Posted on 10/31/2003 8:16:51 PM PST by Future Useless Eater
Saturday November 1, 2003 1:01 AM
By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A judge appointed a University of South Florida professor on Friday to independently investigate the case of a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of a right-to-die battle.
Jay Wolfson, an expert on health care financing, will report to Gov. Jeb Bush and recommend whether the stay the governor enacted to keep Terri Schiavo alive should be allowed to remain.
Schiavo suffered severe brain damage when her heart stopped due to a chemical imbalance and has been in a persistent vegetative state for more than a decade. Doctors have said there is no hope for her recovery.
Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has fought to have her feeding tube removed, saying his wife did not want to be kept alive artificially.
Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, dispute that claim and have fought to keep their daughter alive, saying they believe she could be rehabilitated.
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for six days in October before the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush enacted a special law to have it reinserted. The law also required a guardian to be appointed.
George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, and the American Civil Liberties Union filed briefs this week challenging the constitutionality of the governor's action. The state is expected to respond on Monday.
The judge said that if the law is found to be unconstitutional, Wolfson is to cease his work.
The Schindlers had objected to Wolfson's appointment, claiming comments he made to a television station indicated he was biased against the newly enacted law. The judge said he found no evidence of bias.
Wolfson did not return calls seeking comment.
The judge ordered Wolfson to report to the governor in 30 days, but said the deadline could be extended if needed.
LOL! I rather like drlevy's term, "howler trolls." Works perfectly for this bunch. In case you missed my response to him:
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__________________________________________________
Re:
"...Her soul is trapped . . . . . in that coffin of a body...."
(a quote, or a very close paraphrase of a comment repeated
by Deep_6 at FR a number of times)...."
"...Isn't it equally possible that Terri's soul in fact parted her
body at the same time that her mind/etc. came to longer exist?..."
I'm an agnostic at heart, and not the theologian I wish I could be;
a dislike of organized religion, with a strong belief in God.
With that said.......
Terri's body is being kept alive artificially, through a life support
system utilizing a feeding apparatus.
I'm not sure what comprises a soul; what it consists of, or where
it goes when the body dies, or if it leaves before the body is dead.
I would like to believe our souls live on, perhaps moving to
another form after we die. A dog perhaps? A cat? Bird? Or another
human body? We may loose all our memories in the process,
but keep some very unique character trait that sets us apart from
others. I suppose it's just a crazy eccentric thought of mine?
Is Terri still inside that shell? The question can be horrifying, if
it is considered that she cannot converse in any manner to let
anyone know she's even alive in there. It would be akin to
being buried alive; in a coffin. If her brain is active; if there can
be proof given that there are brainwaves; thinking, in response
to stimuli that would ordinarily result in voluntary action,
it could be considered that Terri is indeed still in there.
If not.... then I would feel Terri's body is without Terri; that
her soul has moved on.
I posted a number of URLs on another thread, all giving the
clergy's views on the removal of a life support system. I was
surprised that even the Catholic Church condones the removal
of such a system, even when that removal will result in death. It
can be genuinely surmised, that the church does not condone
the medical profession using artificial means to sustain a life
when it's time has come due. Sustaining life until a remedy
can be achieved is absolutely acceptable, but sustaining life beyond
the time that any recovery is possible, is fighting our Lord's
wishes.
Do I believe soul and mind are one and the same? Yes. I suppose
I do. It's our inner thoughts and feelings that is our soul.
We refer to those without feelings; without remorse or care,
as "soul less" individuals.
Does Terri's body still contain her soul? Perhaps. If so,
it must be hell for her. She deserves better.
Thanks.
The following information taken from the public record is provided for informational purposes only. HPA leaves the determination of the facts in the case to the court.
The Plaintiff, Fluffy Cazalas is a resident of South Pasadena, Pinellas County, Florida, and a former employee of the Defendants, as well as a contributor/donor. The Defendants, although engaged in good and laudatory work and endeavors, have unfortunately violated Florida law by funneling contributions intended for charitable and eleemosynary purposes into a for-profit software company, Suncoast Solutions, without disclosing to contributors and donors the diversion of funds to the software company. In addition, the fact that the software company is and has been operating at a loss and will continue operating at a loss in the foreseeable future, has not been disclosed to the contributors or donors either. Also, unfortunately, the software company has disseminated private and confidential patient and employee data, including information regarding patients with HIV, employee names and identifiers and other confidential and private data.
So..... although the Hospice was "engaged in good and laudatory work and endeavors",
they used the cash flow to invest in another venture that may or may not be of legal issue.
That is: patient information may or may not have been released to sources other than
those entitled to it.. That is what was claimed; not proven.
And? It's a non-profit organization that utilizes Judges, lawyers, medical practitioners,
and a bevy of resources whose list is likely endless. Big deal. It means nothing.
More innuendos and red herring. You people complain about "trolls" distracting
readers from the truth.... And a post like this went unquestioned?
What's happened to FR? Is Jim Rob selling tin foil on the side?
Vickie Chachere of Tampa just did an AP article in the past on the Guatanamo detainees . . .
Terri Schiavo is also a detainee, worse yet, a U.S. citizen without rights.
H'mmm.
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