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Future Legislation Aimed at Saving Terri Schiavo

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-08-2005/0003157167&EDATE=

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Rep. David Weldon (R-FL)
Introduce Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act

WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and
Congressman David Weldon (R-FL) introduced legislation that could save the
life of Terri Schiavo, who suffered a brain injury 15 years ago. The
Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act (HR 1151, S 539) will give Terri,
and those in similar situations, the same Constitutional protection of due
process as death row inmates, common sense legislation. Presently, the law
does not explicitly recognize due process for an incapacitated individual and
leaves the rights of disabled persons at the mercy of the courts instead of
defended by the Constitution.
The Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act will not apply to
circumstances where an advance medical directive is in effect. The Act simply
provides a final avenue of review of the case to insure that a disabled
person's Constitutional rights of due process are maintained and that justice
is done.
"Dr. Weldon's legislation would allow Terri to have her own counsel that
can argue her case, a right given to any criminal in the United States, and
Terri not a criminal but a woman truly fighting for her life," says Tony
Perkins, President of Family Research Council.
"The disabled deserve due process," continues Perkins. "In the United
States we don't execute people without due process and we shouldn't execute
the incapacitated by starvation. Beyond being cruel and unusual punishment,
this is an opportunity for Congress to finally check the power of runaway
courts."
"We commend Senator Martinez and Congressman Weldon for taking the
initiative and acknowledging a vital inconsistency in the process by which our
courts determine the fate of those who cannot speak for themselves."

SOURCE Family Research Council
Web Site: http://www.frc.org