FLA. LAWMAKERS MAY PASS TUBE-FEEDING LAW (LEGISLATURE MEETING TONIGHT, OCT. 20, TO PROPOSE BILL)

AP WIRE SERVICE ^ | OCT. 20, 2003 | AP WIRE

[varina davis]

Fla. Lawmakers May Pass Tube-Feeding Law

October 20, 2003 07:17 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers were moving Monday to consider intervening in the case of a severely brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was removed last week by her husband's order.

The Florida House scheduled a Monday night session to take up the issue. In the Senate, President Jim King said he will propose legislation that would give Gov. Jeb Bush the authority to order the feeding tube be reinserted to keep Terri Schiavo alive.

The tube was removed Wednesday following a decade-long court battle between Schiavo's parents and their son-in-law, who contends that he is carrying out her wishes not to be kept alive artificially.

"If we are to err - because time is of the essence - for goodness sake let us err on the side of caution," said King, a Republican.

Schiavo has been in what doctors call a vegetative state since her heart stopped in 1990 from a suspected potassium imbalance.

Bush told parents Bob and Mary Schindler last week that his staff would search for legal ways to save their daughter's life, but said Monday they haven't yet found a way.

"The legal ways, the remedies, don't exist," Bush said Monday, before the possible legislative moves became apparent.

Bush added, "I wish I could wave the magic wand and resolve this but every effort that we've had or every effort that has been proposed has either been thwarted by the courts or would be inappropriate."

Meanwhile, in a statement released through his lawyer, husband Michael Schiavo said Monday that he, too, is grieving, but "I did what I believe Terri would have wanted me to do."

[NautiNurse]

Charles Dean (R) Citrus

[BulletBobCo]

That lady is the type that looks in a mirror and ask "Who is that?"

[Gelato]

No.

[mickie]

Speaker say......."my mother said that bad things happen when good men do nothing!

Vote yes!!!!!!

[Gelato]

Rep. Allen:

“Members, I think we all were saddened by the family’s plight that we’ve been seeing. All of us have probably questioned, why did the court proceedings not come on the side of the family every time? I know I have questioned that. . . .We should better than thirsting and starving someone to death.”

[NautiNurse]

Kevin Ambler (R) Hillsborough (Tampa)

[Old Student]

Didn't it already happen to them in 2000, in Florida, no less? ;)

[dixiegrrl]

I couldn't figure out what she was screeching.

[workerbee]

her priest was forbidden from giving her the Eucharist for last rites.

Un-freakin-believable. The face of evil, indeed.

[NautiNurse]

She was mad about having to show up tonight.

[Huber]

Live thread from the scene. Go here! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1004190/posts?q=1&&page=183#183

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hey I e-mailed him and told him "the only thing needed for evil to exist is for good men to do nothing" Do you think....? Nah never mind :}

[BulletBobCo]

I couldn't figure out what she was screeching.

I think she was ticked that the people she represents were bothering her with e-mail.

[dixiegrrl]

My son heard her screeching and thought I was watching a halloween show!

[FR_addict]

"Only that she's pis*sed about all the emails she got"

What's her name so we can send her more emails?

[FR_addict]

"Only that she's pis*sed about all the emails she got"

What's her name so we can send her more emails?

[shezza]

Apparently so. She screeched that they hadn't gotten the word, but another representative declared that there was only one empty seat in the entire chamber--119 out of 120 were present.

[Libertina]

I pray this passes! ASAP

[GailA]

I heard Dr Dotson on Hannity say that euthanasia jumped THIRTY PERCENT in Denmark once it started. About 20% of all nursing home patients are in the same boat Terri is in.

[mickie]

Yes, I do think so.....good work!