Terri Schiavo's Right To Live
Timeline *
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1990
Feb 25: Terri Schiavo has a heart attack, temporarily cutting off oxygen to her brain. Cause is believed to be a potassium imbalance, likely brought about by poor diet.
May: Terri is discharged from Humana Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida.
1991
Jan: Terri is moved to Bradenton Mediplex Rehabilitation Center.
Apr: Terri's condition is assessed as improving. Her husband is advised to move her to Gainesville Rehabilitation Center to receive advanced therapy so Terri can continue her recovery.
July: Michael Schiavo has Terri moved to Sable Palms Nursing Home.
1992
Aug: Terri is awarded $250,000 in malpractice settlement.
Nov: In a medical malpractice suit, Michael asks a jury to grant $20 million to pay for Terri's future medical and neurological requirements, based on her life expectancy, which he and his attorneys estimate at 51 years. His attorney tells the court: "She can't respond much but she can respond, and she does respond a little bit, not much. But enough to give him hope."
1993
Jan: A Pinellas jury awards about $1.4 to Terri and $600,000 to Michael in malpractice suit filed because her gynecologist failed to ask about her medical history while treating her.
Feb: Michael refuses recommended rehabilitation treatment.
Feb 14: Michael, and Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, have a falling out over her rehabilitation. Michael orders nursing home personnel to keep all information about Terri's condition away from her family.
Apr: The value of the trust fund for all of Terri's future care and rehabilitation stands at $776,254. State law guarantees that Michael would be granted any of what remains if Terri dies.
Aug: Michael instructs medical professionals to not treat Terri for a potentially life-threatening urinary tract infection, and invokes a "do not resuscitate" order.
Sept: The Schindlers petition the court to remove Michael as Terri's guardian.
Nov: Michael testifies that he knew withholding treatment of infection would likely result in Terri's death, but reversed his order when staff at Sable Palms Nursing Home told him refusing such treatment violated Florida law. Michael says he would withhold treatment in the future if he didn't believe it was illegal.
1994
Feb: The Schindlers' guardianship challenge is dismissed.
Apr: Michael has Terri moved to Palm Gardens Nursing Home.
1995
Sept: Michael orders Palm Gardens not to treat Terri for another potentially fatal infection.
1996
June: Terri's parents obtain court order for access to their daughter's medical records.
1997
May: Judge Shames approves Michael's action to remove the feeding tube that provides Terri's nutrition and hydration.
Summer: Michael hires attorney George Felos to represent him in his efforts to have Terri's feeding tube removed. Felos has history of supporting "right to die" causes.
July: Michael announces engagement to Jodi Centonze.
Aug: George Felos notifies Terri's parents of action to remove her feeding tube.
1998
Apr: The value of Terri's fund stands at $713,825.
May: Michael files a petition to remove his wife's feeding tube.
June: Court appoints guardian ad litem to investigate Terri's case.
Dec: guardian ad litem recommends the court not approve Michael's petition.
1999
Feb: Felos files bias charges against guardian ad litem.
June: Court dismisses guardian ad litem.
2000
Jan 24: Trial begins in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court over the removal of Terri's feeding tube.
Feb 11: Judge George Greer rules that the feeding tube can be removed. Terri's parents appeal.
Feb: Three doctors file affidavits stating Terri can swallow and is not in a persistent vegitative state. Judge Greer denies petition to allow Terri swallowing tests.
Apr: Michael has Terri moved to Hospice Facility. Judge Greer denies her parents' motion to have her returned to Palm Garden Nursing Home, and imposes a restricted visitor list.
July: Terri's parents file appeal with Appellate Court to overturn Greer’s verdict.
2001
Jan 24: The 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's decision to to have feeding tube removed.
March 29: Greer rules that Michael can remove the feeding tube at 1 p.m. Apr 20.
Apr 18: The Florida Supreme Court declines to intervene.
Apr 20: A federal judge grants the Schindlers until Apr 23 to exhaust their appeals.
Apr 23: The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.
Apr 24: Terri's feeding tube is removed.
