Dad accuses courts of 'mindset to kill Terri'

CTV ^ | March 26, 05 | CTV

[churchillbuff]

Terri Schiavo's life may be fading, but the arguments and turmoil surrounding her fate are not -- as her parents continue their relentless efforts to have her feeding tube reinserted.

Emerging from the Florida hospice where his brain-damaged daughter is being cared for, Bob Schindler let reporters know the extent of his frustration.

"What you're seeing is textbook example of judicial tyranny," he said late Friday evening, accusing the courts of having, "a mindset to kill Terri."

"I think it's disgusting and revolting what these courts have done to her."

Just hours earlier, a federal appeals court dealt Bob and Mary Schindler the latest in a series of legal defeats when it refused to order the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube.

Marking the third such decision in four days, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta said it had already ruled on most issues -- and those it hadn't did not apply.

Schiavo's feeding tube was removed last Friday, after a Florida judge ruled in favour of her husband's argument -- that Terri did not want to be kept alive artificially.

When asked about how his daughter was doing after a week without food or water, Schindler said she "is weakening."

"She is down to her last hours. So something has to be done, and has to be done quick," he said Friday morning. After another visit in the afternoon, Schindler said his daughter's decline was marked.

"I told her that we're still fighting for her, and she shouldn't give up because we're not. But I think the people who are anxious to see her die are getting their wish."

Terri's plea

Despite a growing list of judicial setbacks that have gone as high as the U.S. Supreme Court, the Schindlers showed they weren't defeated with one more filing.

A motion filed Friday afternoon asked Pinellas Circuit Judge George Greer to order the reinsertion of the tube, because Schiavo apparently tried to say "I want to live" when it was removed.

According to the motion, when Schiavo was asked to repeat what was said, she responded: "AHHHHH" and "WAAAAAAA."

Greer is expected to announce his decision sometime Saturday.

Schiavo, 41, has been in what doctors have diagnosed as a persistent vegetative state since 1990, when she suffered brain damage after her heart stopped briefly from a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder

Because she left no living will, there was no easy resolution to the bitter battle that subsequently developed between her parents and husband.

Political pressure

When the Schindlers spoke to reporters late Friday, they made a direct plea to Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

"Governor Bush has the authority to stop all this," Bob Schindler said. "He's put Terri thorough a week of hell and my family through a week of hell by not acting... And I implore him to put a stop to this.

"This is judicial homicide."

As a constant supporter of the Schindlers, the governor's office was still clinging to hope Friday that the courts would allow the state to assume custody of Schiavo.

"We are continuing to do whatever we can and we are pursuing all the options available to us in this case," Bush spokesperson Jacob DiPietre said.

On Thursday, a petition from the state's Department of Children and Families and Gov. Bush to gain custody of Schiavo, and presumably reconnect her feeding tube, was denied.

Bush and the department were challenging doctors' diagnoses that Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state, based on what they said was new evidence from a neurologist.

Greer said an affidavit from a neurologist who believes Schiavo is "minimally conscious" was not enough to overturn his decision to allow the withdrawal of food and water.

Gov. Bush has already ordered his legal team to look over state laws to see if there is any way to get Schiavo's feeding tube reconnected.

This is the third time Schiavo has had her feeding tube removed. It was removed for two days in 2001 and six days in 2003.

Experts have estimated Schiavo can survive, at most, two weeks without the feeding tube.

Doctors have said Schiavo could expect to live no more than two weeks, after her feeding tube is removed.

Earlier reports, based on family friends and attorneys, said Schiavo is beginning to show the effects of dehydration, including flaky skin, dry tongue and lips, and sunken eyes

[billybudd]

Yeah, right. All the judges on the state courts, federal courts, and U.S. Supreme Court that have ruled on this have a sadistic desire to kill this woman. Gimme a break.

[FairOpinion]

You should read this excellent piece by David Limbaugh:

A turning point in the culture war (Schiavo)(by David Limbaugh)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1371089/posts

What this boils down to is that our courts (and far too many in society) are so acclimated to our Culture of Death that they are erring on the side of death. Despite enormous doubts about Terri's condition, her intentions, and even her initial injury, the courts are determining that in the end, none of this matters because anyone in Terri's diminished state (no matter what it specifically is) is better off dead. It's essentially a court-ordered murder based on the court's subjective assessment of the victim's quality of life -- an assessment tainted by its diminished reverence for human life.

