Gainesville Sun
Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday that the law pushed by Gov. Jeb Bush to keep a severely brain damaged woman alive is unconstitutional. The governor's office filed an immediate appeal.
The ruling by Pinellas Circuit Court Judge W. Douglas Baird ends the first legal fight over the October law, passed just days after Terri Schiavo was disconnected from the feeding and hydration tube which has kept her alive for more than a decade. Her husband Michael had fought a long court battle to carry out what he said were his wife's wishes not to be kept alive artificially but her parents have said there were no such wishes.
The law allowed Bush to order Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reconnected.
Michael Schiavo has waged a long legal battle to disconnect the feeding tube that keeps his wife alive. She was left severely brain damaged more than 13 years ago after her heart stopped beating because of chemical imbalance brought on by an eating disorder.
Michael Schiavo contends his wife never wanted to be kept alive artificially. Her parents, however, doubt she had such wishes and believe her condition could improve with therapy.
Last fall, the Florida Legislature and Bush intervened to keep Terri Schiavo alive after a court had ordered the feeding tube removed, causing Michael Schiavo to sue.