Apr 26: Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada orders doctors to reinsert Terri's feeding tube so her parents can pursue a lawsuit against Michael. The suit accuses him of committing perjury and cites a former girlfriend who claims he told her he lied when he testified that Terri did not want to be kept on life support.
Apr 30: Michael's lawyers file an emergency motion with the appeals court, asking the court to again order Terri's feeding tube to be removed.
May 2: The 2nd District Court of Appeal defers a ruling, allowing Terri's feeding to continue.
May 8: Michael's former girlfriend refuses to testify against him, claims she is afraid of him.
June 25: The 2nd District Court of Appeal hears arguments in Michael's request to have feeding tube removed.
July 11: The appeals court rules that Terri's feeding tube cannot be removed until after July 23.
July 18: Terri's parents ask Greer to let their doctors evaluate her before deciding whether her feeding tube should be withdrawn.
Aug 7: Greer orders the feeding tube to be removed Aug. 28.
Aug 8: Terri's parents again ask Greer to allow doctors to evaluate their daughter.
Aug 10: Greer denies the Schindlers' request for evaluation and their request to have Michael removed as guardian.
Sept. 26: In arguments before the 2nd District Court of Appeal, the Schindlers' attorneys cite testimony from seven doctors who say Mrs. Schiavo's idle cells might "wake up" with the right treatment. Michael calls the claims ridiculous.
Oct 3: The appeals court delays the removal of the feeding tube indefinitely.
Oct 17: The appeals court rules that five doctors can examine Terri to determine whether she can recover: two from each side and one picked by the court.
Dec 19: Attorneys meet with a mediator in an attempt to agree upon the tests to be performed.
2002
Feb 13: Attempts at mediation fail. Michael again seeks to have his wife's feeding tube removed.
Mar 14: The Florida Supreme Court denies Michael’s appeal.
July 10: Court hearing again to allowing certain medical tests that were requested to evaluate Terri’s true medical and neurological condition.
July 22: Judge Greer approves three of the neurological tests her parents requested and rejects a dozen others.
Oct 2: Michael files petition to prohibit the media from seeing Terri’s recent neurological examination videotapes or airing the videos to the public after they have been presented to the court as evidence. He also petitions the court to authorize Terri’s cremation.
Oct 12, 2002: A week-long hearing begins. Three of the five doctors testify that Terri cannot recover. Two picked by the Schindlers say she can.
Nov. 12, 2002: The Schindlers' attorney says medical records suggest that Terri's vegetative state may have been caused by a beating and seeks time to get more evidence.
Nov 15: Greer conducts a hearing in response to a motion Terri's parents filed requesting time to investigate recent evidence suggesting her heart failure may have been caused by physical abuse. The petition also charges Michael with violating a dozen or more Florida laws while serving as Terri’s guardian.
Nov 22: Greer rules that no current medicine can rehabilitate Terri and orders the feeding tube removed on Jan 3, 2003.
Dec 13: Greer delays the feeding tube removal to give the Schindlers one last chance to appeal.
Dec 18: Michael files a motion with the 2nd District Appellate Court to overturn Greer’s Dec 13th "stay" order.
Dec 23: The 2nd Appellate Court denies Michael’s motion to overturn Greer’s order
2003
June 6: The 2nd District Court of Appeal rejects the new appeals and orders Greer to set a date for the removal of the feeding tube.
Aug: Terri hospitalized. Michael refuses to give parents information about medical condition. Also refuses to allow Terri's priest to visit and perform last rights.
Sept: Emergency hearing to allow Shindlers to visit and to obtain current medical information. Request is granted.
Sept 17: Greer orders the removal of Terri's feeding tube at 2 p.m. on Oct 15.
Oct 15: Terri's feeding tube is removed. Disability rights advocates and "right-to-life" supporters hold candle-light vigils and start sending tens of thousands of emails, letters and phone calls to Florida lawmakers and Governor Jeb Bush.
Oct 20: Gov. Bush introduces "Terri's Law", allowing him to have Terri's feeding tube reinserted and a temporary guardian appointed. Florida Legislature meets in special session to review the proposed law.
Oct 22: "Terri's Law" is approved and signed into law. Gov. Bush issues executive order to have her feeding tube reinserted.
