Terri Schiavo's Parents, Pro-Life Groups Respond to Judge's Decision

LifeNews.com ^ | May 7, 2004 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The parents of Terri Schiavo, and pro-life organizations that have been closely monitoring the years-long legal battle they have waged to save Terri's life, are deeply disappointed by a local judge's ruling striking down a law that allowed Terri's feeding tube to remain in place.

On Thursday, Circuit Court Judge Douglas Baird struck down Terri's Law, the measure approved by the Florida state legislature that authorized Governor Jeb Bush to ask doctors to reinsert the feeding tube that provided Terri with food and water.

"These Pinellas County judges have displayed an utterly cavalier attitude and a complete disregard for the rule of law," Terri's father Robert Schindler said in reaction to Baird's decision.

"They are aiding and abetting Michael Schiavo in his continuing crimes against Terri and this current order is nothing more than an unjust killing of a young woman who has demonstrated time and again that she very much wants to live."

The American Center for Law and Justice, a pro-life law firm which has been helping Terri's parents in the legal battle, also expressed its disappointment and disagreed with Judge Baird that the law violated the separation of powers doctrine.

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, said, "The legislature and Governor acted appropriately and constitutionally in passing and implementing 'Terri's Law.'"

Sekulow said his group supports Governor Bush's decision to appeal Judge Baird's ruling.

"We applaud the Governor for taking quick action to keep 'Terri's Law' in place through the appeals process. We strongly support the Governor's position in this case and are now examining all legal avenues to ensure that the interests and concerns of Terri's parents are represented in this appeals process."

Baird twice rejected efforts by the ACLJ to allow Terri's parents to intervene and assist Governor Bush in defending Terri's Law.

The first time, the Second District Court of Appeal said Baird failed to follow proper judicial rules in denying the motion to intervene. The appeals court has yet to rule on the appeal of the second denial.

Another pro-life legal group, the Life Legal Defense Foundation, has provided funding for legal assistance for Terri's parents.

Dana Cody, an attorney and the group's director, says she believes Terri would want to receive the medical care that her estranged husband Michael has denied her for over a decade.

"The right to make medical decisions includes the right to receive treatment, especially in light of Terri's religious beliefs," Cody said.

In finding the law unconstitutional, Judge Baird claimed the law violates Terri's right to privacy and the separation of powers by giving the governor legislative authority.

Those are the same arguments that were made by George Felos, the assisted suicide advocate who is the lead attorney for Terri's estranged husband Michael.

By appealing Baird's decision, Bush ensures that the feeding tube remains in place while the appeal is being considered.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[maestro]

?......'Military Humanist Police'....now to take over for the ACLU and Supreme Count?

/sarcasm

[Theodore R.]

The people of FL are embarking on a "new experiment" in living, really dying. I am convinced that they are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

[kdot]

Libs have devalued life to the point that it means nothing. Do they hate themselves that much? It's very simple: life is precious and every day is a gift.

This is a sad story, but Terri is alive. Let's try something new - give her parents custody and let them try every known type of rehabilitation. My heart aches for her mother who has to accept a law that allows an adulterous husband to kill HER daughter.

Abortion is murder. This is murder. This Mother's day, I'll have an extra prayer for Terri's Mom.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Pinging my Terri's list to the latest!

[kimmie7]

Greta had Felos on the phone last night on Fox. It was all I could do to hold down my supper. The man is sick or evil, or both.

[Golden Gate]

The Florida Fiasco Continues! * America,  Help Terri   -   Florida  Won't! * -  And Michael Still Want's Terri to Die!  -

Did someone say, 'continuing crimes against Terri...'?

"These Pinellas County judges have displayed an utterly cavalier attitude and a complete disregard for the rule of law," Terri's father Robert Schindler said in reaction to Baird's decision.

"They are aiding and abetting Michael Schiavo in his continuing crimes against Terri and this current order is nothing more than an unjust killing of a young woman who has demonstrated time and again that she very much wants to live."

---

  In 1990, Terri did NOT just 'collaspe'. Two doctor's testified that Terri suffered a neck spinal cord injury, and one of the doctors stated that Terri's injury was similar to a strangulation injury.   Both doctors testified that Terri did NOT have a heart attack.

