Posted on 03/28/2005 6:41:56 PM PST by Former Military Chick
PINELLAS PARK - Jennifer Johnson, barefoot and in her pajamas, ran to her grandfather's bedside once a hospice worker said his death was moments away.
She got there - one minute too late.
Johnson said the chaos surrounding the hospice where Terri Schiavo lies dying kept her from saying goodbye. When Johnson arrived, a police officer demanded identification; she had none. And after a hospice employee cleared her, another officer halted her for a metal-detecting search.
The delays lasted three to four minutes - the last minutes of her grandfather's life.
"It's a terrible, extra obstacle to put in front of a family. . . . Everything is about Schiavo," Johnson said. "It's all about her and in my family's case, it cost us dearly."
Woodside Hospice has 70 patients in addition to Schiavo, whose parents have been desperately trying to have her feeding tube reinserted. Dozens of protesters have arrived from around the nation since the tube was removed March 18; at least 22 have been arrested, prompting a police barricade around the facility and unprecedented security measures.
Family members visiting patients must pass through a police checkpoint to park, then show identification outside the door before another security screening inside. They also must walk by scores of signs decrying Schiavo's "crucifixion," "torture" and "starvation," plus navigate around hordes of media who have been camped outside the facility.
"To have to maneuver through all of this and have a hostile environment outside when all they want is peace and quiet and to enjoy those few days they have left with a loved one is a horror," said Dr. Morton Getz, executive director of Douglas Gardens Hospice in Miami.
Getz said many people with a family member in a hospice have to make the same excruciating decision that courts have made for Schiavo.
"It's causing a lot of grief and questions in their own mind on whether they did the right thing," he said. "It's unconscionable to have a family member to be near the end stages of life and to get there, you have to walk through signs that say, 'Murderer.' "
Most protesters direct their signs and their chants against the courts and Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband who insists she would not want to be kept alive artificially. But walking through a hostile environment can only add stress to what's already an emotionally draining situation.
"It probably has the same psychological effect on the residents' families as it does on someone who is walking into an abortion clinic and facing signs and aggressive behavior," said Elizabeth Foley, a Florida International University law professor who specializes in bioethics. "And unfortunately, that is the price you have to pay in a free society."
Over the past few days, as Schiavo's parents' attempts to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted repeatedly failed, signs outside the hospice have grown more desperate. Messages compare Michael Schiavo to the likes of Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his wife and unborn child in California, and John Evander Couey, who has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and murdering a 9-year-old girl in Homosassa.
Blame it on the primary culprits. FELOS, GREER and MICHAEL SCHIAVO.
lights..........I just think you and others are being alarmist, pessimists and well.....you know what I' mean....the purview of the Democrats usually.....this one case......one case of extroidinary circumstances is not a snowball rolling down hill....if anything, it may encourage more precise laws being enacted.....but it still is one case...if you took every single or exceptional rule to heart, we would truly be stagnant, petrified and inert...
The polls have the facts of the case incorrect and the MSM has fed the people the wrong facts. If the PUBLIC knew the TRUE story, those polls would be different.
Holy Cow, I can't actaully believe this is being written on Free Republic. Do you actually see what you just wrote, you insensative as*hole!!! This woman lost her grandfather, of whom she was very close...
So, instead of being at least compassionate to her loss, you give "Oh yeah... poor thing... heart bleeds.." My God, I can't believe you actually typed that...
I truly hope that maybe after reading this, you do see how it sounded.... because it sounded, I can't even think of how bad that sounded... It actually sounded dirty!!! Wow, I'm really just shocked....
I am not worried about GW Bush, he did not go by polls with Iraq and he is not going to go by polls for this. He has determined that he has no authority.
I don't really know about J Bush, and polls, I think he is a moral man and is suffering with this more then anyone of us because he is in a positon of power.
In the end, I think most can agree that if he acts unilaterally it will be a scary time for the republic. But it will be just as scary if an innocent helpless woman can be starved to death by order of the state,
.
In the short term it may seem easier to ler her die and delay the crisis but the crisis will come.
It's just a short time inconvenience -- Terri will be dead pretty soon and the commotion will subside.
that was an ABC poll and not the ones I'm alluding too....that poll was bunk to be sure..and I know you talk about both sides of the story.....I love Brent, but look at the posts here, who starts the name calling and insults when another opinion is opined.....it is the so called Christians that villify Greer, Bush and all......not us that are clamoring for reason and sanity......and none of us are pro death to Terri, but called that all the time...the instigators are in the camp of the religious zealots ......and before you say it, have been a Christian all my life and born again most of it
Freedom of assemble and the right to protest are far to messy. I agree an ordered society -- one where undesirables can be put to death without annoying anyone -- would be much better. I don't "get" the riff raff either. Sarcasm off
It's not throwing your "principles" away. Saving an innocent life like Terri's is the HIGHER PRINCIPLE. When you have the power to save someone in Terri's situation, you do not stand by and watch her die. You take action, and let the chips fall where they may.
then the public is stupid cause most of the facts except for medical records etc have been discussed....they primarily don't want the govt messing in these intimate family affairs and would side with the spouse
When you have a family member in hospice, they are there to die, therefore not anticipating a long stay. This woman should have said her goodbye a long time ago.
Terri Schiavo should not have been in a hospice for the past few years. She was not dying. She is now, of course because her husband is having her starved to death.
Yes, I agree Dave, but that short time inconvenience caused this woman to miss being with HER grandfather at the time of his death... I don't think SHE will look at this as a short time inconvenience....... do you?
in that we in total agreement......I have never said that this in not a travesty......and in fact think an innocent girl is being left to die....but where I differ, is that it is according to the law......immoral or blind as it is..
I am afraid you are guilty of wishful thinking.
This is a turf battle and the judiciary is staking its turf.
Problem is,the judiciary is the least responsible o fthe 3 branches of government.Meaning many are nominated for life and they can stick it to the American people without recourse.
I wouldn't had you access to mine.
Free Terri! Arrest the rest!
"let me guess.....you think she is pro death"
I don't know whom you're talking about. To whom are you referring?
so what would you do......would you kill for her...or maybe just break numerous laws for her.....let me ask you....when Mayor Newsom of SF married all those gay couples against Calif law.......how did you feel?......did you say, go for it Mayor, moral conviction should triumph over the law.....did you really think that.....?????......I doubt it, that is why we are a demo republic..and not a theocracy, cause whose morals do we follow?......a tough qustion that would be.....maybe YOUR morals would do....eh?
If you remove a feeding tube from your mother who is still able to digest her food, you will be STARVING her and she will die an unnatural death.
I would urge you to rethink your position. You may later regret it. I pray that you change your mind.
That's nothing, someone once tried to hijack a Green River killer thread into a Terri Schiavo thread!
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