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
She is a true child of God and let me tell you, God is very good! Even now the doctors cannot explain and are always amazed that she has not progressed and still walks. She can even run.
Last year at age 13 they finally decided to do bone surgery on her very deformed ankles, but before they did, the surgeon told us no one really goes this long without ending up in a wheelchair, and he just didn't see putting her through the surgery because she would be in a wheelchair soon anyway. But he ordered the scans and guess what - she has not progressed in her disease since she was five.
They cannot figure it out. They reluctantly did the surgery. Actually that was about 2 years ago.
You can really see the differences in doctors at times. I mean the surgeon at Childrens was probably a nice guy and all but he just saw no hope for my daughter at all, or for the future.
In contrast the neurologist we had, the one who ordered and did the scans, was a really great guy. He spoke very positively about my daughter and her future and nearly celebrated personally when he told me the good news about her lack of progression.
Most of you paid very little attention to the thread above which I posted a few days ago, but let me explain to you why this is so important, for those of you staying in this country. :-)
The thread is about a new trend in ending life support, which is all about the feelings of the physician.
In 1806, German physician Christoph Hufeland wrote "It is not up to the doctor whether life is happy or unhappy...and should he incorporate these (personal) persepctives into his trade, he could well become the most dangerous person in the state".
133 years later in Germany, this is exactly what happened.
Actually the idea of euthanasia, history shows us, is gradually introduced and accepted in a culture. Wesley writes about this also in his book, how an idea becomes settled in a culture, how it goes from the unthinkable to debatable to justified and finally to unexceptional.
The first place the guidelines are loosened is in the healthcare field itself. There are debates and philosophical discussions, all usually outside the public sphere, until the first test cases begin ( which is where we are now in some states). In the test cases, the judges rely on the same medical people who are bucking the system to make legal decisions, which then bring the issue in as a precedent. After which the media begin to pick up the issue, and finally the public agree.
I think there is still a small chance for this country because the media are not completely sold yet, but the legal system is a goner for euthanasia. And so is the medical field. I can give you personal examples, but trust me on this. For the last 10 years I have seen the incredible hatred of the disabled in my own workplace. A diabetic is brought in about to seize and the paramedics are at the nurses station talking loudly about how the man is faking it, and what a jerk he is. I get a blood sugar of 32 on the man. (32 is usually the number at which most people are already in a seizure.)
And that is just one example. Before all this came up, I have long been worried for my son, who has diabetes. The medical field hates diabetics, even if you don't think so. It's all their fault if they can't control their disease perfectly, which is an impossible task for the most brilliant person.
Anyway, it's coming here, the cultural swings. For those of you staying I hope you are ready.
I used to think for years that what happened in Nazi Germany was about Hitler, but you know what? It was all there ready to be hatched before Hitler stepped up to the plate. The doctors were already euthanizing the disabled kids of parents, who were willingly bringing them in to be killed, and it was accepted practise. There was very little dissent.
If you think this is unbelieveable you should read about the recent killing in Canada of a child with cerebral palsy by her father. He gassed her in the garage with the car running. When they went after him, the public outpouring defending what he did was overwhelming.
Because the child was disabled, people thought he did the right thing. There was another case here very recently where a family starved a 17 year old of their own with CP. It is picking up speed, and it is following all of the same paths that were present in Germany, though admittedly much slower.
We must learn from history. You know what happens when we don't.
"EDMONTON, ALBERTA--Disability rights advocates are demanding an apology from the Provincial Museum over an exhibit's depiction of a convicted killer as a modern-day example of "mercy". The groups are also asking that a video presentation, which puts Robert Latimer in the same category as Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa, be edited to remove any reference to the man who admitted killing his daughter in 1993."
"I am actually appalled that a public institution would put the murder of a child with a disability in the context of the Beatitudes of being blessed as merciful," Zuhy Sayeed, of the Canadian and Alberta Association of Community Living, told a reporter last Friday.
"His case is currently being reviewed by the Canadian Supreme Court which will decide whether he will serve a mandatory 10-year sentence for the crime or, have his sentence reduced to one year, because of "special circumstances". Some of Latimer's supporters feel he "suffered" during the girl's 12 years of life, and that he killed her to "save her from suffering".
And to show just how correct and wise Wesley is, here is the result of the above "Test case".
Sympathy For Robert Latimer Linked To Increase In Child Murders
"Tuesday night, Sobsey said that early news coverage was very sympathetic toward Latimer, often presenting him as a loving father who wanted to end his daughter's suffering."
What people have to understand is that this is no big deal, killing Terri. The legal and medical professions are honestly baffled that this is a big deal, because they have seen this go on for the last 20 years or so.
It is routine to dehydrate people and has been for some time now. Just ask around in your personal and professional circles, as I did. I already posted about the aide I work with who told me about removal of the feeding tube for her grandmother many years ago. She is a nice person! She said, well she had dementia and she kept pulling it out, so we said leave it out. She did not see anything wrong with it.
The roots of public acceptance are in place even now.
I am unable to do it but I'll copy and paste the contact numbers to the new thread.
Freepmail me if you require further explanation.
This thread is getting too long. Please advise.
And you may recall that Canada is way, way gone as a country for euthanasia. Support for assisted suicide is well over the 50th percentile there.
"Sobsey noted that since 1994, Canada has had an epidemic of parents killing their own children. While the nation enjoys its lowest homicide rate in 30 years, it is experiencing the highest filicide rate in history."
"Currently, in Canada, 80 per cent of murdered children are killed by one or both of their own parents. In the U.S. the equivalent figure is about 55 per cent."
"Today he has learned children with disabilities are about three times as likely as other children to be victims of maltreatment. Sobsey is researching 1,130 homicides of disabled people over recent years, most of which are committed by either parents or caregivers."
From the ashes of Germany, Canada arises.
This is one of the things I am researching now. Orthodox Christian countries hold the best hope. Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania are solidly becoming more and more Christian these days. Having already been through hell, with Cyprus as a more current trend, and Greece not really having gone through the horrors the others did....
Croatia is a nightmare waiting to be (re)born. Mein Kampf is a bestseller there and has been for a decade.
I guess what I am saying is that they are serving their master, who is the real cause of sin and evil in this world, of course.
I just don't think it matters about Felos or Greer, though it would be important to try to get Greer away from his seat.
Greer and Felos are simply the buds on the tree, which has already taken root and is flourishing. Removing the buds might be a start but it will not kill the tree.
We need a giant tree poison, LOL. Not to pick at the buds...
I am so excited to know there will be someone to talk about it with. It's an incredible book and I think you will come away from it just as impressed with Wesley as I have been. Wait until you read about the Christian pastor who went to the ends of the earth to help a homeless man about to fall prey to the PVS killing machines. It is a testimony to Christ's presence here to read this story.
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