  For 14 long years, Michael has used Terri as a legal pawn and cash cow.   And Michael continues to seek a court order to have Terri starved to death.

  In 14 years, Terri was comatose only for several weeks, back in 1990.   Terri is NOT in a coma, and she is not 'terminally ill'.   And yet, she contiues to be isolated in a Hospice room.   Terri has been denied some basic care, and her estranged husband Michael has denied Terri the therapy and rehabilitaion he had promised the Court, and that has been recommended by several doctors, nurses, and therapists.

  For all these years, Michaeal got the MONEY, and Terri got the 'shaft'!
This is not about some kind of 'dignified death', - this is about silencing a witness!

ISOLATION DAY 39     (Fri. May 7, 2004)
Days since Terri's husband has allowed her to see her family - 39
Days confined to a single Hospice room - 1,484

Photo 1:  We were young once, and so was Terri
Photo 2:  Terri in her wedding dress
    And now, - The Years of Neglect:
Photo 3:  BEFORE the malpractice suit and the guardianship hearings, Michael Schiavo made sure that his wife Terri was (fairly) well taken care of, and attractive.
Photo 4:  AFTER Michael S. had been awarded the big money in the malpractice suit, and the guardianship of Terri, - THEN "The Years of Neglect" REALLY began!   Photo 4 on the right, is a more recent photo of Terri and her mother, after the years that Michael S. has denied Terri the therapy, THAT he had promised in Court, and that several doctors, nurses, and therapists have suggested would be helpful to improve Terri's condition.

MURDER in the Making - in the Sunshine State! - (Florida)
http://www.terrisfight.org   =   Terri's  Fight  .  org Pick & Click!

"Governor Bush Place Terri Into Protective Custody"
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/chisana7/

"Saving Terri Schiavo"
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/19461949/

Recall Senate President Jim King Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/nutmeg97/petition.html

*** If You are New to Terri's situation, an Essential, Quick Intro =
Who is Terri Schindler-Schiavo? www.terrisfight.org/terri.html

AND, This short note = quick Intro. Personal Note From Debi V. AND, also additional Info & ACTION Links!...

Dentist blasts Terri Schiavo's care -- 5 teeth removed due to lack of cleaning
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 29, 2004 | Sarah Foster
Excellent Article & Thread - A lot of good Info & Photos in the first 40 Posts. (& beyond)
*=>For Reading & Research, SEE Post #33
An Ultimate Post: Vigil Pictures, Connect the Dots ... for Terri, and Must See & Read - "Terri Big Eyes", AND Recent interviews/excerpts: An Awesome List of Links. = by FL_engineer

FACTS AND CONTACTS REGARDING TERRISFIGHT
(TERRI'S   FIGHT) by Linda Kennedy
If You are new to Terri's Fight, then as a minimum, you should spend several minutes each reading over the Two Links above. In just a short time, you will have a good idea of what is REALLY happening to Terri Schindler - (schiavo).   You will have an understanding of the actions and motives of her estranged husband Michael Schiavo. AND the Florida Court Judges, the FL agencies, the "it's a coma" media, and Michael's attorney... etc.
If you want detailed info, click on the numerous links and read the details.

www.terrisfight.org = Terri's Fight . org

  Terri Schiavo's Bone Scan Report [Medical] =
    Indications of Trauma = Physical abuse or  osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis? - Nice Try, Euthanasia Attorney George Felos!
Article - Including Discussion of Terri Schindler-Schiavo's Bone Scan Report
- by Diana Lynne - WorldNetDaily   (Post #23 by JustPiper)

---

...Terri AFTER her collapse when she was able to speak a little bit. ...

Ahhh...seeing those pictures of Terri when MS (Michael S.) was actually seeing to her daily needs for stimulation (you remember the days, the days before the big million dollar plus check came thru to MS after which he stopped all efforts to see to Terri's well being), when MS was taking Terri on walks outside in her wheelchair, seeing to her make-up, etc., etc., etc.

But oooops....that money thing, that concubine thing, the newly hatched children thing, that hiring of a death mongering attorney thing, that melting down of Terri's wedding ring thing (for a piece of jewerlry for MS? Or his current whore?), that need for some classy real estate thing, etc., etc., well....it just all goes to point to one thing....

