Posted on 08/28/2003 5:20:42 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
Freepers, we may be able to help Terri:
I made some phone calls today and have the ULTIMATE PHONE CALL for registering a Complaint against Judge Greer. I can't reveal my sources but this is the phone number for a few pay grades above J. Greer.
Call the: Judicial Qualifications Commission at
#1-850-488-1581. I am complaining to them tomorrow that J. Greer isn't God, that he's been in the husband's corner since Day One, he doesn't care a wit about Terri's parents or her husband's attempt at medical neglect, and I'd like to know if Greer can be recalled or impeached.
HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County.
Oh, and ping everybody you can think of.
72 posted on 08/27/2003 5:06 PM EDT by floriduh voter
From summer:
"..do a separate thread asking people to call this phone number FV provided. This could get a guardian appointed if the judge is tossed off the case for BIAS."
Background:
In a letter, Bush asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer yesterday to keep her 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."
8 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 | 8/27
----- 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.
(WND article excerpts, cont.:) "On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case, clearing the way for a Sept. 11 hearing in which Greer would set a date for removal of the feeding tube.
Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler of Gulf Port, Fla., have been locked in a decade-long legal battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at her home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.
***The bitter dispute over Terri's lack of care became a major euthanasia battle five years ago when her husband Michael Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding tube removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive "artificially." The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and his lawyer, right-to-die advocate George Felos.
~~~~
The article is on CNSNews.com.
Florida Judge Rejects Governor's Bid to Help Terri Schiavo
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
August 27, 2003
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Florida Circuit Judge George Greer Tuesday rejected a plea from Governor Jeb Bush to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of Terri Schindler Schiavo, a 39-year-old disabled woman who suffered a brain injury in 1990 under questionable circumstances. Bush had intervened Monday after receiving 27,000 email messages asking for his help on Terri's behalf.
"I read [Gov. Bush's letter] because it came from the governor and I respect his position," Greer told the Tampa Tribune. "Beyond that, it is going in the file."
As CNSNews.com previously reported, Bush wrote Greer Monday asking him not to remove the disabled woman's feeding tube until a new guardian ad litem could "independently investigate" her condition. In the letter, Bush referenced the "fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right to life," which Bush noted are co-equal under the Constitution.
"To err on one side is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes and to continue the debate," Bush wrote. "To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no remediation."
But Greer told the Associated Press that he no longer has a choice in the matter.
"Frankly, I think I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeals," Greer said, "and frankly I don't think I can stray from that mandate."
In that same interview, however, the judge contradicted his own assessment of the limitation on his authority by stating that he was "not inclined" to appoint a guardian ad litem.
Michael Schiavo called Gov. Bush's intervention on behalf of Terri "crazy."
"The governor has deliberately twisted the facts in this case in an apparent effort to kowtow to his right-to-life political supporters," Schiavo told Tampa Tribune reporter David Sommer. "This has nothing to do with him. He should stay out of it."
Schiavo - who, for five years, has been seeking judicial approval to end his wife's life by denying her nutrition and hydration - also accused Terri's parents of manipulating their Catholic faith to keep their daughter alive.
"I believe in God and so did (?) Terri," Schiavo said, speaking of his still living wife in the past tense, "but they are out to push it on people... suddenly they are on a religious kick."
Judge refuses motion for hearing to set 'death date'
Greer also denied a motion Tuesday to hold an immediate hearing to set a date for the removal of Terri's nutrition and hydration tube. The hearing will be held, as previously announced, on Sept. 11. At that hearing, Greer will also rule on whether Schiavo may legally prohibit Terri's priest from visiting her.
Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, had also petitioned the court Monday to prohibit doctors from caring for Terri's current fever, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and a "substantial infection."
"Given the imminence of the ward's death, further treatment (other than comfort care) for the ward's infection and other medical problems is unnecessary, unwarranted, inappropriate and futile," Felos said in an emergency motion, adding that Terri, "should be put back in hospice and receive comfort care and die in a peaceful setting."
Greer denied that motion, as well.