The decision to kill Terri Schiavo is not in deference to Terri's intentions, about which there is way too much doubt, but to godlessness, humanism and death. It is to quench society's lust for death.

This case marks a turning point in the Culture War, where society is making a giant leap toward the dark side, embracing the lie over truth and death over life. In our relentless quest to become like gods, we are crossing another sacred line, and it is hard to imagine how we might return.

[FairOpinion]

And for a good analysis, read this:


Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Terri Schiavo has been denied due process of law.

http://www.nationalreview.com/mccarthy/mccarthy200503250823.asp


In the United States, we require proof beyond a reasonable doubt on all facts necessary to the judgment before someone is killed by the machinery of the justice system. Nothing less will do.

The main consideration is that an American is being killed by a court order based on fact-finding so palpably unreliable there cannot even be the pretense that the due-process yardstick our country has long demanded in death cases was used. No one contends the Florida court required proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

[sockmonkey]

Emerging from the Florida hospice where his brain-damaged daughter is being cared for murdered by dehydration and starvation...

[jim35]

Ok, then is your conclusion that Terri is a total vegatable? Are you certain? Ok, then let's just err on the side of death, and starve and dehydrate a woman, just in case she really is brain dead. She can be the first, then we can go to hospices, nursing homes, and finally hospitals, and cull out the mute patients first. Then just the ones too weak to talk, and finally we can just euthanize anyone who can't fight back hard enough.

[MTMS]

Those who fought for abortion rights 30 years ago and continue to fight for them ARE certainly in favor of killing the handicapped, weak and elderly. Many of us recognized that fact when abortion became legal. When a nation devalues human life to the point of killing unborn it is only a matter of time before the rest of the undesireables are killed. We have already heard how removing feeding tubes is common place in hospitals all across the nation.

Luke 16:24 tells of the rich man who is in hell being tormented and he is begging Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his (the rich guy's) tongue. Somehow this reminds me of Greer and his cohorts.

[tessalu]

If Terri were able to beg for a drop of water, Michael Schiavo, Judge Greer. amd George Felos would not have given it to her. Fox New reported that Terri is bleeding from her tongue and her eyes, and that her skin is flaking off.
These men need justice for their murder, for cruelty beyond belief.

[MTMS]

Yep, what goes around comes around. These evil men will pay a high price when they stand before God and give an account. THEY will be the ones begging for water in the hereafter.

[MTMS]

AND, Terri will be comforted by a tender God and will live abundantly forever, I believe. Just SO SAD it has gone this way. Still praying for a miracle but getting sadder each day.

[Stellar Dendrite]

"Those who fought for abortion rights 30 years ago and continue to fight for them ARE certainly in favor of killing the handicapped, weak and elderly"

But, I thought liberals want to help the "little guy"?

[NicknamedBob]

They did not win.

They chose Death,
and they will have it.

We choose Life,
and we will have it.

[MTMS]

....I think they want to 'kill' the little guy! Geez, what country IS this, anyway?!

[MTMS]

I agree with your sentiments.

[Earthdweller]

I will bet you anything she doesn't look like this anymore..

Terri Schiavo Before dehydration

May this smile haunt everyone who called it fake for the rest of their lives.

[Tulsa Brian]

I'm torn between two points of view. One is that through sheer bloodymindedness, they (the left in the shape of these activist judges) are doing everything they can to further their end run maneuvering around the constitution which is the ongoing devaluation of life (Roe v. Wade) in order to desensitize people to mass scale murder, since that's all the left does well. I don't believe it's a coincidence that this is happening during Holy Week. They did the same kind of desecration during Christmas last year simply because the lost the election, This is well coordinated. I 'm so mad right now I'm sick.

[babygene]

"What you're seeing is textbook example of judicial tyranny," he said late Friday evening, accusing the courts of having, "a mindset to kill Terri."

What the HEll's this man's problem? Putting myself into his position, no one would be allowed to kill my daughter unless they killed me first. And I'd have the element of surprise on my side.

