Romney says government was wrong in Schiavo case

St. Petersburg Times ^ | March 11, 2007 | Adam C. Smith

[EternalVigilance]

TAMPA -- He's campaigning hard for support from Republican social conservatives, but presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Saturday he disagreed with the government's intervention in the Terri Schiavo case.

"I think it's probably best to leave these kinds of matters in the hands of the courts," Romney said in a television interview airing today.

[nopardons]

Can't you just tell me?

[Paperdoll]

>They appeared to be the very busybodies that they have long accused liberals of being.<

Liberals? Most of them ARE the liberals. If they were not, they would have been effective, and maybe Terri would still be alive today.

[don-o]

Nothing funny about it. We fought world wars over state sanctioned murder. Remember?

[Terriergal]

Mitt just lost me.

Me too. Someone will say "well he said GENERALLY the government/courts shouldn't get involved" but he knows he was using Studied Ambiguity to slide that one by. I'm sick of that tactic. We're all grownups here. Let's have someone actually take a stand.

Unfortunately, taking a stand is about as popular as supporting third-party that more accurately reflects one's views. And for the same reasons. Hardly anyone else is doing it. Kind of circular in reasoning... but then, people are sheep!

[KevinDavis]

Hey numnut, I don't like the Medicaid crap and title what ever.. THIS WAS A STATE RIGHTS ISSUE!!!!! CONGRESS WENT OVERBOARD!!!!!!!!!!!

[TAdams8591]

Maddening isn't it?

[cgk]

...living with, copulating with... and procreating with...

[Lesforlife]

Romney - EVIL twin of EVIL Michael Schiavo - ping

[muawiyah]

A "bill of attainder" is something that deprives someone of life, liberty or property.

I missed the part about Terri being "property".

[vox_freedom]

You 100%ers kill me.

I'm not one of those, but I do have priorities in support for a candidate for President. One of those priorities is "right to life." That would include someone who defends the right of the unborn and protects the life of helpless elderly who would be killed if were only a matter of "health economics" or simply a prerogative of those who might benefit from an inheritance. I also support the 2nd Amendment and smaller government.
What are your 100% issues?

[KevinDavis]

We fought WWII cause Hitler declared war on US, not saving the jews in concentration camps....

[Old Student]

"I'm sorry. A judge isn't part of "the government"? And you think a county probate court is authorized to issue a death sentence on a citizen who has never been convicted of a crime? On the basis of --- what?"

I'm sorry that shoebooty didn't pay any attention in goverment class... Last I heard, and as you obviously know, there are three branches of Government. Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Gee, I wonder what branch of Government a Judge might belong too... You got any clue? Shoebooty apparently doesn't. I despair for the next generation.

[pollyannaish]

Thanks for the answer. I mostly stayed off those threads since I really didn't have anything to add. The entire case just made my family make sure all of us had living wills that are up to date and certified.

NOW, that said, are activists working now to get legislation passed to correct this problem, or is everyone just sitting on their hands until a crisis appears in another family? That is what disturbed me (and I believe most Americans) about that entire case.

Policy needs to be made away from the hysteria of the moment, not in the heat of it. Unintended consequences are bad enough without emotional fuel.

[voltaires_zit]

The Legislature has also defined what is a "life-prolonging procedure":


Relevant statutes:

The Legislature recognizes that for some the administration of life-prolonging medical procedures may result in only a precarious and burdensome existence. In order to ensure that the rights and intentions of a person may be respected even after he or she is no longer able to participate actively in decisions concerning himself or herself, and to encourage communication among such patient, his or her family, and his or her physician, the Legislature declares that the laws of this state recognize the right of a competent adult to make an advance directive instructing his or her physician to provide, withhold, or withdraw LIFE-PROLONGING PROCEDURES, or to designate another to make the treatment decision for him or her in the event that such person should become incapacitated and unable to personally direct his or her medical care.
§ 765.102(3), Florida Statutes.

"Life-prolonging procedure" means any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention, including artificially provided sustenance and hydration, which sustains, restores, or supplants a spontaneous vital function. The term does not include the administration of medication or performance of medical procedure, when such medication or procedure is deemed necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain.
§ 765.101(10), Florida Statutes

Simply striking "including artificially provided sustenance and hydration" and puting it under the heading of "comfort care" would have done the trick, not just for Terri, but for the next case, if there is one.

[bvw]

My nuts aren't numb, Kevin. Thanks for your tender concern, though.

The 14th means the State can't declare a citizen to death, btw. Whether by noose or by forced starvation and death of thirst.

[Gene Eric]

>> The dude is right. This was no place for the government to get involved.

That's right. The girl should have gone under the care of her family and the Courts remain clear of torture and death via dehydration.

[muawiyah]

I refuse to vote for someone who identifies too closely with the loudest cow in the herd.

[TAdams8591]

I know what you are trying to do my friend. Destroy Mitt's candidacy. It won't work. It will take some time, but he will come around on these life issues also.

[BurtSB]

mitt stock dropped 1000 pts in my book.
congress and jeb bush tried to give this woman a break from her piss poor lawyer and a judge with a conflict of interest in the
case and did not recluse himself plus a greedy ex trying to save as much of the malpractice settlement as he could .
this woman was killed by a screwed up judge and courts.

[TAdams8591]

Agreed.