8mm
Posted on 07/28/2008 4:09:20 PM PDT by wagglebee
Valley Springs attorney Brian Chavez-Ochoa, who worked with family members of Teri Schiavo several years ago in the nationally publicized case, went to work last week on a Fresno County case that has many similarities to Schiavo's but also one rather significant difference.
"I think this is almost identical but for this fact: (Schiavo) was family versus family. This is government versus family," he said.
Chavez-Ochoa said this may be the first time for litigation of just such a case. Janet Rivera was removed from tubes providing food and water for nearly two weeks. Last Tuesday, the Fresno County Superior Court ordered that Rivera's feeding tube and water be reinstated until a July 29 trial.
Rivera suffered brain damage following a heart attack approximately two years ago. Until May, Rivera's husband served as her conservator and made health-care decisions on her behalf. In June, the Fresno County public guardian replaced him as conservator.
Chavez-Ochoa and officials for Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance of Christian attorneys with the stated goal "to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage and the family," said they do not know why Jesus Rivera was removed, but the family is united in its desire for Janet's cousin, Suzanne Emrich, to take his place.
On July 11, the Public Guardian's Office ordered that Rivera be removed from a respirator, but she unexpectedly began breathing on her own. The public guardian then ordered that her feeding tube be permanently removed, depriving her of food and water for eight days.
The decision would have slowly euthanized Rivera. Chavez-Ochoa said Rivera's relatives feel she is fully alive and say that her eyes track people as they move across her room at an assisted care facility.
"This illustrates why Janet's family members should have the right to direct her care, not government officials," said ADF senior attorney Byron Babione. "We trust the court will recognize that Janet's cousin should be the one to make critical decisions on Janet's behalf."
For Chavez-Ochoa, his convictions left him with no other choice than to accept the request from ADF to take on assisting in the case pro bono. In addition to the Schiavo case, he has also been active in the past as an aide to the defense of Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, removed from the bench for his refusal to remove a Ten Commandments monument.
"I just try to be faithful and obedient in what the Lord asks me to do," Chavez-Ochoa said. "It's what I try and do to be a light and an example of the Lord."
In this particular case, there is utmost importance because the rarity of a life-or-death matter pitting a family against a government caretaker means it may set legal precedent.
"Heaven forbid, if it happens to one of our loved ones, do we want the government making the decision of our family making decisions?" he asked. "The family is all supportive of the cousin. She had it upon her heart to do this."
Chavez-Ochoa, an ADF member, also contributes to the Life Legal Defense Foundation, a Napa-based organization that is anti-abortion and also states a mission to defend "innocent and helpless human beings of any age ... against the threat of death." He said LLDF is also getting involved in the Rivera case as it goes to trial.
And this CANNOT be repeated enough!
Pro-Life Ping
Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
Janet Rivera Ping
If Chavez-Ochoa does for Janet Rivera what he achieved for Terry, she has a “beautiful” death in her near future.
It sickens me that the most brutal murderers on death row are whining about being stuck with a needle as being painful, cruel and unusual punishment, Terry was never convicted of ANY crime but was given a death sentence more despicable than any faced by these criminals.
May God have pity on Ms. Rivera.
Today I heard Sean Hannity say that Senator McCain was going to see his FRIEND, Charlie Crist.
I hope he doesn’t pick him for VP. If so, we have the potential of 16 years of RINOism in the WH.
ELECTIONEERING! Charlie Crist helped murder Terri Schiavo.
If McCain picks Crist, I WILL NOT VOTE for him.
Crist is Florida's Barack Obama -all imagery and pomposity.
GUV. CHARLIE CRIST the big question: What has he done for Fla as governor? Fla’s economy is in the tank. He’s a politician, not a worker bee public servant. If the GOP wants to lose, pick Crist, the secular humanist with ties to foreign businessmen. They are businessmen only in the remotest sense. His girlfriend is heiress to a halloween business (perfect!). Tell me that’s all above board...
FYI: Tom Ridge ISN’T PRO LIFE either. The Bush’s say they are but they actually weren’t. Country’s about done either party cuz Americans worship faux candidates because that’s pretty much all that’s being offered to them no thanks to the mainstream media.
WND: Coroner removed as guardian (slippery, slippery slope)
and CHARLIE CRIST role in Terri Schiavo torture-murder
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=16235
bttt
“If the GOP wants to lose, pick Crist, “
Or if he picks Tom Ridge, or Lieberman (if the rumors are true), or any liberal.
“Charlie Crist was on Fox & Friends this a.m. I called their toll number.”
I’m not familiar with Fox & Friends, since I don’t have cable, but I hope Fox News isn’t trying to push sorry Charlie, like they did Giuliani.
I’m glad you called them.
I called Senator McCain’s headquarters and told them not to pick any liberal like Charlie Crist, et al.
If anybody wants to contact McCain, here’s the info.:
John McCain 703-418-2008 and e-mail jpblack@mccain08hq.com and http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/
Even for those who don’t intend on voting for McCain, whoever he chooses, should root for a conservative running mate. Because that running mate could be president some day (regardless of whether McCain wins or loses).
Sadly, people seem to be voting for the candidates they see on tv the most.
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.