Posted on 02/12/2005 5:26:18 AM PST by 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."
Agreed.
Dr. Dobson was involved in the campaign to save Terri in Ocotber 2003, but he has said nothing more on the case until this week.
"Why the sudden (since she's been in the news for SO long now) interest?"
I would assume from the title, that the woman coming out of her coma encouraged him to speak up.
Afterall, I think it is causing a lot of people to think more and more about Terri.
Keyword search "Schiavo" or "Terri Schiavo":
:o) that's happened to me, too; threads seem to vanish in thin air sometimes, and when I need them the most! I'm most grateful for my history trail, like breadcrumbs through the web.
Thank you kindly; luckily I found it not long after asking, under the word "Priest"...
Thanks!
Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
Good news bump!
Equally importantly, openly renouncing the bit of the wedding vows about "forsaking all others".
Yeah! I want someone to stop giving a rat's a$$ about their political career and step up and do the right thing and see it through this time. They'd get plenty of support!
Sheesh that Michael is one scary looking sob....looks like he's been buried and dug up again.
Your post #21 - I'm sad to say I agree that's what it is. Talk is SO CHEAP!!
Dr. Dobson never left the worthwhile causes. MSM lied, and a lot of people (even self-proclaimed conservatives) believed them. Just like many so-called conservatives believe the lies about Terri.
Well the tidal wave of letters and calls have been going on for the last couple of years. And where has it gotten us and Terri and her parents and siblings whose hearts are being ripped out? - D-day, February 22nd, 2005.
Thousands of people must get off the back of their laps and STORM that hellhole in which Terri is imprisoned and free this girl from bondage. It might also open the eyes and put some fear and trembling into these political and judicial egomanics.!! WHO do they think they are?? I know one thing, God won't be mocked. And that doesn't let us off the hook either.
bttt
You're right. This photo of Michael was taken about 2 years ago.
Absolutely!
Just saw Dr. Bob Arnot and a reporter on 'Heartland' discussing the Sarah S. case. They showed a video of Terri in the material as they talked about the recently applied tests that are available and the awareness/consciousness level of such brain injured patients.
Kasich asked the reporter about stimuli Sarah might have gotten....TV? conversation?, etc. Yes was the response. Explains the deliberate denial of stimuli to Terri doesn't it? I could not tolerate the situation of the Schindlers.
I watched that interview with Larry King and Schiavo and Felos. Schiavo made my blood run cold and Felos is just a flake.!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.