Fed Appeals Court Grant Terri's Parents Petition for Rehearing

FNC

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT WILL LET TERRI'S PARENTS FILE A PETITION FOR REHEARING FOR AN INJUNCTION TO REINSERT FEEDING TUBE... BREAKING

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Moderator update:

Court Says Yes To Schiavo Parents

March 30, 2005

(CBS/AP) A federal appeals court early Wednesday granted Terri Schiavo's parents the right to file a petition for rehearing for an injunction that could allow their daughter's feeding tube to be reconnected.

The ruling came just after midnight from a federal appeals court in Atlanta.

On Tuesday, Schiavo's 12th full day without food or water, the Rev. Jesse Jackson prayed with her parents and joined conservatives in calling for state lawmakers to order her feeding tube reinserted.

The former Democratic presidential candidate was invited by Schiavo's parents to meet with activists outside Schiavo's hospice. His arrival was greeted by some applause and cries of "This is about civil rights!"

"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," he said. "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."

As the Schiavo deathwatch drags on, CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann spoke with two families who grappled with the same issues as the Schindlers and Michael Schiavo. On one side are Dorothy and Michael Brocato, who have provided care for their brain-damaged daughter Lisa, who suffered brain damage from a heart attack 15 years ago.

"We have devoted our lives to taking care of Lisa, says her mother. The Brocatos are sympathetic to the Schindler's wish to keep Terri Schiavo alive

"I love her. I love her. I couldn't picture not having her around me,'' says Dorothy Brocato.

Ron Oister has watched the Schiavo drama play out from a very different perspective. When Oister's father was essentially brain-dead, his son's wrenching decision was to let his father go.

"It was very hard,'' Oister told Strassmann. "That was my father. And he was in front of me. And I knew he could never return to what he had been."

Oister says Schiavo's parents helped create this needless public spectacle because they refused to face their hard reality.

"She died then, not now. My own experience would say that one ends life at that time."

Jesse Jackson's visit provided an emotional boost to Schiavo's parents and siblings, who have maintained that Schiavo would want to be kept alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, insists he is carrying out her wishes by having the feeding tube pulled.

Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's mother, later made a terse but emotional appeal to Michael Schiavo: "Michael and Jodi, you have your own children. Please, please give my child back to me." Michael Schiavo and fiancee Jodi Centonze have two children, born long after Terri Schiavo fell into paralysis.

Although supporters of the Schindlers have claimed the dehydrated woman is being denied comfort measures such as ice chips for her dry mouth or balm for chapped lips, George Felos, the husband's attorney, defended how Schiavo is being cared for.

"Obviously, the parents and the siblings are desperate. Desperation may lead to different perceptions," Felos told CNN. "I can only tell you what I've seen, and Terri is dying a very peaceful, cared-for death." Felos did not return phone messages seeking comment from The Associated Press.

Jackson said he asked Michael Schiavo for permission to see the brain-damaged woman but was denied. He also telephoned black legislators in a last-ditch effort to bring back a bill that would prohibit severely brain-damaged patients from being denied food and water if they didn't express their wishes in writing. Lawmakers rejected the legislation earlier this month and appeared unlikely to reconsider it.

One of those contacted by Jackson, Democratic state Sen. Gary Siplin, said he told Jackson the issue had been "thoroughly discussed." Senate Democratic leader Les Miller added, "I have voted. It's time to move on."

The chief sponsor of the measure, state Sen. Daniel Webster, said he knew of no changed votes and that Jackson's efforts may have come too late.

"If he could sway votes — and I'm certain he may be able to — it would have been helpful if he had done that a little earlier" said Webster, a Republican. "We're running out of time. To do it now is not as timely as a couple of weeks ago would have been."

Bob Schindler described his daughter as "failing" following his visit Tuesday.

"She still looks pretty darn good under the circumstances," Schindler said. "You can see the impact of no food and water for 12 days. Her bodily functions are still working. We still have her."