As Terri did respond to therapy, and as it seemed evident that she was able to communicate somewhat...that old creepy fear of Terri perhaps telling the rest of the story became MORE than that girlish MS and his telepathic (able to communicate with the comatose and discern their wishes and all that) sidekick could bear....my GOSH.....what if Terri were able to relate her side of the story.....?

Hello prison.....goodbye money.....and, maybe worse, (for the sociopath who holds guardianship over Terri), goodbye to the abusive power (what fun) Mr. "Is the Bitch dead yet?" has enjoyed leveling at the Schindler's for all of these long and torturous years.   - (90)   by Republic

---

Well, how's everyone doing so far?   Have you been following your reading assignments?  (Honor system, you know.)   Well, anyway, if you deserve a break; - or, if you want to start with some really light reading, I've got some more pictures for you.   Click this next link below, and it should take you to a Post #24 on another thread, (or, click & then scroll down to #24).  Read the post 24, and then scroll down through Posts #25, 26, 27, & 28.  R-e-a-l-l-y   light reading, - I promise.  

Pictures that tell a story, - a gift, from  floriduh voter.
Turned Back, and...   - Start with #24 & 25 - 27.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I watched the show last night, too! Let me tell you, that guy has nerve if nothing more.

>>The man is sick or evil, or both.<<

And yet, I wouldn't wish on him the sort of thing he'd like to have done to Terri! As has been mentioned many times on previous threads, we don't even allow our most vile criminals a death so abhorrent!

[kimmie7]

Yes, if he were to find himself in Terri's situation, I'd be just as eager to defend his sorry, miserable life. Although he doesn't act it, he is a fellow human, after all.

[iowamomforfreedom]

Thanks for the ping, Ohioan.

"The right to make medical decisions includes the right to receive treatment, especially in light of Terri's religious beliefs," Cody said.

Funny how the death crowd conveniently overlooks this fact.

[phenn]

http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1131620/posts?page=1

[pollywog]

This came into me this afternoon from fight4terri. I do not know how to post well enough to request a major FREEPING of the St. Petersburg Times but thought I would post the letter here. If someone knows how to post this to activism it would be great.Lets all FREEP this newspaper!!!

To: Fight4Terri Supporters Re: St PetersBurg Times Admits Bias From: Cheryl Ford RN Fight4Terri@aol.com

Below is an email from the Associated Editor and Columnist for the St. Petersburg Times, and his response to one of Fight4Terri Action Group Volunteers, regarding the unfair coverage of the Terri Schiavo case. (www.terrisfight.org/times.html).

What Mr. Dyckman is, essentially, saying is that he feels no obligation to do anything to balance out the coverage of Terri's plight because he, PERSONALLY, is not in agreement.

This is a serious, blatant and outrageous encroachment on freedom of speech and no newspaper in this country has the authority to limit editorial or opinion content based on their own PERSONAL set of opinions. This should come to you as an absolute outrage. However, it should come as NO surprise. For nearly a year, the St. Petersburg Times has advocated Terri's death and REFUSED to report on the violations of the guardianship codes and the ongoing neglect Terri is made to endure. If I were of a minority heritage submitting a commentary and were halted by an editor with a dislike of my ethnic background, would you not be outraged? If I were a disabled person submitting a commentary and were turned away because of an editor's personal fear of disability, would you not be outraged?

If I were a poor or homeless person submitting a commentary and had the door shut on me because of an editor's prejudice against the less fortunate, would you not be outraged?

That is EXACTLY what has happened here. The next time you wonder to yourself why the people in Pinellas County, Florida aren't up in arms over what is being done to Terri Schindler-Schiavo, an innocent and helpless woman trapped in the grips of a neglectful guardian and an apathetic system, refer back to what you're about to read here. Better yet, contact Mr. Dyckman and tell him precisely why his response is so outrageous and un-American. ______________________________________________________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: Dyckman@sptimes.com

To: (name redacted)

Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 1:57 PM

Subject: Re: Terri Schiavo Coverage Dear (name redacted):

I empathize with your situation. You have made the choices that are right for you. That is all that Mr. Schiavo wanted for himself and his wife until the governor and legislature intervened in violation of the Florida Constitution. However, I must tell you that as a person who knows the names of distant kin murdered by the Nazis, I am insulted whenever anyone attempts to equate the issue of Ms. Schiavo being allowed to die a natural death with the deliberate genocide they practiced.

