Posted on 03/10/2005 12:22:56 PM PST by amdgmary
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- A judge ruled Thursday that the state's social services agency cannot delay the removal of the feeding tube keeping brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive.
The Department of Children & Families had asked for a 60-day delay in the removal of the feeding tube, now scheduled March 18. The agency said it wanted time to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect by the woman's husband, Michael Schiavo.
But Circuit Judge George W. Greer ruled that the agency's attempt to get involved at this point was inappropriate and "appears to be brought for the purpose of circumventing the court's final judgment ... in violation of the separation of powers doctrine."
Michael Schiavo's attorney had criticized the last-minute attempt by DCF to get involved, saying that it was engineered by Gov. Jeb Bush and others in the state government who support the plight of her parents who are trying to keep her alive.
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Michael Schiavo has gotten a court order to remove the feeding tube, contending that his wife told him she wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially. A 1990 heart attack cut off oxygen to her brain for five minutes, leaving her in what the court has ruled is a vegetative state with no consciousness. She breathes on her own but depends on a tube in her abdomen for food and water.
But her parents doubt she had those end-of-life wishes and are trying to block removal of the feeding tube.
The judge's ruling was another major blow to Bob and Mary Schindler, who have fought their son-in-law in court for nearly seven years over their daughter's fate. They dispute that she is in a persistent vegetative state, saying she laughs, cries, interacts with them and tries to speak when they visit her at her hospice.
The DCF said it wanted to investigate accusations against Miachel Schiavo - who is her legal guaridan - that included denying his wife some medical treatment and therapy, isolating her in her room with the blinds closed, failing to fix her broken wheelchair and failing to file timely guardianship plans.
In his order, Greer noted that those and many other allegations have been investigated in the past and failed to yield any evidence of abuse and neglect by Michael Schiavo.
Other than trying to appeal judge's decisions that have gone against them this week, the Schindlers will look again to the state Legislature and perhaps the U.S. Congress for help. Both bodies have bills in the works that lawmakers say could save Terri Schiavo's life.
In Tallahassee Wednesday, a House committee approved a bill requiring doctors to provide nutrition and hydration to incapacitated patients who didn't leave an advance directive. It still needs approval from two more committees before facing the full House.
Bush, who has said he would do anything within his power to save Terri Schiavo, supports the bill.
The governor in October 2003 pushed a law through the Legislature authorizing him to resume the woman's artificial feedings six days after the court stopped them. The law subsequently was ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, both Florida Republicans, introduced legislation in Washington that could give the Schindlers access to federal courts in the effort to save their daughter's life. Their bill requires that incapacitated people who don't leave advance directives have attorneys appointed to give the case a full review before artificial life support is terminated.
Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
There is also this (from before any of this court battle happened.
http://www.zimp.org/stuff/Discharge%20Summary%20050990.pdf
I googled some medical terms in the report:
anoxic brain damage
hypoxic encephalopathy
decererbration
focal seizure activity.
Very grim diagnosis and prognosis.
I've NEVER SEEN Anyone with Such Delusions of Grandeur! (Except maybe Clinton)
Of course not. You have to read the entire section of the statutes to put it into context
Only if you're in a condition where there is no hope for recovery and unable to make your own medical decisions.
Is a Judge higher up on the food chain than a GOVERNOR???? Geesh..I fnd that hard to believe.
Fools.
If Rush and other "conservative" radio biggies are staying silent, no wonder Greer has the confidence to rule the way he's ruling. He already has the MSM backing him -- and if he doesn't have to worry about Rush and Hewett and others blowing the whistle on him, he's basically home free as far as mass media coverage of this case goes.
If conservative talk radio hosts can't find it in them to defend Terri - and oppose involuntary euthanasi - then shame on them, and shame on us conservative grass roots for letting them take a pass.
Well the ballistic analogy doesn't quite work. There really is very little undertood about the human brain. Look at Kate Adamson and Sarah Scantlin.
I don't see what the tests could hurt either. Too bad we're not in control.
By mid 1996, the CAT scans of her brain showed a severely abnormal structure.
That experimental stimulator is still in her head causing pressure. I have no link for this as I can't remember who said it but someone stated that removing the stimulator would increase blood flow etc. I found that interesting.
No. You were knocking the doctors that disagree with Cranford. Since you won't address my original post, we're done.
I'm pretty sure Hugh Hewitt has talked about the Terri Schiavo case. But I don't recall whether he's featured her as intensely as he did Eason Jordan or the, what is it, Stockholm Protocol? If he rallied the blogs, it might have more impact.
Dan
I agree, Rose.
That's good to know. Hope he'll talk it up some more. It would be nice to get the big guy -- Rush -- in the fight as well!
The Mystery is Why more people in Power aren't Up in Arms over Greer's Iniquities! I'm Thankful from my heart for Jeb and others who have Helped our Terri, but we Need so many More! I Pray the people in Power can Somehow have Greer Impeached!
Rush could very well be compromised on this issue. The ACLU is on his side on his drug case, and as you know, the ACLU wants Terri Schiavo dead.
As do most judges. This concept that judges are empowered to ignore the laws of the land and make things up as they go has got to be stuffed, and quick. It's a total travesty of the concept of "justice."
The same steaming pile that wanted to steal the 2000 election for Gore.
True. I am especially concerned as a Catholic with the poor response from Bishop Lynch. However the overall response from the Catholic Church has been welcome. But- where are the other Churches, why are most of them still silent? The Florida Baptist Witness ( magazine) has had excellent articles on the Schiavo case. Also the MSM has missed the whole Disability Rights issue that pertains to this case. Please see Not Dead Yet's website for their Friend of Court Brief and statements on Terri.
Ordinarily, I'm a pretty low-key guy, but in this case, divine judgment cannot come too quickly on the "honorable" Judge Greer.
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