Posted on 03/25/2005 4:33:23 AM PST by ex-Texan
Jeb Bush may take Terri Schiavo into state care
The war over the fate of Terri Schiavo was entering its final stages today as her parents clung to two slim hopes of preventing their severely brain-damaged daughter from being allowed to die.
The 41-year-old has been without food or water for almost seven days, after her feeding tube was removed last Friday on the orders of a Florida state judge.
Friends and lawyers say she is showing signs of dehydration - flaky skin, dry tongue and lips, and sunken eyes. Doctors have said she would probably die within a week or two of the tube being removed.
"It's very frustrating. Every minute that goes by is a minute that Terri is being starved and dehydrated to death," said her brother, Bobby Schindler, who said seeing her was like looking at "pictures of prisoners in concentration camps".
But Brian Schiavo, the brother of Mrs Schiavo's husband Michael who has argued for her to be allowed to die with dignity, strongly disagreed, telling CNN that Terri Schiavo "does look a little withdrawn" but insisting she was not in pain. He added that starvation is simply "part of the death process".
One of the final hopes of Mrs Schiavo's parents lies in the federal courts. Last night Bob and Mary Schindler went back before a federal judge in Tampa, filing another emergency request that the feeding tube be reattached while they pursue claims that their daughter's rights are being violated.
District Judge James Whittemore previously rejected an almost identical request on Tuesday. He promised to work through the night to issue his new ruling.
The second and more dramatic hope lies in the hands of Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, who was last night considering the politically explosive step of ordering state officials to force their way into the hospice where Mrs Schiavo lies motionless and take her into state custody, in defiance of the US courts.
A Florida judge yesterday rejected a request by Governor Bush to allow the state to take custody of her, but the governor's aides afterwards refused to rule out further action.
The possibility emerged on Wednesday night, when Governor Bush declared that Mrs Schiavo - who court-appointed doctors say has been in persistent vegetative state for 15 years - had been misdiagnosed. He based his assertion on "new information" provided by William Cheshire, a Florida neurologist, who says that she may only be in a "minimally conscious" state.
Although Dr Cheshire, a leading member of the Christian right-to-life movement, did not examine Mrs Schiavo, he observed her for an hour on March 1. Governor Bush maintained that his testimony was compelling enough for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to take her into protective custody.
On Wednesday night, amid reports that Florida state officials were "mobilising" outside Mrs Schiavo's hospice, Florida Circuit Judge George Greer issued an emergency restraining order prohibiting DCF agents from seizing her.
Judge Greer then formally rejected Governor Bush's custody request yesterday. Last night he refused to hold a new hearing to assess Dr Cheshire's claims.
He also ordered the local sheriff's department not to allow state officials into Mrs Schiavo's hospice - but, under Florida law, the governor has the power, without court clearance, of taking a citizen into custody for a 24-hour appraisal if it is suspected they are in jeopardy.
Very long article . . Click Here to Read More
You know, after Terri turned 40 it all went downhill for her. She became less of a person. There are laws in the workplace about age discrimination and 40 is where that age is. So if people may not want to hire you because you are 40 those same people may want your tube yanked out after 40 too!
Well, in a perfect world that would be great. But...this is far from a perfect world and I am jsut plain tired of it all. After all this heartache and exhaustion...I am considering leaviing Free Republic for awhile. Not becuase of the Freepers (they are the best) but because I can't take the negativity in the world today as it is. Murders, rapists, child molestors and those who defend them. It's too much on my nervous system and I am needing a break I think. Terri's situation was the last straw. It's a cruel world with cruel people and I'm not sure I want to know or read anymore about these kinds of so called human beings. I need to be with those I love ... my family and friends who are sane. Seems like the whole world has gone crazy.
I simply refuse to accept what McVeigh did as "principle." I will accept his "plan" was "to strike a blow at big government." I will not accept the use of the word "principle" in that concept.
I attended McVeigh's execution. It happened in my backyard.
In the reading of the Passion by St. John we see the following "Pilate said to them, 'Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.' The Jews answered, 'We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die...'" Jesus was an innocent victim. So is Terri. But according to the law we can kill the innocent. Our nation will be called upon to pay the price by God Himself. We must begin today to ask for mercy which our courts apparently are unable to offer for Terri.
