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for her to be allowed to die with dignity, strongly disagreed, telling CNN that Terri Schiavo "does look a little withdrawn" but insisting she was not in pain.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
As it stands, he's now got the Terri supporters mad at him, too!
Ok, suppose you and yours are starving because mega-corporation pulled out of your town and left you high and dry. Benefits and unemployment have run out and you desperately need to feed your family. So you go ahead and stick up the local Kwiki Mart to get the money. It's the "right" thing to do, isn't it? (Too bad those pesky laws got in the way when the cops barreled in and arrested you).
Nation of laws, my man, nation of laws.
What bothers me is where has everyone been the last 10 years or so when this kill-happy so-called-husband has gotten engaged to another (why is he still legally married to Terri??)......or why isn't a law in effect stating when a feeding tube should not be yanked out if the person is conscious? Those two thing better change down here....
Funny, when a member of law enforcement, an official of the government, asks me for my driver's license when I'm caught speeding I don't pull out a .50 caliber Barrett and start blazing away. But then again you're entitled to your opinion. (Darn, can't we do away with that pesky 1st Amendment, while we're killing off our democracy)?
So do you advocate vigilantism then? If I know there is a crack house down the street and the police refuse to do anything, am I right in blowing it up? Can I shoot criminals on the street, i.e., Charles Bronson?
If law means nothing, then let's do away with all laws. Let's rely entirely on "common sense" because everyone all ways agrees with what that "common sense" is, correct?
Exactly...it's Ok when SOMEONE ELSE breaks the law...as long as we don't get in any trouble.
It's just: 'DO as I say not as I do.'
Jeb did more than anyone could expect him to do already.
THAT is good - very pithy. We're sitting her in our office, and I'm going along reading all the comments to myself, but I had to read your comments to my husband. Excellent points.
Actually, I agree with your previous post. I was merely pointing out that the entire Waco incident was handled badly from all ends. And innocent people were killed.
I believe it is legal since they 'proved' that Terri didn't want to live this way in a court of law. (Even though everyone knows it's BS).....and also because Dr.s say she is PVS (More BS)....so I think it's legal.
As I said: Any plan to take custody of her should be (or have been) EARLIER rather than LATER for biomedical reasons.
I doubt you have a single medical basis to disagree.
I hate to, but I have to agree with you. If there were crowds outside her window the size of the ones in the Ukraine & Lebanon, more action might be taken for Terri. Lots of us want to go, but cannot take off from our jobs to do so. Emails are all I can do, I guess. Obviously, it's not enough. I think Terri will die & at this point, I'm praying her death will help a greater good, just like Jesus' death did. Sometimes God's will is for us to die & poor Terri may very well do so. We have to change the laws so this can't happen again & we have to continue to pray for a miracle for Terri, so many people care for her - it has to make a difference.
Sorry for misreading, my apologies.
Based on the pictures I saw yesterday, there are more reporters at the hospice than there are protesters. There weren't more than 50 people protesting.
The hysteria around here is not -- thank goodness -- characteristic of the nation as a whole.
Mine too!
Better hurry, Jeb!!!
Yeah...it was all Jebs fault...not the murdering husband...not the judge....not the people in Florida who never lifted a finger for 15 years to change the a$$-backward laws about common law marriage while married.......and not the people in the United States who chant 'pull-the-plug-pull-the-plug'. Yep-- Jeb is the one who has disappointed the world....
(God help us)
I heard "dozens of protesters"
"But the anger at Jeb Bush - the man who has arguably done the MOST to save Terri, including working with Congress on last week's legislation - is very misplaced."
Of course, the anger should be directed at those arrogant and evil judges.But,I think the point of the post is that Jeb Bush is the very last man, thru conceivably heroic action, standing between Terri's survival or death. So it is not so much anger, but desperation pleas directed at the Governor to save Terri.
Should he show the political guts to do so, what a hero he would be among so many!!!
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