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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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

[cajun scpo]

I'll answer.

Do you think your quality of life is better than Terri Schiavo's was? Why does that matter legally? - cajun scpo - Yes. It does not matter legally.

Do you think your rights as delineated in the Bill of Rights are important? Do you believe every American has an equal share in those rights? - cajun scpo - Yes. They have a right to choose not to live in a PVS state. You can't choose for her.

Do you think your rights as delineated in the Bill of Rights are superior to those of a person in Terri Schiavo's condition? - cajun scpo - No. She has the same right as I do not to choose to live in a PVS state. You can't stop her or me.

Do you think a person in Terri Schiavo's condition has forfeited their right to life as delineated in the Bill of Rights? If so, why? What is your authority to make that judgment? - cajun scpo - No. Not if they had said keep me alive no matter what condition I am in. But her right not to live in that condition is protected by law also.

Am I a 'far right nutbag' for asking you these very timely questions? - No. You just ignore the Florida Constitution [privacy], Florida law [court can review facts and rule as guardian for someone not capable of doing it themselves], Florida Courts [that discuss the testimony they reviewed to determine Terri's wish], US Supreme Court [Cruzan - that allows Florida law]

Are you on the right website? No. Why? I read the court rulings and look at facts. You take Sean Hannity and the Schindler's website as the ONLY facts.

[Saundra Duffy]

They killed her.

[presently no screen name]

Like you, I was around many people.

But a much larger crowd from around the country. It was a class reunion where families were invited. They were in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, some 60's. The majority felt that the GOP will be enhanced. Some moderates have moved more conservative. Some were not concerned about the appointment of judges before - now they are fully behind Bush in his efforts for certain judges - the ones the left are opposed to - pro-life judges.

So this case did the opposite of what you claim. There was a few demo's there who have been enlightened, also. They did bring up King - couldn't understand his stance but they do understand the concept - RINO. Also, they praised Jeb for his stance earlier to reinsert the tube but then it was declared later unconstitutional as opposed to those who did nothing. They don't like the judges making laws from the bench.

For what it's worth - The young ladies - in their 20's and 30's were repulsed by MS and NONE believed that Terri said she would not want to live and would not want to be rehabilitated. Even the guys jumped in on that one - and laughed at how MS got away with that one - more-so, with having a mistress and two kids w/her and was still allowed to be her guardian.

Also, I got a different reaction when I return calls from the GOP.

Strange, don't you think - how we got total different reactions from our friends and acquaintances. Well, maybe not that strange after all. :)

[EternalVigilance]

There were a few freaky people there, which the media of course focused their cameras on. Selective editing, their most powerful weapon to lie.

Sad to see FReepers helping them to forward that lie.

The vast majority of people in front to the hospice were wonderful God-fearing Americans who were appalled at something like this occuring in our country.

I'll defend them, you bet.

And I'll even defend the freaks right to be there, too; and commend them for caring enough to be there in support of Terri and the right to not be murdered for the 'crime' of being weak and helpless.

[cyncooper]

Strange, don't you think - how we got total different reactions from our friends and acquaintances. Well, maybe not that strange after all. :)

Personal attacks. How very "pro-life" of you. And so "Christian", too.

[KDD]

The right to refuse unwanted medical treatment?

The right of the husband(matters little what you personally think about him) to see his spouses wishes in that regard carried out?

The right of Privacy from government intrusion into painfull end of life medical decisions?

Your bastardized concept of what is Constitutional matters little. Those who are bound by reality will see to it that those such as you who desire a theocracy are once again marginalized to the fringes where you belong...right next to the leftist envirowackos and and anarchists....

[cajun scpo]

You reply to "No conspiracy just the law" with "Which law?"

If you bothered to read any of the court rulings you would know what Florida law [and what part of the Florida Constitution] and what federal rulings IAW with US Constitution he is talking about.

But, why let facts get in the way when you know it all already.

[cyncooper]

Excuse me, but you seem to be taking a factual observation that there was in fact a juggler hanging out at the hospice (billing himself as a "Juggler for Jesus") and you wish to turn that around as me being in the wrong?

Talk about a twisted sense of reality.

It was what it was. You can tell people to ignore facts all day long. I won't do it.

[EternalVigilance]

You just ignore the Florida Constitution

I'm the only one who seems to want to discuss that.

All I hear is crickets on this subject from the pro-death posters here.

That's because Article One, Section Two could not be more explicit. A ten-year old can understand it.

[L.N. Smithee]

The saddest thing, imo, is what this has done to the pro life movement which has made such great strides in recent years.

Women my age were having grandchildren and looking at the new technology re ultrasounds, etc. They were realizing it's not a blob.

But the pro lifers in Florida were so ugly, with the face of Randall Terry and shouting into bullhorns all night disturbing the people who DID have cognitive ability and were kept awake all night, that the moderates are thinking, this isn't a party I want to associate with.

If this incident is going to spin them around to believing a fetus is a blob again, they're pretty maddog shallow, wouldn't you agree?

[nunya bidness]

There's plenty of evidence to support the claim.

OK, let's see it.

[EternalVigilance]

You're right. Juggling is so much more heinous than depriving a disabled person of water and food until they die.

/sarcasm

[budwiesest]

post #33 with you all the way.
the bottom line is still: a disabled woman was starved and dehydrated for 2 weeks by order of a judge who strictly favored her rotten "husband". terri schiavo was murdered. and that's WRONG. in fact, it's evil and monstrous.

I always looked at Terri from the parent's perspective and could not find 'justice' in the taking her life at all. Of course, my bias comes from the fact that I lost a sister to suicide many years ago. Life has a value that you really appreciate when a family member dies and you're powerless to do anything to prevent it. Michael had this power and just tossed it.

[tertiary01]

Terri life wasn't ending, she was disabled!

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm not here to do anyone's homework, least of which, anyone who claimed they already read the Schiavo threads.

[cyncooper]

I can't be right about something I never said.

But you just continue in your deceitful fashion lying about others.

[Drango]

The vast majority of people in front to the hospice...

The funny thing is that the crowds, if you can call 'em that, were very small. Instead of facing the reality that almost no one, particularly the locals, supported you...you twist that into a badge of honor. It feeds your persecution complex. And you tilt at the windmills.

[presently no screen name]

those that want to determine their own fate without interference from the government.


Exactly - but that didn't happen in Terri's case - the government - the judge - did that for her - determined her fate.

The majority of us do not have two-timing spouses. I believe they take seriously - to death do we part or they have enough integrity, if they choose not to care for us with our own money, they would forfeit that right through divorce or turn over guardianship to another. Integrity and character matter and the lack of is, perhaps, one reason Terri planned on leaving MS. Our spouses wouldn't be going to lawyers to get THEIR every need met and leave our needs unattended.

So, basically, this case does not apply to the majority of us and, thus, no need of fear.

[EternalVigilance]

Your bastardized concept of what is Constitutional matters little. Those who are bound by reality will see to it that those such as you who desire a theocracy are once again marginalized to the fringes where you belong...right next to the leftist envirowackos and and anarchists....

More lies.

I'm a republican, not a theocrat.

Your charge is a typical one used by the anti-Christian Left...meant to marginalize and smear.

A hatemongers tactics.

If the right to not be killed by your own government, when you've never been charged with a capital crime, is now a 'bastardized constitutional concept', we as a country are way off into the weeds.