First lady Laura Bush also commented on the case Tuesday, saying the government was right to have intervened on behalf of Schiavo.

"It is a life issue that really does require government to be involved," Bush said aboard a plane bound for Afghanistan, where she was to promote education and women's rights.

During Jackson's visit, a man was tackled to the ground by officers when he tried to storm into the hospice, police said. He became the 47th protester arrested since the feeding tube was removed March 18. The man had two bottles of water with him but did not reach the hospice door, police said.

Doctors have said Terri Schiavo, 41, would probably die within a week or two of the tube being removed. She suffered catastrophic brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped for several minutes because of a chemical imbalance apparently brought on by an eating disorder.

The parents also lost another round in the courts Tuesday when an appeals court upheld a pervious ruling by Judge George Greer that blocked the Department of Children and Families from intervening in the case.




Court Says Yes To Schiavo Parents

[Serenissima Venezia]

I hope you are right - that would be justice.

[Squantos]

Ping

[MJY1288]

With Greer's wife on the board of directors of the Hospice, there is certainly a conflict. With Judge Greer serving on the FL State advisory board on matters of "END OF LIFE" decisions. There is a serious conflict of interest that should have required Judge Greer to recuse himself

[sandmanbr]

Now I'd like someone to ask the court if a judge can order an innocent disabled person starved to death.

If he does have that authority does he have the authority to have an innocent disabled person shot or hung.

If not I'd like to know why not? He is ordering an innocent disable person killed in all three instances.

[AngieGal]

Prayers for Terri!!! Lord, please let her live.

[cornfedcowboy]

CNN Live Now!

[TruthSetsUFree]

Yes, I think that's what he was saying today on Hannity.

Our faith can't be in them, though, you're right. Our hope is in the Lord who alone can turn this around, turning the hearts of the judges and/or the FL legislatures, and preserve Terri's life.

[tang-soo]

Try praying instead of flapping yer gums. We heard you the first and second time.

[Shortstop7]

I am........

[STARWISE]

LIVE ON CNN NOW!

[Ethrane]

'You should live with the knowledge that you prefer Terri be starved to death.

Does that make you proud?

You're a fool.......if you now say putting the tube back is torturing her. What the h*ll do you think she has endured for the last 12 days?

Disgusting comment. '

He is not a fool, and while you may not agree with his comments, I am here to tell you that at this point resuscitating her could very well cause her significant problems and discomfort.

I am NOT saying it should not be done, just that his opinion about the ramifications to TS are correct.

[latina4dubya]

I will say it once again! At this time, it will be a painful torture for her body.

how is it torture for her body if she is really in a PV state? you're saying that trying to sustain her body is painful torture, but starving and dehydrating her body is not torture?

[Auntie Mame]

At this time, it will be a painful torture for her body.

We've heard you all three times. I quoted you so you can see it a fourth time. Please, enough all ready. We're busy being grateful and hopeful here.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

You're a fool.......if you now say putting the tube back is torturing her.

No. But you know they're looking forward to pulling it again. One more chance to play god.

[LoudAmericanCowboy]

I think that when that ass of a man, Michael Shiavo's lawyer, mentioned that she stopped urinating, I think that ment her kidneys have failed, and now begins the poisoning of her body.

I'll still keep praying. God does wonderful things. May He bless Terri.

[Soul Seeker]

Agreed.

IF Terri lives, especially without substantial harm, I would give praise to the Lord. It would be a miracle.

[Army Air Corps]

Well, there is always at least one person who enjoys p*ssing in everyone's cornflakes.

[Utah Girl]

I agree. Sorry, I got a little excited there. Getting her re-hydrated in a safe manner is probably the best bet right now.

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks for posting Whistling. Are you awake? Developments!

[dandi]

At this point, it will take much more than a feeding tube. GI motility is probably nil. Sadly, where she wasn't terminally ill before, she probably is now. I pray for her.