Posted on 03/15/2005 3:07:28 PM PST by ntnychik
March 15, 2005 — Fifteen years ago, Terri Schiavo's heart stopped due to a chemical imbalance, and she suffered severe brain damage as a result. Tonight in an exclusive interview: her husband, Michael Schiavo on his fight to have her feeding tube removed.
CLEARWATER, Fla. Feb 26, 2005 — It's been 15 years since Terri Schiavo's heart stopped beating for several minutes, causing severe brain damage that put her into what doctors call a persistent vegetative state. For almost seven of those years, her husband Michael has been fighting to stop her feedings, arguing that she didn't want to be kept alive artificially.
Terri Schiavo is now 41 and still in a hospice after myriad twists and turns in a dramatic legal and ideological battle that has pitted her parents against their son-in-law. Whether there's an end in sight is anybody's guess.
"It seems like the same news over and over," acknowledged Pat Anderson, a former lawyer for Terri Schiavo's parents. "It must be quite incomprehensible (to the public) that she is still alive."
There have been countless lawsuits, court hearings, appeals, news conferences and tears shed by her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who promise to keep fighting. The case file at the Pinellas County Courthouse now fills 45 volumes.
"I don't regret a second of what we've been through," said Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, 40. "I'll make up for it when we save my sister."
Twice, Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed by court order, and both times it was restored. The last time, in 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush pushed through a state law later ruled unconstitutional that authorized him to resume the feedings six days after they were stopped.
On Friday, state Circuit Judge George Greer set a new date for removal of the feeding tube for March 18, prompting the Schindlers' attorney to promise yet another flurry of legal filings.
Greer's ruling came on the 15th anniversary of Terri Schiavo's collapse on Feb. 25, 1990, when a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder stopped her heart, cutting off oxygen to her brain for five minutes.
Michael Schiavo said his wife never wanted to be kept alive artificially, but she left no written directive. He says he's fulfilling a promise he made to her, and he has spent most of a $700,000 medical malpractice award given to his wife for her care to pay his attorney.
"and makes the decisions not to give you therapy and instead starve and dehydrate you to death??? That's what you want? "
If I was in the state Terris is for 15 years I certainly would
"But does the state have the right to disregard its own and federal laws and deprive anyone of their life?"
Does the State have the right to make medical decisions for me that I would like a legally designated person to make for me if I'm unable to?
Yeah, but since that's contrary to the intention of feeding tubes we obviously need to stop that.</sarcasm>
"I had to do it with my own parents"
Just the odds, but making both parents die by starvation and dehydration is extremely rare and questionable.
I've seen hundreds of elderly patients, and have seen one or two neglected and starved to death, and nurses not allowed around, sent home. Guardians/family used to murder them under the guise of a pain killer, a morpheine drip, which is actually too strong for the body, which causes the body to shut down. Usually a weak body dies on its own, pneumonia, or heart.
But for Michael to do this to both parents sounds very suspicious.
You are so right! Another point, Schiavo(POWP)said he found her on the floor face down at 5:00am and then called the Father and then maybe the brother who was called by the father and Never called 911, the brother Bob did when he ran in to the Schiavo apartment at 6:11AM. The tragedy may have happened much earlier like 11:00pm, she may have been in that condition for a long time while he waited for her to expire. Remember he had no jobs to speak of during that time, loosing each one after weeks or a month at most. But waiting an hour is outrageous and we know he is a liar.That is proven beyond doubt. Lets remember that the Famed Dr. Badden when he examined her X- rays, stated the numerous healed broken bones of major proportions was a classic case of wife abuse. God Bless Terri and her family and Save Them from their torturers.
Because until 1999 it would have been illegal to starve/dehydrate someone to death. Of course, it's perfectly believable that a wife would tell her husband "Oh, and by the way, if and when the legislature ever allows the withdrawal of feeding tubes from disabled people, I want you to do that too."
To call the Constitution a "living document" is to call a moth-infested overcoat a "living garment".
"If I was in the state Terris is for 15 years I certainly would"
You make a logical fallacy, assuming that you can know what you would do in a certain situation. Because you are not omniscient, that is not a skill you have.
Nor do you know what "her state" is. Current tests of her neurological and theraputical needs have not been made.
If you would want to murder yourself, you are going against God's command, which says that is wrong.
"Does the State have the right to make medical decisions for me that I would like a legally designated person to make for me if I'm unable to?"
No, unless your guardian is failing his responsibilites to care for you. BUT TERRI DID NOT GIVE MICHAEL THIS RIGHT. He had it by inference, by marriage, but there was not a specific advanced medical directive written.
And, if you have not prepared in advance, the state SHOULD step in on the side of life if the guardian is murdering you.
There's no sane reason NOT to believe what he's saying.
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Hey Troll... What planet are you on ???
"Advanced Directive - if you don't have one you better get one"
No, but if you do, make it ONLY a limited one...
--DON'T say you dont' want extraordinary efforts put in, because then they really don't, cannot, try as hard.
--DON'T put in writing that you allow the doctors to make the decisions should there be no family around, because your relative could be 10 minutes away, and the docs could make the wrong choice.
--DON'T say that you don't want to be on artificial respirators entirely, because what if you're on a few days, recover and can be off?
--DON'T say it's okay to do something to you which God forbids, causing them to be guilty of murder and yourself of self-murder.
What CAN you say? "Yes I have an Advanced Directive", "Yes I want all possible means to keep me alive",(this doesn't mean you have to stick with this later. Then have determined several possible guardians to be contacted. You are not making an arrangement with the Medical Profession. They only want to know Yes take care of me" or No.
THEN make your agreement with your friends/family/guardians as to how to decide. Ask that they evaluate amongst themselves your case. Give them the freedom to change to someone else if needed.
Value your life. Let God take you when He wants. He'll use means, such as the wisdom of your guardians to help you be pain free if needed, to not bankrupt your entire family, but He does it ethically. As much as death can be ethical.
Thank you. I didn't know where to find that information.
I do not believe that counts as murder in the same way as dehydrating a disabled but otherwise healthy human being in her early 40's like Terri.
What a resemblance!!!
"Michael Schiavo breaks his silence." Bah! For all his word is worth, he might as well break his wind on tv tonight.
Terri never signed any documents. See http://www.terrisfight.org for fuller information.
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