Schiavo father: 'Down to her last hours'

CNN ^ | March 25, 2005

[RWR8189]

PINELLAS PARK, Florida (CNN) -- The father of Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was removed a week ago, said Friday his daughter is "down to her last hours."

Bob Schindler, Schiavo's father, said, "Terri is weakening. ... Something has to be done, and has to be done quick."

Schindler said the family's hopes lie with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, which is hearing -- for the second time this week -- an appeal claiming Schiavo's due process rights have been violated.

Schiavo is in her seventh day without food or water since Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer ordered the tube removed for the third time.

The case is again in the federal appeals court, where a three-judge panel will rule on the motion filed by attorneys for Schiavo's parents.

[Lazamataz]

Kindly refrain from comparing America to Nazi Germany.

I would, but we seem to be embarking on a Final Solution for the disabled.

19 different judges and 16 different courts all agreed to carry out her wish.

We don't know her wish. And telling me you are right because lots of people agree with you, is Argumentum Ad Populi.

Why don't you do her a favor and butt out of her life.

No thank you.

Besides, Ghoul_of_ChokingOnIt, I'll only be able to butt in her life for a day or so.

Then your fondest wish, her death, will be granted, and you and your death-loving friends can find a new victim. Perhaps my mother?

[cajungirl]

I understand your plan but what if relatives get into a struggle over who is in charge. Then the one to settle it is a judge. I think it is hard to escape the judges in cases like this.

I do hate these casual statements "don't let me get like that, I would rather be dead" being the basis for judicial decisions. When I was 26 I used to say I didn't want to live past 60, I thought that was positively senile. Now I am over 60 and these are truly the best years I have had. I think young people making these kinds of decisions need to be very very careful and update any living wills every four or five years.

[ALASKA]

People that think like you do, do not help our cause one bit.

Sorry, I disagree. We are people too and have feelings that we can express just like anyone else. Our feelings of outrage are perfectly human. Terri is innocent, Michael is not.............. People in our cause run the gammut, voiced opinions shouldn't affect the cause at all.

[RightWhale]

Rush has just mentioned that the court system has taken the lead in governance away from the executive branch and the legislative branch. This was not intended by Montesquieu nor the Founding Fathers and apparently is leading our system into disaster.

[mnehring]

[cajungirl]

Man, that is cold.

[kingattax]

and then someone says " this is what mikey wanted"

[dfwgator]

So why is death the default, if one's wishes are unclear? That is my big problem with this entire case.

[feedback doctor]

YOur post reminded me how for years, liberals and conservatives have together cried: NEVER AGAIN! with respect to the Holocaust.

Too bad liberals always find new excuses to let it happen in little ways again and again.

[freedomdefender]

The Florida law was against us on this. It said the spouse decides, then adult children, then parents, then others."""

No, as I understand it, when there is a dispute between parties over the patient's intent, the court must decide her intent based on "clear and convincing evidence." The chain of parties that you list are the people who decide IF THERE IS NO DISPUTE. But once there's a dispute, evidence has to be taken, and "clear and convincing" evidence of a wish to have nutrition withheld must be found. The evidence on which Greer based his decision - some casual comments by Terri related by Schiavo and his kin -- wasn't "clear and convincing", especially given the fact there were casual comments, related by friends of Terri, that went the other way.

[mountaineer]

Pay no attention. He thinks he's funny.

[gopwinsin04]

[RightWhale]

Thanks Mr Hoagland.

[smith288]

Are you trying to say Terri is dying for our sins or something?

[cajungirl]

Laz, you haven't fallen off the wagon have you?

[LauraJean]

I said the same thing about bad hair cuts, diet failures and listening to this Kars for Kids jingle.

[sofaman]

You need to get your facts straight. 19 different judges and 16 different courts did NOT "agree to carry out her wishes". 15 judges have either refused to hear the case or have refused to overturn the ruling. There's a huge difference.

As for butting out of her life, I would IF her "wishes" had not been remembered suddenly after 7 years in this condition, shortly after a very large damages suit had been won, to the tune of $2 million.

[Cherokee Conservative]

Kindly refrain from comparing America to Nazi Germany. 19 different judges and 16 different courts all agreed to carry out her wish. Why don't you do her a favor and butt out of her life.

Oh, you're right. We are ruled by judges and our legislature is powerless. We should just get used to that. Why don't you and your ilk butt out of her DEATH. Since her feeding tube was a court order in the first place (she can eat and drink on her own, hence the lack of drool running down her face), you can't get around the fact that you support death by starvation and withholding water. Food and water are life support now. Remember that if you ever have to be hospitalized. And don't complain if 16 different courts support taking it away from you. After all they are the final authority on everything in this country now. That'll be fine with you until a court rules against you personally and there won't be a darn thing you can do about it.

[Types_with_Fist]

Amen Laz!