55 posted on 08/27/2003 5:29 PM EDT by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
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."
17 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by I still care
***
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.
18 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by summer
***
..this judge is going to look really bad if this part is ignored by the judge:
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
21 posted on 08/27/2003 10:17 AM EDT by summer
*** HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County. That is one thing that floors me .. This Judge should have long ago appointed an independent Guardian Ad Litem and not left her husband as her sole guardian .. especially since there are questions about her husband with abuse and the fractured bones that were reveled in xrays of Terry. Everything I have read .. this Judge seems hell bent on having her killed 73 posted on 08/28/2003 2:45 AM EDT by Mo1 (http://www.favewavs.com/wavs/cartoons/spdemocrats.wav) *** I know that Mr. Schiavo has tried to ban Terri's mother and family and priest from seeing her. 27 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by hocndoc (Choice is the # 1 killer in the US) *** Judge Greer has been with the husband since day one. A guardian ad litem would have been fair for Terri and her parents. Her parents love her but they are treated as the enemy. I'm ashamed this is happening in Pinellas County. 31 posted on 08/26/2003 7:41 PM EDT by floriduh voter
Judge Greer will not appoint a guardian ad litem. I have phone numbers from the phone book for the Clearwater Courthouse and all the guardianship phone numbers. He husband held a presser today and was very flippant about Jeb's letter and called the emailers a "bunch of right to lifers." Hubby is looking a little nervous but with a pal like Judge Greer who is no Judge Moore, Terri has until the September 11 hearing to decide the date her starvation begins. Here are the phone numbers: courthouse - 727-464-3000, guardianship numbers: 727-582-7563, 727-582-7771, and 727-464-8700. We can at least call as friends of Terri and voice our concerns. 25 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by floriduh voter Freepers, please call the Juducial Qualification Commission regarding Judge Greer: 1-850-488-1581. *** Contact friends, thank those have been fighting on Terri's behalf, including Glenn Beck, Lars Larson, CNS News.com, WND, and Bill O'Reilly. *** Terri Schindler Schiavo's website - background and news updates: www.terrisfight.org *** 8 Terri Schiavo's website Media Contacts Governor Jeb Bush (R) The Honorable(?) George W. Greer Attorney General Charlie Crist
But, I don't know how a court could prevent doctors from ordering therapy, speach therapy (which is often actually swallowing therapy) and most especially oral nutrition.
Office of The Governor
Florida Capitol Building, PL-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-7146
(850) 488-4441
jeb.bush@myflorida.com
6th Judicial Circuit
315 Court Street, Room 484
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3933
ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963
Fax: (850) 487-2564
ag@oag.state.fl.us
I was reading the Guardianship Review section of The 2001 Annual Perfomance Report for the 6th Judicial court, page 45.
www.jud6.org/GeneralInfo/AboutTheCircuit/Performancereport/ 2001AnnualPerformance.pdf
It seems that guardianship monitors are supposed to make sure guardians are behaving themselves.
Do we know the name of a guardianship monitor who is supposed to be watching over Schiavo?
Does anyone know if Michael has been filing the new forms that are now required of guardians? (They need to be filled out annually I think)
Would the new rules for guardians make it too hard for Michael to get away with neglecting/abusing Terri in the coming years?
Do the guardianship monitors only oversee court appointed guardians who are unrelated to their wards, or can they oversee all guardians?
A guardianship monitor investigates allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation of the elderly in guardianship cases. The monitor is also responsible for investigating the parents of minor children who have failed to report to the Court or have misappropriated the assets of the guardianship.Many investigations initiated by the court staff have resulted in criminalconvictions. More importantly, many of these same investigations have avoided potentially dangerous and harmful situations for the elderly.
The monitor has been responsible for identifying cases of misappropriated funds and has been instrumental in retrieving some of those funds or assisting the court in bringing appropriate actions against these parties.
The guardianship review office also conducts background investigations on all proposed guardians prior to appointment and monitors compliance with guardian education requirements.
