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."

[incindiary]

Are you sure???

[incindiary]

Are you sure???

[CindyDawg]

yeah, because feeding may not be enough .

[dixiegrrl]

Passed Bump!!!!!

[HungarianGypsy]

there is good in the world

[OXENinFLA]

OK NOW SOMEONE TELL THE DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


PUT HER TUBE BACK IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diverdogz]

Goes to the senate tomorrow.

[shezza]

OMG, Bless them for doing this at this late hour. I hope they had a physician standing by to reconnect that tube post haste and give Terri a big long drink of water RIGHT NOW.

[incindiary]

YAY!!!!!!!

THANK YOU GOD!!!!

[Warren_Piece]

I'm praying that a kind nurse has been sneaking her water somehow, someway. God is good.

[ChemistCat]

Oh!
How soon does this mean the feeding tube can be put in? I can't believe it; I feared Satan's hand in this was being clung to by far too many of his followers.

[NautiNurse]

Tomorrow is day 6 no water. Not good.

[CindyDawg]

(oops didn't finish) but God is in control and all things possible :')

[Stopislamnow]

Thank God. And the Florida Legislature.

Been following this pretty close.

Time for a full investigation. And a change in guardianship.

If those two things don't happen, he'll just keep denying her different things til he kills her.

[ordinaryguy]

YES!

[Lanza]

NO chance of a special session for the Senate tonight?

[katnip]

I thought it had to go to the Senate now? God how I hope not!

[NautiNurse]

Yes--I am hoping for miracle now too.

[agrace]

So Jeb can't act until it goes through the senate.

[WackySam]

I think the Senate needs some emails

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