Dr. Dobson enters Schiavo fray; Terri deserves same chance as woman who came out of 20 year coma

World Net Daily ^ | Feb 12, 2005 | Dr. James Dobson

[amdgmary]

Saturday, February 12, 2005

LIFE AND DEATH TUG OF WAR

Dr. Dobson enters Schiavo fray Says Terri deserves same chance as woman who came out of 20-year coma

February 12, 2005

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, yesterday called for preservation of Terri Schiavo's life, citing the recent, spontaneous recovery of Sarah Scantlin after 20 years of memory loss and inability to speak.

Dobson said Schiavo – the brain-injured Florida woman whose parents are battling her husband in court to save her life – deserves the same chance at life Scantlin was given.

"Both cases have involved women who suffered debilitating injuries and continued to live in a disabled state.," said Dobson. "Today we celebrate the news that Ms. Scantlin has regained her memory and ability to speak, and is apparently on the road to recovery."

Scantlin, 18 at the time of her accident, was injured so badly that doctors first believed she would live the rest of her life in a persistent vegetative state. Until she suddenly spoke, "OK, OK," last month, she had lived in a nursing home, unaware of her environment and unable to make sounds or form words.

Dobson's call comes on the same day Florida Circuit Court Judge George Greer turned down a request to set aside an earlier order allowing Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed.

According to George Felos, attorney for Terri's husband Michael Schiavo, the tube could be removed as early as February 22, barring appeals.

Robert and Mary Schindler, Terri's parents, had been seeking a hearing to argue that their son-in-law has a conflict-of-interest in seeking to end their daughter's life and that she should have been appointed counsel to represent her own interests.

Michael Schiavo has begun a new family since his wife's injuries 15 years ago. The Schindlers have asked to take over care, including the expense, for Terri, but Michael Schiavo has refused to surrender custody.

In rejecting the request to set aside his order and consider separate counsel for the injured Schiavo, Judge Greer cited a 2nd Court of Appeals ruling to justify his continuing as the woman's independent advocate. Greer already has ruled twice that the evidence showed Terri Schiavo would not want to be kept alive artificially.

The Schindlers are heartened by Scantlin's recovery and are expected to appeal.

"In light of the miraculous awakening of Miss Sarah Scantlin in Kansas and the success of the new brainwave test reported in the New York Times this week, my daughter deserves to have this test before she is starved to death by judicial decree," Bob Schindler said.

Dobson agrees.

"Mental disabilities do not damage a person's worth – the preciousness of life is not defined by one's abilities. Those who suffer a disabling injury are entitled to the same right to life as we all are. Those seeking to take away Mrs. Schiavo's right to life should have second thoughts after hearing Sarah Scantlin's story."

[Theodore R.]

And yet most Americans will not fight city hall.

Is it that most Americans are (a) uninformed, (b) fearful, (c) hesitant, (d) preoccupied, (e) all of these.

Answer: e

[Theodore R.]

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT

The judges have interpreted the 8th Amendment to apply only in criminal matters. George W. Greer is a civil judge carrying out an execution. Therefore, Terri is not covered. Now if she were an illegal immigrant, she could get protection under federal law!

[Theodore R.]

Pope John Paul agrees

Hasn't the non-Catholic George W. Greer disparaged the Pope too?

[Theodore R.]

democrat judge

George W. Greer may call himself "democratic" with a lower-case "d", but the monster wears the Republican label. He was elected as a Republican to the county commission in the 1980s and on a nonpartisan ballot as judge, most recently on Aug. 31, 2004, the day Terri was doomed beyond the intervention of God Himself.

[cyn]

Thanks for posting that, fv -- those pictures are worth a thousand words.

The words that accompany the video -- which can be seen at the Terri's fight website -- are the icing on that cake:

from FL engineer's post #56 on another thread:

• Question: Do these 2002 pics look like a Permanent Vegetative State?

From "Terri Big Eyes" video available at www.terrisfight.org

Terri starts out apparently asleep. A doctor wakes her to start his tests.

Doctor: Terri. Open your eyes up...

Terri: (Startled at hearing her name. She starts moving her mouth and fluttering her eyes, like a person who is just waking up)

Doctor: Open your eyes, Terri open your eyes

Terri: (slowly at first, Terri struggles to open her eyes, then turns toward the doctor, and opens her eyes a normal amount)

Doctor: There you go, good.

