Terri Schiavo's family have been denied all visitation per Terri's sister

[kcvl]

Per Fox News...

[Drango]

(b) The claim or cause of action referred to in subsection (a) is one in which the State court authorizes or directs the withholding or withdrawal of food or fluids or medical treatment necessary to sustain the incapacitated person's life, but does not include a claim or cause of action in which no party disputes, and the court finds, that the incapacitated person, while having capacity, had executed a written advance directive valid under applicable law that clearly authorized the withholding or withdrawal of food or fluids or medical treatment in the applicable circumstances.

Do I understand this correctly? Common law and many state statues say the surviving spouse has the right to end of life calls.

The Federal government is saying that a written directive is now required for my end of life decisions and a VERBAL directive can be challenged? Listen up congress. I don't need your stinkin' paper to die with dignity.

[freedomdefender]

You've obviously done a lot of research, with some interesting points. But you still haven't addressed something that troubles many of us. Why Michael -- who has two illegitimate kids, and their status can be regularized only if Terri's out of the picture - - should be given say over her fate, when he has this massive conflict of interest? It's not fair to his kids for him to remain married to Terri, and thereby keep the kids in illegitimate status. And it's not fair to Terri or her family, for him to try to hang on to her, and dictate her fate, when he has a different "wife" and different family that is the focus of his life.

Terri is the focus of her own family's life. Michael has a different family that he focuses on. Indeed, I read on FR that the Schindlers first found out about Michael's out-of-wedlock "wife" and "family" when they read the obituary of Michael's mother: From what I read, it said her survivors included son Michael "and his fiance" -- that's sick, at least for a guy who claims, for court purposes, that he places a priority on his real wife.

One thing this case has done is underscore the importance of traditional family values for the GOP coalition. I'm glad DeLay and Frist stepped forward (wish they'd done it sooner). I'm glad President Bush - a pro-life champmion to the core - is taking Terri's and her family's side in this case. And i'm not impressed with Michael's demonizing of Bush and DeLay.

[RS]

"Actually, I would have objected to his sole guardianship in the beginning. Joint guardianship...at most."

... and I suppose if your were the husband instead you would say " Sure, fine, we'll just have a committee meeting to figure out what to do with her... "

[marajade]

"I just say he's in a circumstance that his testimony cannot be held up on its own."

Maybe Gov Bush should appoint you to oversee Terri's case instead of Greer...

[Howlin]

Or perhaps me?

I told you this was going to be bad.

[ContraryMary]

I'm still waiting for evidence of financial gain on Michael's part.

[maica]

It could possibly cause her to choke to death.

------and that would be a problem because.....?

[american colleen]

Obviously the law in Florida is that food is not a given.

Wonder how much they spend on food stamps and food pantries for the poor? Probably should shut them down since going hungry is no big deal.

[Cboldt]

Okay. What's your point?

That SCOTUS refusal to issue a ruling is not determinative of the veracity or sufficinecy of Michaels Schiavo's testimony.

[TightyRighty]

From the Chicago Sun Times:

Medical records from the hospital where Schiavo was treated after her collapse say that ''she apparently has been trying to keep her weight down with dieting by herself, drinking liquids most of the time during the day and drinking about 10-15 glasses of iced tea

[Howlin]

To hell with science, we took a VOTE.

Well, that's the way it works in this country; or maybe you live in another country with jackboots who decide stuff like that.

And, btw, the jury decided the case on SCIENCE.

[marajade]

That maybe technically true.

[AmishDude]

Maybe Gov Bush should appoint you to oversee Terri's case instead of Greer...

Have you ever heard my theory on Plato's Republic, philosopher kings and Lebesgue integration? It's fascinating stuff!

[ContraryMary]

Indeed, I read on FR that the Schindlers first found out about Michael's out-of-wedlock "wife" and "family" when they read the obituary of Michael's mother:

Gee, I wonder if the fact that by that time the Schindlers and Michael had not spoken to each other in years had anything to do with it?

[Howlin]

THAT is NOT accurate either -- more disinformation.

Are you saying the jury in the malpractice case was wrong?

[american colleen]

So that is a LEGAL RULING that bulimia in fact caused her cardiac arrest.

And OJ's Jury sent a LEGAL RULING that OJ did not cause the death of his ex-wife and the restaurant waiter.

[maica]

Michael went back to school and became a respiratory therapist after Terri became PVS----


I wonder if the Schindlers were supporting him when he went back to school? Was this also when he was living with them?

[AmishDude]

They could have ruled that it was inconclusive.

[Howlin]

You're so right. Tom Delay said so.

[BigSkyFreeper]

And OJ's Jury sent a LEGAL RULING that OJ did not cause the death of his ex-wife and the restaurant waiter.

Right. Regardless of what you, I or Howlin think.