[churchillbuff]

Ive said that he ought to be gobbling twinkies in full view of the media cameras - - - so he could later on use the "Twinkie defense" when he went to trial for doing what, as a father, he might think he has to do.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

The biggest problem I have here.. Is that there in nothing "in writing" about what Terri wants or wanted.. The fact that Felos serves on the board of directors where Terri is currently being killed resides, should have stopped this arguement in it's tracks.

I have worked with/cared for brain damaged people, and brain dead people for better than twenty years.. The difference in them is profound... I have heard EVERY arguement I want to hear on this.. as far as it being political, pro life, pro abortion..

Republican or Democrat....

(I had one family fighting over Mother's Cadillac..one on one side of her bed, and one on the other..While she yet lived)

Just to demonstrate how ugly, and how cheapened, this can get.... She gave them life, for crying out loud!

ENOUGH!! "What GOOD is her life?" To that I say.."What "good" is YOURS? "What"s her "quality" of life? What "quality" is yours? What "Purpose" does she serve? What "purpose" do YOU serve?

Terri serves a purpose... She teaches us about ourselves, our humanity, our compassion...and how we see ourselves..

Life is a gift, for ALL...

TO all...

Nobody has a right to take it from you... and we had better learn that.. Ms.B

[tflabo]

---

Skip to comments.

Terri Schiavo Expresses Her Wishes; Attorney and Sister Testify in Court
Blogs for Terri ^ | March 25, 2005 | Blogs for Terri


Posted on 03/25/2005 9:27:34 PM PST by Moxie18


« Email Media Outlets | Main March 25, 2005 Terri Schiavo Expresses Her Wishes; Attorney and Sister Testify in Court

The following are Terri Schiavo's sister, Suzanne Vitadamo's and Attorney Barbara Weller's sworn testimony submitted to Judge Greer in Pinellas County Court today.

Barbara Weller, Esq., is putting her entire professional reputation as an officer of the court on the line. If she is not telling the truth she would not only be found guilty of perjury, she would sacrifice her career by being disbarred.

DECLARATION OF SUZANNE VITADAMO STATE OF FLORIDA ) COUNTY OF PINELLAS )

I, SUZANNE VITADAMO, sister of the Petitioner in the above-styled case, hereby declare under penalty of perjury:

1. I visited with Terri at various times during the day on March 18, 2005, the day her feeding tube was removed.

2. Terri was in good spirits that morning. My husband, Michael Vitadamo and Terri's aunt, Claudia Tamarro, were in the room with myself and Attorney Barbara Weller when Terri attempted to speak to Mrs. Weller. A female Pinellas Park police office were standing at the door of Terri's room.

3. Terri was sitting up in her lounge chair and Mrs. Weller and I were sitting on her bed. My aunt was standing at the found of Terri's chair.

4. Mrs. Weller stood up and learned over Terri. She took her arms in her hands. Mrs. Weller begged Terri to try to say, "I want to live." Terri's eyes opened wide, she looked at Mrs. Weller with great concentration and said, "Ahhhhhhh." Then, with great effort, she screamed, "Waaaaaaaa" so loudly that Michael Vitadamo and the female police officer who were then standing together outside Terri's door, clearly heard her. Terri had a look of anguish on her face and she seemed to be struggling hard, but was she could not complete the sentence. Terri began to cry and Mrs. Weller and I began to stroke Terri's face and hair to comfort her.

5. Mrs. Weller and I continued to visit and talk with Terri, along with other family members who came and went in the room.

FURTHER YOUR DECLARANT SAYETH NOT.

I hereby declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. Executed this 22nd day of March, 2005, at Seminole, Florida.

SUZANNE VITADAMO Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25nd day of March, 2005.

---

DECLARATION OF BARBARA J. WELLER STATE OF FLORIDA ) COUNTY OF PINELLAS )

I, BARBARA WELLER, Attorney for Respondents in the above-styled case, hereby declare under penalty of perjury:

1. I visited with Terri at various times during the day on March 18, 2005, the day her feeding tube was removed.

2. During the morning I was in the room with Terri and various members of her family. Terri was in good spirits that morning. The mood in her room was jovial, particularly around noontime, as we knew Congressional attorneys were on the scene and many were working hard to save Terri's life. For most of that time, I was visiting and talking with Terri along with Terri's sister Suzanne Vitadamo, Suzanne's husband, and Terri's aunt, who was visiting from New York to help provide support for the family. A female Pinellas Park police office was stationed at the door outside Terri's room.

