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.
Glad that you took the time to read the article and post a comment, though.
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Admirable. : )
Then go protest at the courthouse - not at the hospice!
Agreed.
Agreed.
Terri is dead or good as dead.
I have no idea what you mean in terms of a "Terri must not die" thread.
She's being murdered and will be dead soon.
This issue is well beyond only Terri Schindler.
I think you would be.....but some passionate here turn every single thread into a "dont kill Terri" thread and this one was about one young lady losing her grandfather.. I don't deny your emotions over it, but everything you told me is for discussion on other threads also....this one was pertinent on one side issue.....and just from posting this, FMC has almost been accused of being pro death or something.....the pro death, you are a Nazi insult mentality, (not you per se) is fanatical BS that DUer's and liberal activist use.....I have compassion and prayer for this issue
Exactly. You are only supposed to be in a hospice if your death is imminent in the next 6 months. So how did Terri, a physically well woman, get in?
George Felos, a death lawyer, is on the board. Could this have been set up as a test case...hmmm?
And there is also this hospice/medicare problem here....
http://www.theempirejournal.com/0309052_Medicaid_Medicare_Fraud_Evident_In_Schiavo.htm
I fully agree that some of the anger should be directed at the hospice. This facility never should have accepted Terri as a patient, because she was not terminally ill. Before we could move my mother to the hospice facility, two physicians had to certify that she was terminally ill and that there was no treatment available. Although I deeply sympathize with the families of the other patients at the hospice facility, I don't place all the blame on the protesters. I also blame Michael, his lawyer, Judge Greer, and the hospice itself.
Actually, they didn't; they told them to go home and be with their families for Easter and then come back.
Perhaps a bit ironic.
Most would say I am a fair and open minded individual. Feelings are running strong and many threads on FR have become very contentious.
I know....but FMC posted this regarding this side issue. Like what happened all this weekend, many here who can't abide by anything but their emotions attacked her for posting this without disclosing anything about her beliefs about Terri S........some just made the leap that she was pro death or something.....a terrible leap to make
Already posted here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1371165/posts
Johnson said the chaos surrounding the hospice where Terri Schiavo lies dying kept her from saying goodbye.
It wasn't the fault of Terri's supporters that delayed this woman's access to the hospice; it was the authorities.
Had the police and not been in front of the hospice, this woman would have been able to visit her relative.
But why are you posting this? Rethorical question. We know why.
As someone who's family died at Dachau I am really beginning to resent the comparison. I cannot believe that anyone would use the image of what occurred under Hitler as the treatment Terri is receiving. PLEASE.
Why ask, my request will go unheard.
Your deep concern is noted.
Pls explain - why is this strange?
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