Terri: (then, either to show off(?) or wanting to perform well, she leans further forward toward the doctor, looks straight at him and opens her eyes as WIDE AS SHE CAN. Note the WRINKLES ACROSS HER FOREHEAD caused by her also RAISING HER EYEBROWS as high as possible )

Doctor: [now obviously impressed] GOOD!! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB YOUNG LADY! Good Job.

Thank you all for your posts and pings. Stay well, take care. Love & hugs to you all.

[cyn]

"Michael Schiavo has begun a new family since his wife's injuries 15 years ago.

The Schindlers have asked to take over care, including the expense, for Terri, but Michael Schiavo has refused to surrender custody."

As I understand it, the family has also waived financial awards from Michael of any sort, incl. any $$ left from the malpractice suits, alimoney, lawsuit against him, etc. Is that correct?

As Larry King said at the very end of his LKL interview with Michael Schiavo fall 2003 (not included in the official transcript):

"Why don't you just walk away, Michael? Just walk away?"

Bless you, Larry, for asking the question that we have all been asking. Nothing is desired but to have Terri in the care of her family.

[cyn]

...and thank you, WND & Dr. Dobson.

[amdgmary]

"Why don't you just walk away, Michael? Just walk away?"

From the interview Oct 2003:

LARRY KING: Walk away.

SCHIAVO: Why should I, Larry? This is Terri's wish. This is Terri's choice.

LARRY KING: You have a girlfriend?

SCHIAVO: Yes. And I am very fortunate... I'm fortunate to have two women in my life that I love very much. My girlfriend right now has done more for Terri than her own mother did. She shopped for her. She washed her clothes.

[UCANSEE2]

Watch this

http://hometown.aol.com/GordonWWatts/myhomepage/ConversationWithTerri.wmv

[True Republican Patriot]

Freepers need to make sure all of this Wonderful News on the recovery is sent to Governor Bush and that a Tidal Wave of calls and letters to Legislators and Church Leaders on Terri's behalf is carried out. The slow tortuous murder of an innocent, young lady cannot be permitted!

[txrangerette]

I'm looking for the thread I saw about Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life visiting Terri recently. Can you link to it? Thanks.

[Theodore R.]

Did you know that Michael R. Schiavo will have Terri cremated immediately on her death from dehydration? He will forbid any memorial services. Apparently, under FL law, he can keep the Schindlers from holding a ceremony in honor of Terri. He will have sole rights (movies, books, etc) to her estate. I don't even know if the Schindlers can write their own book. And the people of FL applaud this kind of conduct???

[txrangerette]

Yes, I know. But you didn't answer my question about the thread on the priest recently visiting her. Did you see the thread? I'm looking for it.

[txrangerette]

Thanks anyway...just found the thread I was looking for.

[TAdams8591]

It's ABSURD! STOP THE INSANITY!!!!

[tutstar]

Euthanasia can't be allowed to happen in Florida.
Gov Bush, Bense, Wise, Lee, Crist, McCabe, are you here reading? You are all complicit by your inaction to date. You know good and well that Greer is out of line with his rulings and so on up the judical ladder. It doesn't take a specialist from the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab to figure it out.

We have statutes that are contradictory. Euthanasia is illegal in Florida, it's also illegal to deny food, water, and necesary care to an elderly or disabled person, Terri is being falsely imprisoned in a hospice. Felonies! F-E-L-O-N-I-E-S !!

Greer and his peers are guilty of violation the sacred separation of powers by authorizing something that is ILLEGAL in Florida.

Where is your backbone?

[TAdams8591]

It was Father Pavone. You might be able to Google it!

[FR_addict]

This is very good news. Dr. Dobson evidently has a huge following.

I know that the pope has commented on the immoral practice of starving someone to death by removing their feeding tube, but I wish the Vatican would issue a statement, specifically on Terri's case.

Sometimes, you need to save one life at a time. By calling attention to a specific case, more people will realize how the merchants of death are changing the laws in this country to starve an innocent person to death.

I'm sure there are many more people who would be as outraged as the rest of us, if they only knew about Terri's case.

[jwalsh07]

A bump for Terri and a boot in Greers ass.

[solitas]

It's about time we see a well known religious leader speaking up for Terri.

My thoughts also. I don't think I've ever heard Dobson refer to Terri Schindler* before. Why the sudden (since she's been in the news for SO long now) interest? I've done a few of internet searches and haven't seen him directly mention her before today.

(* when your husband tries his damnedest to have you murdered, you've received all the divorce you'll ever need - cursed to death be anything of Schiavo blood)