DCF: Terri Schiavo Not Abused, Exploited

ABC/AP ^ | 4.16.05

[ambrose]

DCF: Terri Schiavo Not Abused, Exploited

State Agency: Terri Schiavo Was Not Abused or Exploited by Either Side of Her Family

By VICKIE CHACHERE

The Associated Press

Apr. 16, 2005 - State investigators found no evidence that Terri Schiavo had been abused or exploited by either side of her family, according to documents released by Florida's Department of Children and Families.

The agency investigated 89 complaints dating back to 2001, when Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for the first time and the legal battle surrounding her right-to-die case intensified.

The calls alleged that the brain-damaged woman was being mistreated by her husband and her parents for financial gain. One complaint alleged that Schiavo's parents were selling videos of her through a Web site; another said Schiavo's husband wasn't spending money intended for her rehabilitation.

But investigators said they found no evidence that either her husband or parents were exploiting her, and often noted in their records that they found Schiavo well cared for on their visits to her Pinellas Park hospice.

The agency released the records Friday under court order.

Schiavo, 41, died last month after her feeding tube was removed for the third time, ending a bitter court battle between her husband, Michael Schiavo, and parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, over whether she would have wanted to live in a vegetative state.

The repeated allegations of abuse were based partly on bone scans showing Terri Schiavo suffered fractures and statements she made to family and friends that she was unhappy in her marriage.

Schiavo's husband has denied harming his wife. His lawyer said the fractures resulted from osteoporosis caused by the woman's years of immobility and complications of her medication.

Robert Schindler declined to comment there on the release of the DCF documents. An attorney for Michael Schiavo did not immediately return calls.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

[txrangerette]

Polls have shown that a sizable number say "the government should stay out of such family situations". They never complained about a judge being in it, just Congress and the President and Jeb, as if judges aren't "the government". Their ignorance is showing. Not speaking of you, as I know you know judges are also the government. Moving toward the center? Would that be more toward Democrats, or McCain, or Lincoln Chafee, or Hillary or just whom? I wonder about it. Any event, that political prospect won't change the views of those speaking from principle and from the heart on this matter.

[Drango]

Further to that, in two weeks I've had 4 phone calls from the RNC and the state GOP asking for $$.

I'm (was) a GOP precinct chair. No mas.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Me, too. I've told them to look elsewhere. When it is time for me to vote again, I will vote for the candidate, NOT the party.

[Peach]

LOL.

Three calls happened in 3 days. The 4th one was yesterday. Two guys told me they agreed with my position (that Congress had no right to interfere in what has always been a family/doctor matter). They are taking a TON of heat for this and it's reflected in Bush and Cheney's comments about DeLay's lashing out at the judges. They didn't support that at ALL.

[billbears]

If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up and ask for a cold beer, it should be presumed that I won't do so ever again. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.

Yep, turn off the light, close the door, and get on with living. I'll be in a much better place so no tears either. If my parents, wife, or children understand my Christian beliefs, they would want to let me go if there's no hope instead of hanging onto a body

[MHGinTN]

You're a hoot! Terri didn't decide when or where she would die, judge Greer and the rubber stamptroopers did that. What hoot you are! Thank you for tossing in some amusement for the evening.

[68 grunt]

That's great! I bookmarked it for later use :^>

Y'know what gets me? The myth making. The myth that turns a brain of water into a cogent being, the myths of conspiracies, the myths of this that and the other thing. I wonder if in one thousand years the myth will have her resurrecting? I wonder if previous myths started this way?

[Howlin]

Jesse or Alan or Randall=guaranteed hauntings.

[KDD]

http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200511628reh2.pdf

11th circut...Judge Birch denounced, in no uncertain terms, the overreaching actions of the president and the Republican-led Congress:


"When the fervor of political passions moves the Executive and the Legislative branches to act in ways inimical to basic constitutional principles, it is the duty of the judiciary to intervene."

In resolving the Schiavo controversy, it is my judgment that, despite sincere and altruistic motivation, the Legislative and Executive branches of our government have acted in a manner demonstrably at odds with our Founding Fathers' blueprint for the governance of a free people - our Constitution."

Noting that intervention in the courts by the executive and legislative branches in the Schiavo case imperils the separation of powers, Birch stated why the judiciary could not passively accept this brazen power grab:

"If sacrifices to the independence of the judiciary are permitted today, precedent is established for the constitutional transgressions of tomorrow."

[MHGinTN]

It's Dred Scott de ja something or other.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Never Forget

[Peach]

#1. The ONLY reason a judge was brought into this was to legislate between two families. Things like this happen every single day of every week, all year long without judicial interference. But when families disagree, they have to act on the suit.

#2. Congress has no right to involve itself in this matter. None. If they want to pass laws that make such actions illegal, they need to work within a set of guidelines. Imagine if they said that no feeding tube could ever be removed. There go living wills.

#3. Moving toward the center...I can tell you what it means for me and for a lot of my neighbors. Absolutely no sympathy for the radical element within the conservative movement. None. And no support.

MUCH less $$ to the GOP and RNC. Try none.

Fewer letters to the editor supporting OUR position. Most of us are so discouraged and downright disgusted we just don't care. That's won't last forever, but for now, we're out of it and won't help in any way.

That's how ticked off people are. If our right to self determination is going to be fiddled with, I don't want any part of the party. None. THis is NOT what conservatism has stood for in the past.

[EternalVigilance]

The myth that turns a brain of water into a cogent being...

This country is in worse shape than I thought, when people who think like you do are making the calls.

[Howlin]

I just had this exact discussion with my family; I thought it went rather well, especially when one of my sons-in-law said, "Not to worry, you've not even getting the feeding tube."

[Peach]

I really don't picture myself voting for a Democrat, certainly on a national level. But I can pretty much guarantee we won't be volunteering at the local GOP office, donating tons of money, etc. It's the only way I know to hurt them right now and it's going to be a long time before I give $$ again.

[Howlin]

bill, since you're close, I'm counting on you enforce my wishes. You can find one of my sons-in-law at that fancy new restaurant in McGregor Village; smack him around and make me leave him alone.......LOL.

[EternalVigilance]

"When the fervor of political passions moves the Executive and the Legislative branches to act in ways inimical to basic constitutional principles, it is the duty of the judiciary to intervene."

The ugly face of Judicial Supremacism raises its ugly head.

And the Executive whimpers and crawls off into a corner...

[Howlin]

Terri didn't decide when or where she would die

Well, by not specifically putting in writing what she wanted, the state said that her husband got to decide.

[MHGinTN]

If Randall shows up, I just might join your haunt-in! LOL

[EternalVigilance]

I just had this exact discussion with my family; I thought it went rather well, especially when one of my sons-in-law said, "Not to worry, you've not even getting the feeding tube."

Classic.