3. Terri was sitting up in her lounge chair, dressed and looking alert and well. Her feeding tube had been plugged in around 11 a.m. and we all felt good that she was still being fed. Suzanne and I were talking, joking, and laughing with Terri, telling her she was going to go to Washington D.C. to testify before Congress, which meant that finally Terri's husband Michael would be required to fix her wheelchair. After that Suzanne could take Terri to the mall shopping and could wheel her outdoors every day to feel the wind and sunshine on her face, something she has not been able to do for more than five years.

4. At one point, I noticed Terri's window blinds were pulled down. I went to the window to raise them so Terri could look at the beautiful garden outside her window and see the sun after several days of rain. As sunlight came into the room, Terri's eyes widened and she was obviously very pleased.

5. Suzanne and I continued to talk and joke with Terri for probably an hour or more. At one point Suzanne called Terri the bionic woman and I heard Terri laugh out loud heartily. She laughed so hard that for the first time I noticed the dimples in her cheeks.

6. The most dramatic event of this visit happened at one point when I was sitting on Terri's bed next to Suzanne. Terri was sitting in her lounge chair and her aunt was standing at the foot of the chair. I stood up and learned over Terri. I took her arms in both of my hands. I said to her, "Terri if you could only say ‘I want to live' this whole thing could be over today." I begged her to try very hard to say, "I want to live." To my enormous shock and surprise, Terri's eyes opened wide, she looked me square in the face, and with a look of great concentration, she said, "Ahhhhhhh." Then, seeming to summon up all the strength she had, she virtually screamed, "Waaaaaaaa." She yelled so loudly that Michael Vitadamo, Suzanne's husband, and the female police officer who were then standing together outside Terri's door, clearly heard her. At that point, Terri had a look of anguish on her face that I had never seen before and she seemed to be struggling hard, but was unable to complete the sentence. She became very frustrated and began to cry. I was horrified that I was obviously causing Terri so much anguish. Suzanne and I began to stroke Terri's face and hair to comfort her. I told Terri I was very sorry. It had not been my intention to upset her so much. Suzanne and I assured Terri that her efforts were much appreciated and that she did not need to try to say anything more. I promised Terri I would tell the world that she had tried to say, "I want to live."

7. Suzanne and I continued to visit and talk with Terri, along with other family members who came and went in the room, until about 2:00 p.m. when we were all told to leave after Judge Greer denied yet another motion for stay and ordered the removal of the feeding tube to proceed. As we left the room, the female police officer outside the door was valiantly attempting to keep from crying.

8. About four in the afternoon, several hours after the feeding tube was removed, I returned to Terri's room. By that time she was alone except for a male police officer now standing inside the door. When I entered the room and began to speak to her, Terri started to cry and tried to speak to me immediately. It was one of the most helpless feelings I have ever had. Terri was looking very melancholy at that point and I had the sense she was very upset that we had told her things were going to get better, but instead, they were obviously getting worse. I had previously had the same feeling when my own daughter was a baby who was hospitalized and was crying and looking to me to rescue her from her hospital crib, something I could not do. While I was in the room with Terri for the next half hour or so, several other friends came to visit and I did a few press interviews sitting right next to Terri. I again raised her window shade, which had again been pulled down, so Terri could at least see the garden and the sunshine from her lounge chair. I also turned the radio on in her room before I left so that when she was alone, she would at least have some music for comfort.

9. Just before I left the room, I leaned over Terri and spoke right into her ear. I told her I was very sorry I had not been able to stop the feeding tube from being taken out and I was very sorry I had to leave her alone. But I reminded her that Jesus would stay right by her side even when no one else was there with her. When I mentioned Jesus' Name, Terri again laughed out loud. She became very agitated and began loudly trying to speak to me again. As Terri continued to laugh and try to speak, I quietly prayed in her ear, kissed her, placed her in Jesus' care, and left the room.

FURTHER YOUR DECLARANT SAYETH NOT.

I hereby declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. Executed this 22nd day of March, 2005, at Seminole, Florida.

BARBARA J. WELLER Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25nd day of March, 2005