Terry Schiavo Executive Order

Governor's Office (email) | Oct 21, 2003 | Gov. Jeb Bush

[beckett]

The Governor has just sent this email to those who contacted him about Terry:

Thank you for writing to Governor Bush and expressing interest in the well-being of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Attached please find a statement by Governor Bush relating to actions taken today by the Florida Legislature and the Governor.

Again, thank you for writing to Governor Bush.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ALIA FARAJ
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2003
(850) 488-5394

Statement By: GOVERNOR JEB BUSH

Regarding Theresa Schiavo

TALLAHASSEE- "Like the tens of thousands of Floridians who have raised their voices in support of Terri Schiavo's right to live, I have been deeply moved by these tragic circumstances. I understand the limitations cited by the judges who have declined to hear the later stages of this case. However, any life or death decision should be made only after careful consideration of all related facts and conditions. For that reason, I appreciate the extraordinary action of the Legislature today, and will use the discretion they have granted regarding the restoration of nutrition and water to Terri Schiavo.

"The conflict among family members over the best interests of this young woman has made us all acutely aware that uncertainty in these situations can, and does, compound the tragedy. I hope all Floridians, and any others who have followed this case, will ensure their best interests are clearly documented in a living will or other directive to spare their families a similar anguish.

"My thoughts and prayers remain with Terri and those who love her."

# # #

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 03-201

WHEREAS, on October 21, 2003, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 35-E (to be published as Public Law 03-418), signed this date by me, authorizing the Governor to issue a one-time stay in certain cases where, as of October 15, 2003, the action of withholding or withdrawing nutrition or hydration from a patient in a permanent vegetative state has already occurred and there is no written advance directive and a family member has challenged the withholding or withdrawing of nutrition and hydration; and

WHEREAS, under House Bill 35-E a person may not be held civilly liable and is not subject to regulatory or disciplinary sanctions for taking any action to comply with a stay issued by the Governor pursuant to House Bill 35-E; and

WHEREAS, in the case of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo, Robert Schindler and Mary Schindler, the parents of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo, have requested that the Governor enter a stay prohibiting further withholding or withdrawing of nutrition or hydration; and

WHEREAS, a court has found that Theresa Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Theresa Schiavo had no written advance directive as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, nutrition and hydration have been withdrawn from Theresa Schiavo, and continues to be withheld as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Schindlers have challenged the withdrawal and withholding of nutrition and hydration as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, an immediate and urgent need has arisen to address the removal of nutrition or hydration, because death due to lack of nutrition and hydration is imminent;

NOW THEREFORE, I, JEB BUSH, Governor of the State of Florida, by the powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, specifically House Bill 35-E, do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order, effective immediately:

Section 1.

A. Effective immediately, continued withholding of nutrition and hydration from Theresa Schiavo is hereby stayed.

B. Effective immediately, all medical facilities and personnel providing medical care for Theresa Schiavo, and all those acting in concert or participation with them, are hereby directed to immediately provide nutrition and hydration to Theresa Schiavo by means of a gastronomy tube, or by any other method determined appropriate in the reasonable judgment of a licensed physician.

C. While this order is effective, no person shall interfere with the stay entered pursuant to this order.

D. This order shall be binding on all persons having notice of its provisions.

E. This order shall be effective until such time as the Governor revokes it.

F. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement shall serve a copy of this Executive Order upon the medical facility currently providing care for Theresa Schiavo.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed this 21st day of October, 2003. _______________________________________

GOVERNOR

ATTEST: ________________________________

SECRETARY OF STATE

Celeste F. Lewis
Director
Office of Citizens' Services
Executive Office of the Governor
850/488-7146 (Phone)
850/487-0801 (Fax)

[wizardoz]

Welcome to FR. Sorry you don't like our country's legislative procedures.

[ctdonath2]

'tis wonderful that the FL legislature and J. Bush have addressed a flaw in the legal system and restored her sustinance.

'tis horrifying that FL law permits a judge to order the murder of an innocent, harmless citizen.

Doing the same thing to a dog would get you jailed for cruelty...but it can be done to a person? WTF?

[george wythe]

The Florida legisture passes a law saying that, when there is a family conflict, the governor has the right to order liquid to be drained from patients with brain injuries, in order to prevent an unnecessary death.

Do you have a problem with such law?

[Mo1]

I wish. It seems that the judge is the only truly unreachable authority in our system, responsible to no one, never having to explain or defend his acts

Which is why the Clinton's and the Dems packed the courts with liberal judges and are now blocking votes in DC

[HiTech RedNeck]

Ask Congressman Billybob. A state has the right to pass laws about health and welfare issues. So technically it could.

However it's impossible that any such bill would ever get floated on the FLongress floor. Nobody would ever want it.

[Notwithstanding]

Do you wear a helmet?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I believe that once all becomes known, Judge Greer will have been found guilty of conspiracy to commit embezzlement, and subsequently found guilty of conspiracy to attempt murder.

Pony up. You want to defame a known person, then you had best be ready to state dates and facts known by you.

[P.O.E.]

There's no happy answer to this situation - but at least now there's hope that she will survive and perhaps revive somewhat (ya never know). And a cruel death by slow starvation is avoided.

But only prayer can determine what's best for Terri - I think it's beyond us humans.

[wizardoz]

If Judge Greer wrote an order that Michael Moore should be shot, would you want the governor to just let it happen?

Hmm.... pretty tempting....

[yonif]

A CNN article says this:

Michael Schiavo's lawyers filed an emergency injunction Tuesday evening to prevent the re-feeding of his wife. A Pinellas Circuit Court judge has agreed to hear arguments at 8:30 p.m.

Can't Bush's order be stopped then?

[Humidston]

THANK GOD!!!

[shadowman99]

>> TERRI is SAVED
>> Late Term Babies are SAVED

Can you imagine the good that could be done if our elected republicans had a spine more often?

[Sally'sConcerns]

I thought this was interesting. It's the last sentence in the news posted on CNN about Terri.


The hospice is taking care of Schiavo at no charge.



http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/21/coma.woman/index.html

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Being a spouse and an adult is apparently meaningless now, at least in Florida.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Its all up to the parents.

[ambrose]

Facts and evidence aren't necessary when God is on your side. Haven't you been paying attention?

[pollywog]

PRAISE GOD and THANK YOU GOVERNOR BUSH AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rome2000]

_ N Aronberg-D
_ N Geller-D
_ N Bennett-R
_ N Bullard-D
_ N Siplin-D
_ N Smith-D
_ N Carlton-R
_ N Villalobos-R
_ N Klein-D
_ N Wasserman Schultz-D
_ N Dawson-D
_ N Margolis-D
_ N Alexander-R
_ N Dockery-R
_ N Argenziano-R

[Humidston]

Mo1, I've been told she'll need some special recuperative care to get her body hydrated. Doctors can best do that, so this is wonderful news! (Not to mention they've moved her out of that hell hole so-called "hospice."