Posted on 04/02/2005 7:03:33 PM PST by Cableguy
Terri Schiavo's widower has gone into hiding because of the furore over his wife's death and has sought police protection.
Michael Schiavo, 41, is under guard three days after his disabled wife died from dehydration at a Florida hospice.
She had spent 13 days without food or water after a United States judge upheld Mr Schiavo's claim that she would not have wished to continue life in a persistently vegetative state.
"His goal is to find safe housing because of these death threats," said a friend, Alan Shoopak. "It's not over. Unfortunately, it's just beginning."
Mrs Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who went to the US Supreme Court to block the removal of their daughter's feeding tube, admit that they care little for their son-in-law, but have urged against revenge attacks.
"Our family abhors any violence, or any threats of violence. We ask that all those who support our family be completely kind in their words and deeds towards others," said Mrs Schiavo's sister, Suzanne Vitadamo.
Anger at Mr Schiavo's actions has been fuelled by the revelation that a court order from a county judge, George Greer, who repeatedly refused the Schindlers' pleas to let their daughter live, will allow him to have her cremated and her ashes interred in Pennsylvania. The Schindlers' request for a share of the ashes or even a lock of their daughter's hair has also been refused.
The family see it as the final act in a 12-year campaign of spite by their son-in-law. Other alleged snubs include having his wife's wedding ring melted down to make a ring for himself.
Last week, while his wife's life ebbed away at the Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, Mr Schiavo moved into quarters on site, to avoid protesters outside. Some had banners expressing vitriol for Mr Schiavo and Judge Greer. "You are going to hell, murderers," one read. The hospice also received hoax bomb threats last week.
For several days, Mr Schiavo has not returned to the home in Clearwater he shares with his fiancée, Jodi Centonze, and their two children. Friends speculate that they may leave Florida altogether.
The results of a post-mortem examination, which it is believed may shed more light on years-old bone fractures Mrs Schiavo suffered, and the extent of her brain damage, will be published within weeks.
Mr Schiavo's friends and family speak of a man who honoured his wife's wishes and released her from what he perceived to be a life without hope. After cradling her in his arms as she died on Thursday morning, he placed a rose in her hand and kissed her goodbye.
A Mass to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday.
For me, euthanasia is the killing of another person, under conditions that the killer has justified as being in the victim's best interests, i.e. they have no hope of recovery, etc.
Having the victim's pre-written authorization does not make it right in my book. It is still murder.
Sometimes, tho, sick or elderly people stop eating and waste away. I believe that's part of the natural death process.
A very good point.
Sometimes, tho, sick or elderly people stop eating and waste away. I believe that's part of the natural death process.
Agreed. Now we just have to convince the rest of our FRiends. :^)
I do believe however, that an individual can make a decision before hand, if their brain is dead and death is imminent and the only means of life is a ventilator or heart lung machine, that it is okay for that individual to have requested legally beforehand to be denied that means of support.
That is a personal decision that I would not stand against, whether I would choose that or not, and I do not believe it is murder to not provide that level of support in those circumstances if the desire is made known before hand legally. Just my opinion.
That's a far cry from ordering your death from dehydration/starvation in similar circumstances. I doubt you'd get much disagreement from anyone on respirators and heart/lung machines.
My sympathies are with you, but he has to go somewhere, and, well, some places are frankly beyond redemption, politically speaking. How long have you been sending old Ted to the Senate? And which state was it that recently decided to push gay marriage onto the nation?
But, don't worry, you have plenty of company; CA and NJ come mind. I think of folks like you as patriots fighting a losing battle deep behind enemy lines.
Agreed...what happened to Terri was judicial fiat and murder, plain and simple.
Oh yeah, of course.. My brain must have slipped out of gear for a moment. Thanks for the correction.
It doesn't matter what laws are passed, or how Constitutions (State or Federal) are amended. The judiciary has the last say in how they interpret it. Too bad for the government OF the people BY the people. Is that what we've come down to?
BTW, where is the Tyranny Response Team?
Well I can say they won't be welcome in Texas.
The suck part about this is they will probably end up in the witness protection program at OUR expense!
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.