TERRI IS NOW BEING RE-HYDRATED. WE DID IT! BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY, E-MAIL

Live report from Hospice

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

UPDATE FROM TERRI'S VIGIL SITE ON LOCATION... by floriduh voter and drk4the1: TERRI IS NOT BEING RE-HYDRATED AT MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL IN CLEARWATER, FL. The Governor's Office is under the impression and reporting that the procedure started at 7:07 pm. While it's being reported to the family attorney that she is not going to receive anything. A telephonic hearing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm est with Judge Douglas Baird re: Michael Schiavo's suit against Gov. Bush and his executive order of today. Additionally, Michael S. is disputing his removal as Terri's legal guardian. Anything helpful appreciated. Contact floriduh voter or the drk screen name. We are outside fighting the mosquitoes. H E L P !!!!!

293 posted on 10/21/2003 8:51 PM EDT by floriduh voter (Please keep following Terri Threads. We aren't done yet... updates also at terrisfight.org)

[mrobison]

Latest From Yahoo! News:

Brain-Damaged Fla. Woman Receiving Fluids

By JACKIE HALLIFAX, Associated Press Writer

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Acting on orders from Gov. Jeb Bush, a hospital began giving fluids to a brain-damaged woman Tuesday, six days after her feeding tube was removed in one of the nation's longest and most bitter right-to-die battles.

A judge later rejected a request by the woman's husband to overturn the governor's order.

Terri Schiavo was being rehydrated intravenously after the Legislature rushed to pass a bill designed to save her life, according to her parents' lawyer. Schiavo's parents have fought to keep her alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she would rather die.

An ambulance took Schiavo from a Pinellas Park hospice to Morton Plant Hospital after Bush issued his order to resume feeding her. A crowd cheered outside as she left.

"I'm ecstatic she's being fed again," said her brother, Bob Schindler Jr. "I don't think I can describe the way I feel right now. It's been unreal."

Hours earlier, the Senate voted 23-15 for legislation to save Schiavo. Within minutes, the House voted 73-24 to send the bill to Bush. The governor signed it into law and issued his order about an hour later.

"It's restored my belief in God," said Schiavo's father, Bob Schindler.

Michael Schiavo, meanwhile, was "deeply troubled, angry and saddened that his wife's wishes have become a political pingpong," said his attorney, George Felos. "He, as many others, is absolutely stunned at the course of events."

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed last Wednesday. Doctors said the 39-year-old woman would die within a week to 10 days without nutrition and water.

Suzanne Carr, the woman's sister, called lawmakers' action "a miracle, an absolute miracle."

Her mother, Mary Schindler, broke down and cried after the Senate vote.

Felos scrambled to try to stop Bush's order. He filed a request for an injunction, but Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer denied it on technical grounds. Felos refiled the request and State Circuit Judge W. Douglas Baird also refused to grant it.

"We won. Terri won," her father said after the ruling.

Felos will have five days to file additional arguments with the judge and the state will have five days after that to respond. The judge will then hold another hearing.

"It is simply inhumane and barbaric to interrupt her death process," Felos said. "Just because Terri Schiavo is not conscious doesn't mean she doesn't have dignity."

Although the Legislature acted swiftly, even some who supported the bill expressed concern about it.

"I hope, I really do hope we've done the right thing," said Senate President Jim King, a Republican. "I keep on thinking 'What if Terri didn't really want this done at all?' May God have mercy on all of us."

Schiavo never signed a living will, which lets people exercise their right to die should they become comatose and need machines or feeding tubes to keep them alive.

But her husband says she told him she would never want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents said he never told them of the wish.

"Let us err on the part of not condemning this woman to a painful death that she can feel," said Republican Sen. Anna Cowin.

Opponents said government was stepping in where it had no business being.

"How dare this Legislature and this governor substitute its judgment for the family's?" said Sen. Steven Geller, a Democrat.

Earlier in Tampa, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday denied a request by an advocacy group that Schiavo be kept alive so it could investigate whether removal of the tube was abusive.

The bill sent to Bush was designed to be as narrow as possible. It is limited to cases in which the patient left no living will, is in a persistent vegetative state, has had nutrition and hydration tubes removed and where a family member has challenged the removal.

Court-appointed doctors have described Schiavo as being in a vegetative state, caused when her heart stopped in 1990 from a suspected chemical imbalance.

Bush last week promised the woman's parents that he would help them if he could find a way.

The Florida Supreme Court (news - web sites) has twice refused to hear the case, and it also has been rejected for review by the U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites). Last week, a Florida appeals court again refused to block removal of the tube.

Felos said he believes the legislation is unconstitutional. It is Terri Schiavo's right under the Florida Constitution to not be kept alive artificially, and the courts have affirmed that, he said.

Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Stephen Grimes said it is not clear whether the law will be upheld.

"It presents a new legal issue that I've never heard of," Grimes said.

[ordinaryguy]

How can we get a definitive answer?

P.S. I'm drawing a blank on 'FV'.