Staff in this office works closely with General Masters and their support staff assigned in the Guardianship, Probate and Mental Health area. (See General Master section of this report.) A general master serves as administrator over the guardianship review function
During 2001, The Sixth Judicial Circuit implemented new forms and procedures in the guardianship arena that are directed at improving the Court’s role in protecting wards.
The proposed guardians – upon filing the petition for appointment – are required per Florida Statute to undergo criminal and credit background investigations.
The Court is providing the vehicle for the guardians to complete the requirement at filing and annually thereafter at a minimal cost to the guardians.
By implementing these new procedures the Court is attempting to insure all guardians remain qualified under the law to act on behalf of the incapacitated person.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit has also developed new accounting forms for use by the guardians. These new forms are available on the Internet and will also be helpful as the Circuit proceeds with plans to implement electronic filing.
Welcome! Please read the following before downloading the guardianship program. In addition to the operating instructions within the program, below are some instructions specific to Pasco and Pinellas Co
Counsel: Rebecca K. Glenberg, Richard W. Ferris. Filed October 8, 1999.
Following a car accident in 1995, Hugh Finn was left in a persistent vegetative state. He had previously signed a living will in which he had directed that no artificial life-sustaining procedures be used on him. In July 1998, the Circuit Court of Prince William County granted the request of Mr. Finn’s wife, Michelle Finn, to withdraw Mr. Finn’s artificial nutrition and hydration.
Following the court’s order, Governor Jim Gilmore filed a new lawsuit, asking the court to reconsider its ruling. The court not only ruled against Governor Gilmore, but found that he had no factual or legal basis for bringing the suit. The court therefore sanctioned the Governor by requiring him to pay attorney’s fees to Michelle Finn’s attorneys. The Governor appealed the award of sanctions to the Virginia Supreme Court. Gilmore argued that because of the "separation of powers" doctrine in the Constitution, the court had no power to sanction the governor. The ACLU filed an amicus brief, arguing that the separation of powers doctrine did not preclude the court from sanctioning the Governor when he files a frivolous lawsuit. The ACLU argued that the Governor’s position would allow him to use his position to oppress citizens by bringing lawsuits with impunity.
In March 2000, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the governor is not above the law, and that sanctions could be assessed against him in appropriate circumstances. However, the governor is not just "any person," and any doubts about the good faith of lawsuits brought by the governor should be resolved in his favor. Because the governor’s lawsuit was not "totally without merit," the Supreme Court reversed the sanctions against the governor.
"Last September, Gilmore tried to block Michele Finn's plan to withdraw food and water from her husband after Hugh Finn's parents and most of his siblings, who initially agreed with that decision, changed their minds.
"But the delaying action was brief, as both a Prince William County judge and the Virginia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Michele Finn was within her rights, under the state's right-to-die law, in removing sustinence from her husband. Although Hugh Finn was not in a coma, six doctors -- including three called by Gilmore -- had found that he was in a persistent vegetative state, with no hope of recovering.
""Today, the court acknowledged my duty to protect the general welfare of all citizens of the Commonwealth," Gilmore said in a statement after the ruling was announced. "This decision reinforces my belief that all Virginians deserve equal protection under the law."
Family members who opposed the feeding tube withdrawal said they were pleased with the decision. "It made my whole day," Finn's father Thomas told NRL News. "The governor went out on a limb for us; it was so good to have him win."
Finn's mother Joan agreed. "It's a positive step for the citizens of Virginia to know they can count on the governor for help in questionable cases," she said.
Gilmore filed an emergency appeal October 1, but both Hoss and then the state Supreme Court denied it. Gilmore's petition was based on two factors: that testimony showed that Finn may not have been in a persistent vegetative state, and that even if he was, he is nevertheless not dying," Gilmore said in his appeal, according to the Associated Press. "On the contrary, the manifest purpose and effect of denying him food and water is to initiate a dying process not previously present."
However, the Supreme Court ruled that Finn was in a persistent vegetative state and that under Virginia law PVS patients are considered to be terminally ill; therefore, removing their feeding tubes "merely permits the natural process of dying" and is therefore legal, the Post reported.