No reply is necessary. Martin Dyckman Associate editor and columnist St. Petersburg Times 336 East College Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-224-6394

______________________________________________________________________ THIS IS THE LETTER SENT TO MR. DYCKMAN FROM A FIGHT4TERRI ACTION GROUP VOLUNTEER REQUESTING FAIR AND EQUAL COVERAGE OF TERRI.

I am writing to you to express my disappointment with the manner in which your newspaper covers Terry Schiavo. As a mother of a child who would be described as being in a persistent vegetative state and is also fed by feeding tube, I am fully aware of the needs a person like Terry has.

I think it would be a good idea for your paper to educate its readers on exactly what caring for someone diagnosed as PVS is like. From your reportage PVS could be misconstrued by your readers to be a coma-like state, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth, and particularly in Terri's case. Perhaps you could interview parents of a child with PVS to learn exactly what kind of quality of life such a child has. I would be happy to be interviewed for such a story.

In my case, my child who is 8 would be described as being in a PVS. She was vaccine-damaged at the age of 4 months and her development was arrested. She lost her swallowing reflex and has been unable to eat adequate amounts of solids and so is dependant upon a feeding tube for her nourishment. The past 8 years have been the most intense I have ever experienced; filled with joy, laughter and sadness. The idea that a judge could decide whether my child live or die is just abhorrent to me. My daughters contribution to her family, friends and neighbours, in terms of the love and happiness she brings could never be measured and is priceless.

Like Terri, my child does not communicate verbally, but there is an unspoken communication between us, it is usually easy to determine what she needs or why she might be unhappy. Likewise, it is very easy to know exactly what makes her happy. With therapy my daughters condition has improved and I believe that anything is possible with the right care and attention. Reading Terri's parents testimony to her present condition, one gets the impression that Terri is a very upbeat woman who is cognitive and responsive. I find it incredibly cruel that her life could be used in the way that it is being done so in the state of Florida to encroach on the sanctity of life. It is ironic that we try to preserve the rights of unborn embryos and yet in the case of Terri, we encourage the practise of euthanasia. Is this because her life has no utilitarian function deemed worthy of preserving? And who is entitled to make that decision?

It reminds me of the nazi euthanasia programme that saw the disabled killed because they were not considered useful to society, this was accepted by German society at the time. Unfortunately, this notion of utility did not stop with the disabled but over time grew to include able-bodied humans that society felt were of no value; the chronically sick and elderly, those considered pararsites, political dissidents and finally culminating in the holocaust in which millions of jews were incinerated. The holocaust could never have occured without first convincing society that it was compassionate to kill the disabled because they had no "quality of life".

Admittedly, caring for Terri is going to be expensive, Terri's parents are fully aware of this but they love their child dearly and are battling to protect her from harm because she is very precious to them. If we are prepared to commit euthanasia despite the wishes of her parents, where precisely do we draw the line and say, this life is worth preserving and that one is not?

It is really important that your paper address these issues. Your readers need to understand that Terri does feel. Removing Terri's feeding tube and allowing her to starve to death, when she is in such a vulnerable state, is the cruelest idea imaginable. It has been suggested that she is incapable of feeling and yet she is clearly delighted by the presence of her parents when they visit her in hospital. Michael Schiavo says that removing her feeding tube would allow Terri to die with dignity. However, starving to death would cause her enormous pain, physically and emotionally.

It is said that a society can be judged by how it treats its weakest members. Allowing Terri to die in this way would not reflect well on the state of Florida. I have always found that a good rule of thumb is "what if the shoe were on the other foot". It has been claimed by Michael Schiavo that Terri would wish for the "plug to be pulled". Is it not strange that she would never have expressed this opinion to her parents and best friends?

I really do not think that removing Terri's feeding tube is a line that we who are presently able-bodied, should be ready to cross.

Please endeavour to show the human side of the plight of Terri and her parents. It is extremely sad and troubling that some 60 years after the holocaust that we are ready to embark once more with a euthanasia programme on the very same platform that was used by the nazis - i.e. compassion - and when we know so well the experiment ended in the gas chambers.