And under his breath he added, "for someone other than me."
And today is Good Friday. I think Terri will hang on awhile longer. This is going to get tougher!
If Jeb Bush does not do as he said he would and take custody of Terri, he shows himself as a man who speaks well, but considers his intent as sufficient. Does the name Bill Clinton come to mind? Florida law enables DCF to intervene in the case of an incapacitated adult whose life is in danger. They then have one business day to petition the court to approve. It does not have to be Greer, who should be in jail, it can be any court in Florida. If the custodial guardian is the danger, they don't have to ask for the guardian's permission to act. Thus Jeb has the opportunity to use whatever force is necessary to take custody of Terri because she in an incapacitated adult in imminent danger of death and her guardian is the cause of that danger. Civil rights actions have shown that obeying a law which is wrong is in itself wrong. Disobeying it is the right course. Intervening would show Jeb to be a man of courage, moral rectitude, and honor. He would be known as a man of his word. Failing to act shows the opposite.
I am not angry at the governor of Florida, it is the out-of-control judiciary, most of whom would not recognize justice if it slapped them in the face, which angers me. Not only the worthless judges (almost said scum, but that would insult innocent scum) in Florida and in the Federal Court system I find disgusting. It is time to remind judges at all levels that they eat, sleep, pass wind, and must bathe regularly just like the rest of us. They are not gods nor demi-gods. They are only one part of the government, and their job is to adjudicate the behavior of men and women in the light of the law, not to govern by fiat from the bench. And we need to remind the LEOs that they work for the executive, not the judicial branch. NO, repeat NO law officers should ever take any order from a judge unless that order is ratified by the executive for whom he works.
All of you folks in Florida should burn out the switchboard at the capitol calling to tell the governor to get off his derriere and save this woman.
Judge James Whittemore will be "working" until she dies.
What a wonderful person he is. JB isnt going to take custody of her. He already made the announcement once, which is seldom done, this allowed Judge Greer to file motions to stop him. He has the power.
They are killing, IMO, a brain damaged but aware human being who has commented no crime. That is murder.
I just about puked when watching "CNN Schiavo Love Story", it fell flat. He and his brother can go on all the networks for damage control but he is murdering her nonetheless. I feel so sorry for her parents, her brother and sister. They are the ones who love her unconditionally.
You comments about the workplace and being 40 are right on. The reason I know this is because the law firm where I work defends the companies who "shaft" their personnel who reach that 40 death mark. And yes, they do get rid of these individuals who are 40. Scary stuff.
"somehow taken out of the country. "
Diplomatic immunity would work. A rather large diplomatic pouch. The Vatican rep. could do it, for one. Have a helicopter ready to lift off and a plane waiting . . .
"If Jeb Bush violates the law he should and would be arrested and incarcerated."
Prob. not starved and dehydrated, however.
If I see one picture of an American Eagle with a tear in it's eye posted after Terri passes away, I swear that my PC gets thrown out of the window.
Why wait? Do it now!
People will remember him getting on TV saying what he did and then doing nothing if he fails to act now to save Terris life. He will never win another election in Florida; much less a national election if he doesn't act after having a press conference saying he can take her into protective custody based on Florida's laws. If he wasn't going to act he never should have had that press conference. The decision is up to him now, act now to save her life, like he implied Wednesday that he was going to do, or live with it for the rest of his life.
"Judging by the amount of people at the Hospice in Pinellas Park, it seems the "outrage" of conservatives is poured out on the internet and not in real life."
Well one can imagine this outrage can manifest itself in the election cycle if Terri's memory lives on.
Our founding fathers would be sent to the PC gulag today I tell ya. They would be termed violent, closed minded and when then encountered the left be termed to have anger issues.
They would have challenged dingy harry to a duel by now .......
And the solution will be to vote against the Republicans and put a pro-abortion Democrat in office?
How will that solve anything?
Well then, Governor Bush, at least go as far as what your powers are because you've been pulling your punches, skillfully but pulling them nonetheless.
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