Florida Governor Asks Judge to Delay Removal of Woman's Feeding Tube

AP ^

[TheOtherOne]

Florida Governor Asks Judge to Delay Removal of Woman's Feeding Tube
By Mitch Stacy Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 26, 2003

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Jeb Bush asked a judge Tuesday to delay setting a date for removal of a brain-damaged woman's feeding tube so that a guardian for her can be appointed.

In a letter to state Circuit Judge George W. Greer, Bush asked that Terri Schiavo be kept alive until a court-appointed guardian can "independently investigate the circumstances of this case and provide the court with an unbiased view that considers the best interests of Mrs. Schiavo."

Schiavo has been in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state since collapsing in 1990. Her heart stopped from what doctors believe was a potassium imbalance. Since Sunday, she has been hospitalized with pneumonia and other problems.

The 39-year-old woman has been at the center of a long legal battle between her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo. The parents want her kept alive; her husband says she never wanted to be kept alive artificially.

Bush said his office has received 27,000 e-mails from people asking him to intervene in the case.

Greer said he is bound by court rulings and probably will not delay the removal of the tube and is "not inclined" to appoint a guardian.

"Frankly, I think I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeal, and frankly I don't think I can stray from that mandate," Greer told The Associated Press.

On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case, clearing the way for Greer to set a date for removal of the feeding tube keeping her alive.

Michael Schiavo called Bush's intervention "crazy," accusing the governor of bending to pressure from conservatives who have taken up the e-mail campaign.

"This case has been in litigation for five years, and all of a sudden Gov. Bush wants to be involved?" Michael Schiavo said. "This isn't his concern, and he should stay out of it."

AP-ES-08-26-03 2330EDT

[TheOtherOne]

I think the government should leave the decision to the legal guardian - her husband. And Gov. Bush is really pandering with this late motion. Of course, he is pandering to a large part of FR, so I am sure many here will be happy.

All hail government intervention in our private lives.

[Saundra Duffy]

Her husband wants her dead. Of course, many FReepers will be thankful for Gov. Bush's intervention. Human life is precious and sacred. I don't understand why you think it's okay to let this woman starve to death.

[CindyDawg]

I'm looking for that large part of FR. They have a thread already up. I just can't find it. Oh, well, maybe someone will show up and I can ask directions :')

[jjbrouwer]

But should he really be the legal guardian? Why doesn't he just hand over what's left of the $700,000 compensation the court paid him to the parents and let them look after his wife? He can then live happily with his mistress.

[Saundra Duffy]

Where's Molly?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/956408/posts

[TheOtherOne]

Who are you, or the government to second guess what she and her husband decided. You could go in and second guess thousands of medical decisions which are made daily. We have courts that have legally decided who has the right to make that decision in this case, agree or not, he has the decision to make. I would be curious if everyone would feel the same if he wanted her alive and the state or her parents were trying to remove the tube. Honestly, in either case, I want the husband to decide. Otherwise, there would be no end to the personal medical decisions that could be second guessed by third parties.

[babygene]

The problem with letting the husband decide is that a husband is only a husband until he get's a girl friend, or a new wife. the parents are parents forever...

If my wife were in this situation, I would not want to decide. I would want her kin to decide. Even if I had strong feelings about it.

On the other side of the coin, the "kin" should also take the responsibility to pay to keep her alive.

[jjbrouwer]

Not being familiar with a health care system in which people must pay for everything, I'm more curious about what happens when the money runs out. Will they just remove the feeding tube anyway or will the government pay?