I look forward to seeing more positive and humane coverage of Terri in the future.

Yours sincerely (name redacted) If you wish to unsubscribe, please type the words "unsubscribe" in your subject heading and forward to Fight4Terri and your email addy will be deleted immediately.

[Sun]

What's up with Hospice? I used to think it was supposed to help people.

I live in New York State and my sister told me that she and a group of people prayed to God with a priest to heal one of their friends who was dying from cancer.

After they prayed, the cancer patient had raised spirits, got her appetite back & asked her mother for a tuna sandwich. Then a lady from Hospice came to the house, and asked her mother to leave the room. The mother obliged. When her mother came back, her daughter was very sad again and lost her appetite. Eventually, I don't know how long after that day, the daughter passed away.

It seems that Hospice takes away all hope. I can understand being realistic, but I feel that every terminal patient should be allowed at least a spark of hope.

I know some nice people who volunteer for Hospice, but seeing the Hospice in FL, and from the story my sister told me, you have to wonder.

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[Chocolate Rose]

The 2003 Florida Statutes--HOSPICES

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0400/part06.htm&StatuteYear=2003&Title=%2D%3E2003%2D%3EChapter%20400%2D%3EPart%20VI

Check Hospice services 400.609(4) HOSPICE INPATIENT CARE)

How does MS get around this? The total number of inpatient days for all hospice patients in any 12-month period may not exceed 20 percent of the total number of hospice days for all the hospice patients of the licensed hospice.

post'd by Bud

[Chocolate Rose]

That Link is..

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0400/part06.htm&StatuteYear=2003&Title=%2D%3E2003%2D%3EChapter%20400%2D%3EPart%20VI

[BykrBayb]

Reading your post, China came to mind. I haven't read anything about them in quite awhile. I wonder if they still force women to get abortions. Here's a morbid thought - as horrible as being forced to endure the murder of your unborn child must be, I imagine it's even more painful to have to witness your grown daughter's murder. I can't imagine. And yet, I bet the same people who are cheering for Terri's death were once outspoken critics of China's policy. Didn't 60 Minutes run a couple segments criticizing China's forced abortions? What, if anything, have they said about the pending murder of an American couple's disabled daughter?

[Ohioan from Florida]

While I do believe that there is a movement underfoot in the hospice "industry", I also know from personal experience that not all hospice situations are negative. My father passed away a year ago, and hospice was very helpful. My father had a very blessed end to his life. The unique thing that hospice offered to my family was explaining the different steps of what was taking place for Dad, so that we could keep him comfortable and loved all the way until the end.

Your sister's friend's experience doesn't sound right from what you've said. Hospice was never alone with my Dad, but maybe that's because we told them up front that we wanted to be with him at all times. Of course, you can tell from my description that we only had hospice for 5-6 days, not weeks or months. I suppose it's possible that my experience would have been much different had my Dad lingered on a bit longer.

At any rate, I do believe that there are some unethical people in the hospice industry. Mary Labyak and the Hospice of the Suncoast (which is the one Terri was in) are some of the bad apples. The fact that they have been allowed to continue despite numerous violations is a clear indicator that something is amiss.

[BykrBayb]

Thanks for posting that. I sent him an e-mail.

.

Subject: Right to die (I want to be sure he reads it)
Dear Mr. Dyckman,

I saw an e-mail from you posted at a chat site. You said "However, I must tell you that as a person who knows the names of distant kin murdered by the Nazis, I am insulted whenever anyone attempts to equate the issue of Ms. Schiavo being allowed to die a natural death with the deliberate genocide they practiced."

I agree that Terri should be allowed to die a natural death. The forced euthansia you're promoting is wrong. You are lying to the public. You're not insulted. You're afraid of the truth. The truth is Terri is being used to promote forced euthanasia. You're promoting murder. Why? Are you trying to get revenge for the murder of your distant relatives by helping to murder an innocent woman? Does it give you a feeling of power? Are you being paid? Or do you just enjoy doing the devil's work? Only you and God know your reasons. You know what you're doing is wrong. It's not to late to stop.

Sincerely,
(name redacted)