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."

[hedgetrimmer]

Now the discussion is going to moral correctness. Does anyone know who is speaking now?

[OXENinFLA]

No I don't know his name but I think he's on our side

[lil'bit]

Vaughn Davis now telling the whole story!

[California74]

Thanks for letting us know what's going on. Keep us updated, please! I cannot play the link on my computer for some reason.

[OXENinFLA]

He's going back 7 YEARS!!!!

[ChemistCat]

Come on, you know better. If you saw a child being raped, you would not wait for God to save her; you'd know that you, being there, on the spot, are God's hands, and you would save her.

God usually works for us through us. We're here for each other, to learn to serve each other. What we do to the least of our brethren, we do unto Him.

You wouldn't let Christ stagger past you and not offer him comfort. He was not even left to die of thirst as Terri is.

It's not really about Terri anymore. She is probably past the worst of the torment and beyond earthly help. It's about us.

Michael Schiavo takes his pregnant girlfriend in to visit his wife alone. When he leaves, she is extremely upset. You are a Christian. What do you think our duty is?

[WackySam]

Now the discussion is going to moral correctness. Does anyone know who is speaking now?

I think it's Jim Davis, he's right on the money.

[OXENinFLA]

"He did say that until he(schiov) got the money"

GReAT!

[OXENinFLA]

HE just brought up STRANGLATION!!!

[hedgetrimmer]

Dear God please guide these legislators to make their decision in favor of life, in favor of humanity.

[dixiegrrl]

I love that man!! He is wonderful!!

[NautiNurse]

Great find! I'm tuned in. Did I miss anything? Don't they announce the speakers?

[Marie Antoinette]

YES! Live thread here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1004663/posts

[OXENinFLA]

The Lady talking now is for LIFE!

[dixiegrrl]

I am so glad that they are finally saying what we have been saying all along!

[diamond6]

WOW!!!! I am so happy that its an option for some people.

How is your son doing?

[incindiary]

The woman who is speaking now is speaking the truth! YAY!!

[yesnettv]

I love the lady, too!

[viaveritasvita]

If it is not the wish of God for her to die, do you honestly think that anything Man does could kill her? Is your faith in God that weak? Or, is Man so much more powerful than God? Please do not get me wrong, since you and others have been doing an outstanding job.

Butting in here....If God's will is for Terri to live, she will live. It's also possible that God's will is for Terri to die and for us to carry on to prevent legalized murder in the future (we are in the same position as those who fought abortion in the late 60's, early 70's). If we are unsuccessful (as the pro-life forces were in 1973 with Roe v Wade), then we are voices in the wilderness. I don't know why, but God chooses to work through His people. We are His vessels. I'm not being very elequent here and ask TR and CC to ping me their responses. This is a very interesting (to me) line of discussion.

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[diamond6]

Excellent response!