relatives when he found out that they were trying to help her feed herself. Only Michael Schiavo's doctors are allowed to see her. You would think that he would allow them to pursue this.

None of you have had anything to say about how the story has been reported in the mainstream press in comparison to the facts that are obtainable from outside sources [the main theme of this thread].

One thing about this case that is not unique is that many others have occurred. Browse thru MarMema's list:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~Marmema/
You'll find one wherein the patient asked for water when it was decided that she was better off dead. Didn't matter what she said. THEY LET HER DIE! Is that death with dignity as far as you're concerned? None of you have expressed an opinion of the method being used to kill Terri Schiavo.

icelandicconservativ: Of course there are no new videos made. The Judge has forbidden it. Broadcast of the ones that are available caused him a great deal of embarrassment.

There is plenty of information about this story that you can get. Please feel free to look for it. Don't take my word for any of the assertions made.

[RGSpincich]

The jury shorted Terri $2.8 million on the settlement and the quality of life has suffered to the point where she would want to be dead. The jury held her 70% responsible for her own condition and lowered the settlement. He had no idea that would happen when he gave testimony.

[hedgetrimmer]

No its not so weird. The lawyer is looking for a big case to set a presidence for active euthanasia. There was a case in Australia that aussie lawyers and euthanasia advocates used to get pro-euthanasia laws on the books. The case is eerily similar to Terri's. If the lawyer writes a book on the case, and some say he already has, the spouse will get money from it. The case is meant to open the door to active euthanasia in this country.

[1L]

You wrote:

I am not a lawyer, but from my understanding (...)

And

I don't know exactly what the statutes requiring a guardian ad litem say (...)

And

(...) but I believe (...)

And

(...) I believe (...)

And

To be sure, I don't know (...)

You should have just answered my question correctly with the one word: conjecture. I have many questions about this case myself, and, like you, I support her parents in their efforts, but lets wait and see what the facts are before jumping off with wild accusations. There have been many courts look at this issue, and all have come down (apparantly) on the husband's side. All this while Jeb hasn't been able to act since he hasn't found any authority in which to do so. None of this is conclusory, but it gives some presumption to the side of what's going on now. I don't like it, and I appreciate your feelings on it.

I would like to get to the bottom of why the state is allowing the guardian in this case to terminate a life that another potential guardian would care for. That doesn't make any sense.

[Arpege92]

If death is really what Terri may have wanted, wouldn't we explore everything about her condition before terminating her life. We at least owe this to her. Let the judges see the video tape....let the judges visit with Terri....let Terri show the judges that she CAN feed herself.

[supercat]

The jury shorted Terri $2.8 million on the settlement and the quality of life has suffered to the point where she would want to be dead. The jury held her 70% responsible for her own condition and lowered the settlement. He had no idea that would happen when he gave testimony.

Interesting logic, and a point of view I'd not heard articulated before. Might be somewhat compelling if Terri's husband had spent the $700K she was supposed to receive on her care, and only sought to end her care when the money ran out. But when at least $300K has been spent on a lawyer who's trying to get her killed, it's clear that the $700K hasn't been spent for her care or rehabilitation.

[PeyersPatches]

The jury shorted Terri $2.8 million on the settlement and the quality of life has suffered to the point where she would want to be dead.

---

Her parents publically told the murdering husband that he could have ALL the money if he'd just divorce her and they (her parents and her siblings) said they would foot her bills and care for her. Her husband wants her dead to finish off the job he originally tried 13 years ago as evidenced by the X-Rays of her injuries sustained. The judge has a conflict of interest in his own personal financial gain in the matter (hospice). Terry Shiavo is being murdered.

[walford]

"Let the judges see the video tape....let the judges visit with Terri....let Terri show the judges that she CAN feed herself."

They've seen the tapes. They don't care. With each passing hour I'm becoming more pessimistic about Terri's chances for recovery. The longer she is starved/dehydrated, the more chance for permanent damage. She could become comatose, PVS for real then.

Judge Greer has ordered an immediate cremation upon her passing with no autopsy. Thus it will not be possible to ascertain the cause of her earlier injuries. Nor will it be possible to examine her brain to determine if she was conscious and aware. All tracks will be covered.

I'm very tired. I have other articles to write. The enemy works on many fronts. I'm working on one about how the ACLU is attacking the Boy Scouts while at the same time defending NAMBLA.

I wouldn't have known about Terri Schiavo if not for FR. Bless Jim Robinson and all of you Freepers out there.

10-7...for now...

[supercat]

They've seen the tapes. They don't care.

Judge Greer is the gatekeeper in this case. Anything he declares is irrelevant is legally irrelevant. The only judges who can directly make decisions based upon evidence are trial-court judges; the only trial-court judge who's allowed to make any decisions in this case is Judge Greer.

[walford]

"Judge Greer is the gatekeeper in this case. Anything he declares is irrelevant is legally irrelevant."

What's your point? Anyone whom the judge deems is not worthy of life is legally unworthy of life. We all know that. Pray that such a judges doesn't gavel your fate.

The law is a kabuki dance for by, for and of lawyers. There is a life hanging in the balance here and while we blow hot air, it slips away with each passing minute...

[Theodore R.]

No, he wants the money: now they are saying he becomes a millionaire by the end of the month!

[supercat]

What's your point?

When you say "they've" seen the tape, you're suggesting that multiple judges have examined the tape evidence and made legal determinations based upon them. Only Judge Greer has any legal authority to interpret evidence ("care" what it shows), so the issue isn't really that "They've seen the tapes and don't care", but rather that "Judge Greer has seen the tapes and doesn't care."

[Catspaw]

It's all well and good that this issue has gotten many of you thinking about ensuring that your wishes are made plain, just in case. You might change your mind when it comes down to it.

Change my mind about it?

Nope.

I worked my way through college by working in a nursing home--night shift--for three years. There's no way in hell I would ever want to exist in that state. Ever.

[Catspaw]

Judge Greer has ordered an immediate cremation upon her passing with no autopsy. Thus it will not be possible to ascertain the cause of her earlier injuries. Nor will it be possible to examine her brain to determine if she was conscious and aware. All tracks will be covered.

I saw Terri's siblings on Rita Cosby tonight. They said they were trying to get that cremation order reversed. I'm sure the Schindlers want the evidence--Terri's body--preserved for examination for the wrongful death suit that's surely to come.

[RGSpincich]

Her husband wants her dead to finish off the job he originally tried 13 years ago as evidenced by the X-Rays of her injuries sustained.

You have a long ways to go to prove such a claim.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

How does he become a millionaire at the end of the month? Some sort of trick of quantum math, creating money particles where none exist?

[earplug]

Its intereting that the Pope is making Mother Theresa a Saint for taking care of the helpless ill.
I'm surprised that the news has not mentioned the moral connection between the two cases.

[Theodore R.]

See Post 386.

[supercat]

Its intereting that the Pope is making Mother Theresa a Saint for taking care of the helpless ill.

Beatification doesn't make her "Saint Mother Theresa"; it makes her "Blessed Mother Theresa". I don't know the details, but I think there's a time limit before someone can be canonized (made a saint).

[dalebert]

You mean there is life insurance?