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.
I'd be honked off too if parking for customers of my business was filled up by people who were not shopping in my store. As to Bortz...He's a steaming turd...
I'm not going to cry because this corrupt hospice is suffering. I hope it closes permanently along with all the other Felos-related Greer-related institutions. I will NEVER send an ailing relative to ANY hospice EVER!
There will be a lot of back seat quarter backing in the months and years to come of how this was handled. I agree there are many that hurt their cause because it was THEIR cause not Terri's, not Michael's, not her folks. There are people in this world that do things for a selfish motive.
Actually someone can be selfish with a pure heart. Like the love Terri's parent's have for her. Who wants to out live your child.
Thanks for your awesome comments on this thread.
Wow, what a comment #127.
The protestors have a single focus and it's what makes single issue voters dangerous, imo.
We all have issues important to us but will never find a leader who is all things to us. Never. We can't even find a spouse like that. LOL
But in their single mindedness, the protestors have forgotten about people who are helpless and dying in that Hospice. They've forgotten that their actions are viewed as harsh and cruel, shouting into bullhorns at a Hospice.
So to the general public who doesn't pay a lot of attention to issues like Freepers, they think, gee, those pro lifers care about the unborn but what about the already born who have worked hard, raised families, and are dying. And so a core group of people, most of whom would NEVER do what the protestors are doing, are stigmitized.
Good post, LC.
See my #225.
I am terribly sorry to hear that. There are many wonderful hospices all over the nation that do a lot of good for families dealing with a terminal illness. Some come from homes, other from nursing homes. It is another avenue for those to leave this life with medical oversight and still feel they are having some ability to have charge over their body.
Of course Terri's situation is different. But, I do not think one should draw from this sad case that hospice's have no worth, they do.
I will say this, I offer my prayers for the Schiavo family, all those who care about her and her fellow patients in the hospice.
Thank you for your civil comment. I pissed off a few of the regulars by not agreeing with them that the protesters should be somewhere else. And a few folks chimed it with info on how that particular hospice has had a history of problems with the regulating agencies. To what extent those charges are true, I don't know. But I've read enough about Felos to believe that his purpose is killing those who HE deems not worthy to live and he uses others including the courts and despairing relatives to achieve that result.
Because they are; and any rational person who has ever dealt with them believes the same thing. They are very special people.
What station do you get him on?
I work in the home health field and know medicare and medicaid regulations for hospices as well. The Hospice is guilty of medicare/medicaid fraud because they allowed Terri to be treated at their facility. A patient is eligible for hospice if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness - which the "official" definition is 6 months or less to live. The patients must be certified by a MD at admission and every 60-90 days. The certification must state that the patient is terminal (by the official definition). So there is fraud from the hospice, the physicians, the staff at the hospice, HINO, etc. The media has completely overlooked this as it is not a solution to Terri's plight. But I will be following up with the OIG and FL Medicaid System. Felos was involved with this agency when it was fined $$$$ for fraudulent hospice billing to Medicare several years ago so there is a history of fraud and abuse with this agency.
Damn excellent observation Peach. You have beautifully stated concern's that I think have been over looked. I hope many read this brief but concise comment.
I cannot follow all the threads on Free Republic but I wonder how much press her fellow patients were receiving. It would be great to think that she had a wing to herself, but, she didn't, it does not surprise me in the least that there are those who harbor ill will to the protesters. Should they not be fighting for all those in Terri's plight? Is there nobody facing similar situations at the hospice?
There is that segment that says, you repubs are pro life. But you put folks to death. You are pro states rights, but you file suit when you do not agree with the courts, you are pro death penalty but you want to save Terri. I am feeling like a spinning top at times, not sure where it will stop and once stopped so dizzy, it takes time to find my direction.
Again, excellent comment, Peach.
Let's see...unsubstantiated accusations, posted repeatedly, then an innocent "she could say" pose when called on it. See the logical disconnect there? No, I suspect not. The better question might be: what aren't you missing in the civil discourse department...
By the bye, the next time one of your supporters wades in to complain about someone treating your rudeness with a well-deserved dose of counter-rudeness, you might want to encourage a better champion. This one doesn't seem up to it...
Thanks, FMC.
You're right about some of the inconsistencies and this matter has highlighted your concerns.
Mr. Peach is often right about things and he thinks people will forget. But he's not always right and I'm afraid they won't. But this is one time this woman hopes she's wrong :-)
Let's see...unsubstantiated accusations, posted repeatedly, then an innocent "she could say" pose when called on it.
When called on what?
Just talk, man.
I try to be nice and look how you react.
I am clear. My impression is the person who began this thread with an article critical of the demonstrators holds the view that Terri Schiavo should be starved.
My impression is you also hold that view.
Am I wrong?
You know why the cops are there, right?
They've been reading Free Republic.
How do they find the time to keep up?
What reason and sanity are you clamoring for? What is wrong with pointing out that Judge Greer seems to have turned the other cheek to any arguments other than the those of Felos and MS? And that others -- not including Terry and Klayman -- believe that there is reason, justification and constitutional authority for Jeb to intervene? When an innocent young woman is being sentenced to death by starvation and dehydration, what is wrong with using OUR constitutional right to temporarily peaceably protest at this location and demonstrate our belief that she should live. Notice I say "peaceably". And individual civil disobedience does not necessarily mean it is not peaceful, as many civil rights demonstators tried to show us in the 1960's with lunch counter sit ins (though the police thought otherwise).
No, as much as I hope I'm wrong, I don't think I'm being unrealistic. A lot of people will come to believe that a protracted court battle in a case like this would be a futile endeavor due to the way this one turned out. Judge Greer has set quite a precedent and the higher courts have shown that they are more interested in process than justice.
Sounds like Mr. Peach is like my beloved Mr. (can't put chick on him) No Longer Free State. All though Dave is over seas defending our country, he may not be seeing the 24/7 coverage. I would hate to say my sweetie is correct, but like you would gladly admit to my error but folks will NOT forget. This has divided many, it is angered many, it has ruined friendships (such as FR) and frankly I have to believe it is folks true belief that is driving them but I do wonder would that be what Terri would have wanted.
Would Terri have wanted her case to be the lightening rod it has become, the reason of her parents and husbands ill will, I do not know but I kind of think she would not be happy.
Suppose we all will have to wait until we get to the gates of Heaven.
Please check your freepmail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.