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Judge agrees to public access to DCF petition in Schiavo case
herald today.com ^ | Thu, Mar. 03, 2005 | AP wire

Posted on 03/03/2005 2:38:59 PM PST by Ohioan from Florida

TAMPA, Fla. - A judge Thursday agreed to make public a court document filed by the state's social agency seeking intervention in the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case.

A newspaper and television station had sued to gain access to the petition filed by the Department of Children & Families that attorneys say seeks to delay removal of the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube while the agency investigates allegations of abuse by her husband.

Circuit Judge George Greer said he would make the document available Friday.

DCF attorneys argued to keep the petition sealed, citing a need to protect the privacy of witnesses even if they are not named in the petition.

An attorney for the media outlets argued that the public has a right to scrutinize the DCF's actions in the high-profile case.

Terri Schiavo, 41, is at the center of a life-or-death legal battle between her husband and parents. She suffered severe brain damage 15 years ago, and Michael Schiavo has been trying for years to remove the feeding tube keeping her alive.

Greer has ordered the feeding tube removed March 18.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dcf; greer; schiavo; terrischiavo
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To: Ohioan from Florida

So what do you all think of this decision?? I honestly don't know what to think.


21 posted on 03/03/2005 8:10:34 PM PST by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: pollywog

I originally thought it would be a good thing.

However, it's hard to trust anything Greer does at this point.

The fact that Felos is happy about it, makes me cringe. Bottom line is this:
God can use anything to accomplish HIS WILL.

Therefore, I'm not gonna let any unknown fear rule my thoughts.


22 posted on 03/03/2005 8:27:56 PM PST by Pepper777 (HINO - Why won't you LET the MEDIA SEE Terri?)
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To: 2nd amendment mama; xzins; utahagen; pollywog; Pepper777

I haven't been able to get a ping out about it yet, but there was a good link on the March thread. I'm searching to see if someone has posted the article as a thread yet.

Just to get y'all up to date, here's the link to the article:

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=12276

and the link to the DCF document:

http://www.tampabays10.com/pdfs/DCFintervene1.pdf

Now that this is getting more light on it, Greer may just have to go along with the DCF. If he refuses to give Terri at least a 60-day stay, he is keeping a government agency from doing its mandated job. Michael should be in the hot seat pretty soon here.


23 posted on 03/03/2005 8:40:00 PM PST by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
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To: Ohioan from Florida
Michael should be in the hot seat pretty soon here.

OH how I pray this be so!!!!!!!!!

24 posted on 03/03/2005 8:45:11 PM PST by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: FL_engineer
THE TERRI SCHIAVO INFORMATION PAGE

25 posted on 03/03/2005 9:56:21 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: All; PhilDragoo

Dr. Walker, Radiologist

2003 testimony regarding his concern with bone scan image taken of Terri in 1991

Q. I realize you can't assign a cause to
these injuries that you picked up in this report.
But typically in your experience, what would be the
causes of this pattern of abnormality?

A. In somebody her age, an auto accident is
by far the most typical cause.

(Excerpt)

http://www.zimp.org/stuff/03%20-%20WalkerDepositionDepo.htm


26 posted on 03/03/2005 11:44:43 PM PST by Sun (Visit www.theEmpireJournal.com * Pray for Terri. Pray to end abortion.)
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To: pollywog; Ohioan from Florida

Well, all Greer has ordered released is the 11 page intervention request, not the 34 page document of some "30 detailed allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation". Sounds like DCF's hotline was contacted on February 18, 2005 and written documentation was received on February 21, 2005.

At page 3, item 5(a) of this petition is the statement "DCF, in its unique and legislative role . . .". Doesn't sound like the executive branch initiated this action.

Item 24 on page 9 requests that "all filings made by DCF should be closed to the public." Yet Greer has permitted this petition document to be released.

I suspect Greer sees this as a CYA opportunity. He could choose now to distance himself from his rulings with a public statement (at the most PC time for him) that DCF intervention made it necessary to reverse his feeding tube removal and dehydration/starvation orders.

One thing that puzzles me about HINO's push for tube removal to dehydrate and starve Terri. I'm opposed, but that being said, why can't use of the tube just be discontinued rather than removing it?
I seem to remember reports that Terri was taken to a hospital for the two prior tube removal ordeals because it's a surgical procedure. Is there a justifiable medical reason for tube removal, or is this just another way for HINO to demonstrate his total control over Terri with what might be an unnecessary surgical procedure?? -- and requires some level of anesthesia for the pain!!


27 posted on 03/04/2005 3:21:35 AM PST by l.tecolote (doing what I can from California)
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To: cyn
"A newspaper and television station had sued to gain access to the petition filed by the Department of Children & Families that attorneys say seeks to delay removal of the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube while the agency investigates allegations of abuse by her husband.

Circuit Judge George Greer said he would make the document available Friday.

DCF attorneys argued to keep the petition sealed, citing a need to protect the privacy of witnesses even if they are not named in the petition.

An attorney for the media outlets argued that the public has a right to scrutinize the DCF's actions in the high-profile case."

Judge agrees to public access to DCF petition in Schiavo case -- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1355379/posts

RIGHT TO PRIVACY:


28 posted on 03/04/2005 4:40:27 AM PST by cyn (not in my backyard!)
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To: Ohioan from Florida
Thx for the links. You wrote, "If [Greer] refuses to give Terri at least a 60-day stay, he is keeping a government agency from doing its mandated job." I think you are right. I predict Greer grants the 60-day stay, for fear of what it will look like if he doesn't.
29 posted on 03/04/2005 5:31:22 AM PST by utahagen
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To: 2nd amendment mama

I have a sneaky feeling that Greer will release all the documents in order to give Michael Schiavo and his cronies the opportunity to refute every one of the charges IN PUBLIC.

P.S. I REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM is a great program of the NRA.


30 posted on 03/04/2005 8:15:43 AM PST by Saundra Duffy (Save Terri Schiavo!!!)
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