From JEB to FR: Full text of Gov Bush's letter to Judge Greer re: Terri Schiavo

Email from Gov Bush to summer, for FR | Aug. 27, 2003 | FL Gov Jeb Bush

[summer]

Note to FR, from summer: Yesterday I emailed Gov Bush, thanking him for taking action in this matter. I mentioned to him that I hadn't seen a full text of the letter he wrote to the judge, and I would like to read it. I then received it this morning by email from his office.

After that, I noticed his letter -- while not published in full by any of the newspapers I saw -- is also available and does exist in a download on Teri's web site.

However, for those unable to access that download, and who, like me, wanted to read the letter, here it is -- for all of us on FR, from Gov Bush:

------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: [Governor Bush's office]
To: [summer's email]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:06 AM
Subject: Letter regarding Terri Schiavo

> August 26, 2003

> The Honorable George W. Greer
> Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit
> 315 Court Street, Room 484
> Clearwater, Florida 33756

Dear Judge Greer:

> I appreciate the challenging legal and ethical issues before you in the case > of Terri Schiavo. As I have expressed over the course of the past several > weeks, our system of government has committed these decisions to the > judicial branch, and we must respect that process. Consistent with this > principle, I normally would not address a letter to a judge in a pending > legal proceeding. However, my office has received over 27,000 emails > reflecting understandable concern for the well being of Terri Schiavo. > Given that there is no procedural avenue available for these views to be > expressed to you in the normal course of the proceedings, I feel compelled > to write in the hopes that you will give serious consideration to > re-appointment of a guardian ad litem for Mrs. Schiavo before permitting the > removal of her feeding tube or other actions calculated to end her life.

> This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement > in extremely trying circumstances. Emotions are high, accusations abound, > and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman > incapable of speaking for herself.

> I am disturbed by new rumors about the guardian's actions related to the > current care of Mrs. Schiavo. It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo > has contracted a life threatening illness, and that she may be denied > appropriate treatment. If true, this indicates a decision by her caregivers > to initiate an "exit protocol" that may include withholding treatment from > Mrs. Schiavo until her death, which would render this Court's ultimate > decision moot. While the issue of Mrs. Schiavo's care is still before the > Court, I urge you to ensure that no act of omission or commission be allowed > to adversely affect Mrs. Schiavo's health before the September 11th hearing > you have set. No one involved should be permitted to circumvent due process > or the Court's authority in order to achieve personal objectives in this > case.

> Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members, I respectfully ask that you re-appoint a > qualified guardian ad litem to independently investigate the circumstances > of this case, and provide the Court an unbiased view that considers only the > best interests of Mrs. Schiavo.

> It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right > to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution. To err on one side > is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the > debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no > remediation. I respectfully ask that you give Mrs. Schiavo's family the > opportunity to present any new evidence as to her wishes. Evidence as to > her wishes should be reweighed as often as necessary to take into account > the effect of any new evidence, that is, to determine whether "clear and > convincing evidence" still exists that Mrs. Schiavo would now choose > withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures. While this process may delay the > surrogate's exercise of Mrs. Schiavo's privacy rights, it is necessary to > avoid denying her right to life. I urge you to err on the side of > conservative judgment to ensure that all facts can be uncovered and > considered before her life is terminated.

> I appreciate your compassion for Mrs. Schiavo's plight, and that of the > family members locked in dispute in these tragic circumstances. In light of > the ongoing contention related to so many issues in this case, I hope you > will consider appointing a guardian ad litem to ensure that the ultimate > decision is based on facts presented clearly, unclouded and uncolored by > personal interests of litigants.

> Sincerely,

> Jeb Bush

> cc: Patricia Fields Anderson, Esq.
> George J. Felos, Esq.

[summer]

If you wish to write to Gov Bush and thank him for his letter here, his email address is linked at "CONTACT GOV BUSH" at the myflorida web site, HERE.

[summer]

FYI.

[netmilsmom]

I'm sorry to sound stupid, but could you please give me some backround on this lady?

[summer]

FYI.

[summer]

I was just about to post an article. Hang on.

[summer]

JEB INTERVENES [FOR TERRI] - AP

[summer]

Also, here's the link to Terri Schindler Schiavo's website:

www.terrisfight.org

This is a truly heartbreaking matter.

[pgyanke]

It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution.

Just damn.

[summer]

As Gov Bush said in his letter to the judge, after the court refused to intervene in this matter, here's what the case is about, in brief:

"I [Gov Bush] feel compelled to write in the hopes that you will give serious consideration to re-appointment of a guardian ad litem for Mrs. Schiavo before permitting the removal of her feeding tube or other actions calculated to end her life.

This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement in extremely trying circumstances. Emotions are high, accusations abound, and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman incapable of speaking for herself.

[summer]

I knew that was the first line someone here would point out!

[summer]

I think Gov Bush mentioned "privacy" in this matter because he was trying to refer to whatever a person may choose to do under law, if in fact a person does not want to exist on feeding tubes. But, in Terri's case, as has often been pointed out, she is not a vegetable, and such has been testified to by doctors.

[shhrubbery!]

It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right > to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution

I like Jeb Bush, but I have to wonder about his understanding of the Constitution if he could write a phrase like this.

[summer]

I think Gov Bush mentioned "privacy" in this matter because he was trying to refer to whatever a person may choose to do under law, if in fact a person does not want to exist on feeding tubes. But, in Terri's case, as has often been pointed out, she is not a vegetable, and such has been testified to by doctors.

[summer]

Here's what Gov Bush actually wrote:

As I have expressed over the course of the past several > weeks, our system of government has committed these decisions to the > judicial branch, and we must respect that process. Consistent with this > principle, I normally would not address a letter to a judge in a pending > legal proceeding. However, my office has received over 27,000 emails > reflecting understandable concern for the well being of Terri Schiavo. > Given that there is no procedural avenue available for these views to be > expressed to you in the normal course of the proceedings, I feel compelled > to write...

[summer]

FYI.

[I still care]

Michael Schiavo is using "privacy" as an excuse for denying Terri every contact from the outside world, even flowers. "One sign of the case's nastiness is the Schindlers' complaint that Schiavo limits their visits with their daughter. They also say he has refused to allow doctors to examine her, refused her antibiotics and needed dental work, refused to replace a broken wheelchair so she could be taken outdoors and refused the delivery of flowers from a friend to her room on her birthday." "Her teeth are fine; she doesn't eat," Michael Schiavo said. "Why take her to a gynecologist? She was supposed to die months ago. I don't want her room filled with flowers from strangers or right-to-life activists. Even though she is vegetative she has a right to privacy."

[I still care]

Whoops, let me put in some paragraphs.

Michael Schiavo is using "privacy" as an excuse for denying Terri every contact from the outside world, even flowers. "One sign of the case's nastiness is the Schindlers' complaint that Schiavo limits their visits with their daughter. They also say he has refused to allow doctors to examine her, refused her antibiotics and needed dental work, refused to replace a broken wheelchair so she could be taken outdoors and refused the delivery of flowers from a friend to her room on her birthday."

"Her teeth are fine; she doesn't eat," Michael Schiavo said. "Why take her to a gynecologist? She was supposed to die months ago. I don't want her room filled with flowers from strangers or right-to-life activists. Even though she is vegetative she has a right to privacy."

[summer]

I thought Gov Bush very eloquently made his case here, in this part:

To err on one side is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no remediation.

[summer]

I hear you. And I don't like her husband either!!!

[summer]

Meaning: I guess you don't like him much now, do you? I know how you feel. I still care, too.