[katnip]

Funny, all the medical experts in this field have seen the same videos, examined her and concluded that she is in a permanent vegetive state with no hope of recovery.

You haven't read anything that disputes that? I have.

Dr. William Hammesfahr, a world-renowned expert in cases such as Terri's — and a Nobel Prize nominee — testified that Terri is not in a PVS. He also testified that he believes he could help her improve her circumstances through proper medical treatment. Ten other physicians have testified or given statements that Terri is not unconscious. Judge Greer instead chose to believe contrary testimony by a doctor who rarely sees Terri and another doctor, who makes an avocation of testifying in cases such as Terri's throughout the country, always on the side of dehydration.

NRO

Seems odd to me that 10 doctors say she's not pvs and 2 say she is.

[JulieRNR21]

Just saw this on another thread:

BREAKING... IV HAS BEEN STARTED... TERRI WILL BE TURNED OVER TO A REAL GUARDIAN. Felos INJUNCTION WAS JUST DENIED BY JUDGE BAIRD. Please copy and paste this on every Terri thread you can find. Thanks, FV from the Front Lines, the freep of our lives. Thank you Free Republic, the Nation and the World!!!!!!!!

[Darnright]

"Experiences like this can give us all great hope...the Arm of God, the Hand of Providance is intervening in this affair as a result. "

Yes, they do. You've posted on Terri's threads about the need for another Klamath. Even though there were not that many folks physically at the vigil, there were obviously enough of us (along with more than a little help from the Almighty) faxing, calling and praying to get the legislators riled up to do the right thing.

Score one for the good guys.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

http://imc.gsm.com/demos/dddemo/consult/homicide.htm

Your post made me think of the definition of homicide.

Which also makes me think of the difference between killing and murder.

I take the First Commandment as meaning "Thou shalt not murder"... not, "Thou shalt not kill". There is a distinction, but it must be applied judiciously.

In the Schiavo case, having the legislature and the executive act in tandem against the courts tends to throw more weight to the murder side of the argument. I wonder if the legislators were polled if they would say they believe they have stopped a murder?

[visualops]

If you miscarry, the doctor will often perform either a D&E "lite" in office, or a full D&E in the hospital. They are basically the same type procedure as an abortion (suction type). An OB/GYN should know how to perform those procedures obviously.

[AmericaUnited]

By your words and actions (putting so much energy into fighting for it), you seem to be in love with death.

I don't hang out with YOUR KIND. Bye, bye!

[katnip]

Sorry First_Salute, post 563 was for Jorge.

[Admin Moderator]

cool it.

[kenth]

Our positions are not weak. You seem to be the one unable to wrap your mind around the real issue at hand.

This is not about the how much Terri is aware of, this is about a court deciding, against Constitutional law, that she be denied life due to her disability. The amount of disability should not matter when it comes to one's rights.

[Humidston]

I'm proud you're here, OS. Very proud.

[atruelady]

No, our positions are not weak, but like I said in my previous post: For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none will suffice. Your problem is that you didn't do real research on this before you starte posting. For those of us seasoned with posting, knowing the FACTS, we find having to explain against your ignorant comments and analysis tiring. I have kids who listen better than you.

[supercat]

There are charges that she didn't come to this predicament by an act of God, or a stroke of bad luck. There is medical evidence that something external happened to her. He fears he may be revealed as a batterer.

Only if she dies would anything that happened that long ago be relevant.

On the other hand, if there's been any misappropriation from her trust fund, that would establish a clear criminal motive for him to kill her (so as to avoid detection of his crime). Criminal motive + attempt to kill == attempted murder.

[cpforlife.org]

He is Delegate Bob Marshall - House of Delegates 13th District. He has strong ties to the White House - and he is doing a bang up job!! He posted a news story with WTOP - CBS - which airs as far south as NC - and he is a stauch pro-life Catholic - sticking out his neck in DC to help. And so far, he is doing an awesome job!!!

[AmericaUnited]

One of the best expert witness I've seen is Dr. Park Dietz, who convinced a jury that Jeffrey Dahmer was sane--he just liked to kill and eat people.

I rest my case. LOL!

[DeepInEnemyTerritory]

I'll be right beside you with my breakdown. What a week! I would like for Terri's mother to see her and give us a report. Then I'll let myself truly believe that WE DID IT.

[ChadGore]

[SeattleTiger]

The fact is being feed through a feeding tube hooked up to a machine is artificial. By definition these things are artificial. Anyone who has a living will ruling out their being sustained on a machine includes all these means.

i do not know if anyone pointed out to you that various living wills itemize feeding and hydration as additional or separate options to "artificial life support," but certainly here in Washington that is the case. Many people perceive "life support" as being dependent on machines for breathing, blood pressure, and so on. Just an FYI -- and a good thing to make sure anyone checks out, given Terri's experience.

[JulieRNR21]

Once she is in the hospital it will be much more difficult to kill her. The hospital is subject to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), that requires an emergent patient be treated and stabilized. If they don't provide the care, her new guardian can sue them as well as report the violation to Florida's state department of health.

Excellent points....many thanks.