Thomas Finn is the name of Hugh's brother in the story.
What you may not know is that, even if Hugh Finn's family had been in agreement to have his feeding tube remain, his life might still have been in jeopardy under Virginia law.
Under the Health Care Decisions Act of 1992, physicians and medical care providers are empowered to withhold medical treatment from a patient, even against the wishes of the patient and family, if they feel that the patient's quality of life would not be improved with treatment. Withholding medical treatment, as defined by the law, can include denying the patient both food and water. In adopting this bill, the House of Delegates defeated an amendment that would have required the continuation of life-saving measures to patients desiring them, including food and fluids, until the patient could be transferred to a health care facility supportive of the patient and family's decisions to continue treatment. As the law stands, it is legal in Virginia to starve and dehydrate a person to death, even in situations where the patient and family choose life-sustaining measures. This is known as involuntary euthanasia.
Virginia is the first and only state in the country with a law allowing involuntary euthanasia
That was then, this is now. Hugh's wife moved him from Kentucky to Virginia, no doubt because of this law. I wonder how many states today have joined Virginia.
If the "PVS" person is terminally ill, wouldn't he die "naturally" even if he is being fed?
Most terminally ill people die even if they eat.
Come to think of it....We all eventually die, even if we eat.
Should all of us mortals stop eating now, since we know we will eventually die?
Why even bother living?
The state of the future is here
In order to effectuate the timely background investigations of proposed and appointed guardians, it is hereby:ORDERED:
A. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
1. The Administrative Office of the Courts, Probate Division, shall conduct background investigations on each proposed guardian filing a Petition for Appointment as Guardian.
2. Each proposed guardian shall pay a fee, hereafter referred to as the investigation fee, at the time of filing of a Petition for Appointment as Guardian and annually thereafter. The investigation fee shall be paid from the guardian’s own funds and not those of the ward. This fee is in addition to the amount required by the FDLE and FBI to process the fingerprint card.
Evil is taking over, and there is no rhyme or reason to evil. They are not trying to make sense or be honest and trustworthy. Just the opposite.
Christians are confused by the things they say and make into law, because Christians try to be honest and do the right thing. But I think Pegita has it right. This is spiritual warfare and there is no magic bullet to save Terri. If her attorneys come up with something that works, it will be because God has answered our prayers, imo.
I do send emails, a few each day and especially to people who write about Terri or have shows about her.
But I just don't remember evil being reasonable. Ever.
I think these actions are more powerful than any taken by email.
And also the deacon I called has done battle with AHEPA, the Greek organization, and promised to sit down with me and tell me what they are all about and help in any way he can.
He also, coincidentally, knew about Terri, which was a first for when I talk to people. He knew a little, that is. He said Clearwater is Greek town, bigtime, btw.
The President of the United States is a Christian, and you've seen how he's been subjected to the most vicious attacks upon any of our Presidents. We've seen how the opposition can be scandalous in words and deeds, without reprisal ... seemingly to laugh and mock. Attributing decency and honor to those devoid is an exercise in futility ~ better to spend the time in storming the gates of Heaven, for only divine intervention is going to save us, yet He works through willing hands and hearts.
Think about the President's firm stand on the quality of judicial nominees ... we know from this experience that judges rule. Roe v Wade came into our national life from the bench, and 40 million babies have been slaughtered, much to the delight of the enemy. Concerted effort is now upon the elderly and the infirm, much to the delight of the enemy. God spoke only 27 verses into Genesis before giving us His admonition: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it." We destroy life and worship the trees.
The Prince of the Power of Darkness is alive and well and has always set himself up to be like God, and those he has in bondage are so well insulated and protected ... only the Holy Spirit can touch them, and that is my prayer. May the Lord honor our petition for dear Terri ... may we be the ones who so often come before the judge that he grants our petition (Luke 18:1-8). May the Lord not grant any rest of body or spirit to those who hinder the life of Terri ... may they relent and set her free.
Pegita
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