Oct. 28: President George W. Bush says he agrees with the decision by his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, to order an end to Terri Schiavo's starvation.
Oct. 29: Attorneys for Michael Schiavo and the American Civil Liberties Union ask Pinellas County Circuit Court to declare "Terri's Law" unconstitutional.
Oct 31: Pinellas County Chief Judge David Demers appoints Dr. Jay Wolfson as temporary guardian
Nov 4: Pinellas County Circuit Judge W. Douglas Baird denies Schindlers' request to join case with Governor Bush
Nov 5: Gov. Bush asks court to throw out challenge to "Terri's Law". Judge Greer allows parents to sue for guardianship change
Nov 7: Judge Baird rejects governor's request to dismiss Michael's constitutional challenge to "Terri's Law"
Dec 2: Wolfson recommends swallowing tests for Terri
2004
Jan 9: Pinellas County Chief Judge David Demers refuses to reinstate independent guardian for Terri
*Adapted from St. Petersburg Times, Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, APFN.org and other sources.
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/advocacy/schiavotimeline.htm
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February 25, 1990
Terri Schiavo suffers cardiac arrest, taken to Humana Hospital where she remains in a coma for weeks, comes out into a vegetative state. There, she is given (PEG) tube to provide nutrition and hydration.
May 12, 1990
Terri Schiavo is discharged from the hospital and taken to the College Park skilled care and rehabilitation facility.
June 18, 1990
Court appoints Michael Schiavo as guardian; Terri Schiavo’s parents do not object.
June 30, 1990
Terri Schiavo is transferred to Bayfront Hospital for further rehabilitation efforts.
September 1990
Terri Schiavo’s family brings her home, but three weeks later they return her to the College Park facility because the family is “overwhelmed by Terri’s care needs.”
November 1990
Michael Schiavo takes Terri Schiavo to California for experimental “brain stimulator” treatment, an experimental “thalamic stimulator implant” in her brain.
January 1991
The Schiavos return to Florida; Terri Schiavo is moved to the Mediplex Rehabilitation Center in Brandon where she receives 24-hour care.
July 19, 1991
Terri Schiavo is transferred to Sable Palms skilled care facility where she receives continuing neurological testing, and regular and aggressive speech/occupational therapy through 1994.
May 1992
Terri Schiavo’s parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, and Michael Schiavo stop living together.
August 1992
Terri Schiavo is awarded $250,000 in an out-of-court medical malpractice settlement with one of her physicians.
November 1992
The jury in the medical malpractice trial against another of Terri’s physicians awards more than one million dollars for not diagnosing her apparent bulimia. In the end, after subtracting 70% due to Terri's own responsibility, attorneys’ fees and other expenses,
Michael Schiavo received about $300,000 and
about $750,000 was put in a trust fund specifically for Terri Schiavo’s medical care.
February 14, 1993
Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers have a falling-out over the course of therapy for Terri Schiavo; Michael Schiavo claims that the Schindlers demand that he share the malpractice money with them.
July 29, 1993
Schindlers attempt to remove Michael Schiavo as Terri Schiavo’s guardian; the court later dismisses the suit.
March 1, 1994
First guardian ad litem, John H. Pecarek, submits his report. He states that Michael Schiavo has acted appropriately and attentively toward Terri Schiavo.
May 1998
Michael Schiavo petitions the court to authorize the removal of Terri Schiavo’s PEG tube; the Schindlers oppose, saying that Terri would want to remain alive. The court appoints Richard Pearse, Esq., to serve as the second guardian ad litem for Terri Schiavo.
December 20, 1998
The second guardian ad litem, Richard Pearse, Esq., issues his report in which he concluding that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with no chance of improvement and that Michael Schiavo’s decision-making may be influenced by the potential to inherit the remainder of Terri Schiavo’s estate.
January 24, 2000
The trial begins; Pinellas-Pasco County Circuit Court Judge George Greer presides.
February 11, 2000
Judge Greer rules that Terri Schiavo would have chosen to have the PEG tube removed, and therefore he orders it removed, which, according to doctors, will cause her death in approximately 7 to 14 days.
...and so it all began.