CLEARWATER, FL, October 22, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Terry Shiavo saga continues to take more ugly twists and turns. Although the heroic efforts of the Florida legislature and Governor Jeb Bush succeeded in forcing medical personnel to re-connect Terri to nutrition and hydration, implementation of Bush's order did not go smoothly yesterday and there are still fears for her life.LifeSiteNews.com learned of these disturbing details today from Debra Vinnedge of Children of God for Life who was with Terri's parents at the vigil outside the Hospice since before the feeding tube was removed. Terri's family is currently barred from visiting their daughter by order of Terri's estranged husband Michael who, with his lawyer, is still engaged in intense legal manoeuvres to ensure Terri's death.
Moreover, the hospital is refusing to release any details about Terri's current condition. Vinnedge reveals that yesterday, prior to Governor Bush's 5 p.m. order to begin hydration, the Woodside hospice where Terri was staying refused to allow religious objects to be placed in Terri's room. It threw out all religious artifacts that had been left there by Terri's parents.
Previously, Terri had been denied a small fragment of final Holy Communion under the pretence that she could receive nothing by mouth for fear of choking. That was while she was being slowly and painfully killed by the removal of nutrition and hydration.
When the Bush executive order arrived at the Hospice by both fax transmission and official delivery, Hospice officials refused to reinsert the feeding tube, claiming there were no medical personnel to do so, despite the fact that they were the ones who removed it on October 15th. They promised to transfer Terri to a local hospital as quickly as possible.
In addition, two medical doctors had been summoned to the Hospice and were denied entrance to perform the procedure as indicated by Gov. Bush. They were also denied access to observe the patient and her condition.
At 6:30 p.m. an ambulance arrived to take Terri to Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical staff refused to comply with the Governor's order to re-insert her feeding tube or an IV, stating they had been threatened with litigation by Michael Schiavo's attorneys if any medical care was given to Terri.
After the hospital was told repeatedly by government officials that they must comply or risk losing funding, at approximately 9:30 p.m. an IV was finally inserted - four hours after the governor's order had been given.
Michael Schiavo has denied visitation at the hospital to all members of Terri's family. Terri's priest, Monsignor Thaddeus Malinowski, has also not been able to visit Terri. A request for immediate appointment of a guardian ad litem to protect Terri's medical interests and physical well-being was denied by Judge David A. Demers.
Terri's parents and supporters have sent a request to federal Attorney General John Ashcroft asking him to reassert Terri's civil rights. While the bill which passed the Florida House called for a guardian ad litem, the Senate version of the bill did not. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the last time Terri's parents, siblings and priest were able to visit Terri, she was reportedly doing well.
"She greeted them with joy, she was smiling and laughed, sitting up," Vinnedge told LifeSiteNews.com. In a grateful message to supporters, Terri's parents said, "On behalf of Terri's family and everyone at the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, we thank you for your kindness, your action and your willingness to care enough to do something positive for a stranger. It is our hope that Terri will be given the chance to say "thank you" herself one day soon."
Meanwhile, CNN reports today that Michael Shiavo has "received $300,000 for pain and suffering and loss of consortium" and "has declined to comment on whether there is an outstanding life insurance policy on his wife."