Posted on 08/29/2003 10:41:03 PM PDT by kimmie7
'Exit protocol' for brain-disabled woman? Husband orders wife removed from hospital despite severe illness
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 29, 2003 6:15 p.m. Eastern
By Sarah Foster © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
A five-year legal battle over whether a brain-disabled woman should be allowed to live or forced to die of starvation took another turn today when Michael Schiavo ordered his wife Terri removed from a hospital where she is being treated for a severe infection.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo before her disability.
The move back to a hospice where the Florida woman has lived for more than three years could lead to her death, a family spokeswoman told WorldNetDaily.
"The family is very concerned Terri won't be properly cared for at the hospice and won't make it through the weekend," said Pamela Hennessey.
Terri still is reported to be "extremely congested and at least a bit feverish," Hennessey said.
The Schindler family fears this move is intended as an "exit protocol," with the intention of hastening her death, Hennessey said in a just-issued statement.
"There can't be any way Terri was well enough to leave the hospital," Terri's sister Suzanne Schindler-Carr told Hennessey. "She's still such a very sick girl."
It was the second such crisis in less than two weeks and the most recent development in the on-going battle between Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and their son-in-law that began with his efforts to remove the feeding tube Terri depends upon for sustenance.
Michael Schiavo (Photo: WFLA-TV)
According to documents filed with the court, Terri was transferred Sunday from the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast to the emergency room of Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., because of vomiting, fever, coughing, and severe diarrhea. Tests revealed lung congestion and an elevated white blood cell count, indicating a "substantial infection."
The Schindler's attorney Patricia Anderson said a federal statute prohibits an institution from discharging a person before they've been stabilized medically. But a patient can always discharge himself against medical advice.
"Since Michael Schiavo is Terri's legal guardian, he can do that, and that's what he's doing," said Anderson.
By order of an appeals court, Judge George Greer of Florida's 6th Circuit Court will hold a hearing Sept. 11 to set a date for removing the feeding tube, which would lead to starvation within 10 to 14 days.
Schiavo's request to order Terri returned to the hospice was faxed to Greer yesterday by his legal representative, right-to-die attorney George Felos, and is the second attempt this week to ensure his wife receives no medical treatment.
The day following her readmission to Morton Plant, Felos filed papers asking the court to order all treatment for Terri stopped "other than comfort care" for her infection and any additional medical problems that might arise.
In an emergency motion faxed Monday afternoon to Greer, Felos argued that since the courts of Florida had approved the removal of her feeding tube, death by starvation was a foregone conclusion and there was no need to intervene.
"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," he declared.
He also requested an "immediate hearing" to set the date for removal of Terri's feeding tube.
Judge Greer denied the motion Tuesday, stating such a determination would require a hearing, but endorsed Schiavo's request to return her to the hospice.
As WorldNetDaily reported, the Schindlers have been locked in a decade-long battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at their home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.
The bitter dispute over Terri's quality of care erupted five years ago into a full-blown euthanasia battle when Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive by "artificially." Although Terri breathes on her own and maintains her own blood pressure, she requires a tube for nourishment and hydration. The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe that with therapy she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and attorney George Felos.
This current emergency medical crisis was essentially a replay of events two weeks ago when Terri was taken to Morton Plant because she was coughing up blood and appeared to have aspiration pneumonia. She was returned to the hospice less than a week later, before she had fully recovered.
As before, the Schindlers have not been apprised their daughter's condition, despite a 1996 court order in which Schiavo agreed to inform the Schindlers of any changes in his wife's physical condition.
The Schindlers learned about Terri's emergency transfer from the hospice to the hospital Monday morning, hours after the fact. Not until their attorney Patricia Anderson received a fax from George Felos informing her of Terri's sudden crisis did they have any information.
Pamela Hennessey recalled last Monday's events for WorldNetDaily.
"As soon as they heard, her parents went immediately to the hospital and to the admissions section, and the first thing admissions said was there's no one here by that name," said Hennessey.
"Then they did confirm she was there, but did not tell them what room she was in, Hennessey continued. "So the Schindlers had to carry on for at least an hour before they found out where Terri even was. They never got any indication of her condition, diagnosis, prognosis, nothing. And they still haven't. All they know is Terri has a massive infection and fever."
Pat Anderson reports Mary Schindler has been with her daughter every day, all day until 8 p.m., when hospital rules dictate they must leave. Bob Schindler says she holds Terri in her arms, and when they started to leave, Terri's eyes fill with tears.
'Exit protocol'?
Terri's current medical crisis drew the attention of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he was "disturbed" by rumors about Schiavo's actions related to Terri's current care. In his letter to Greer Tuesday requesting a delay in removal of Terri's feeding tube until certain issues are investigated, Bush called specific attention to Schiavo's request to disallow treatment.
"It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo has contracted a life-threatening illness and that she may be denied appropriate treatment," the governor wrote. "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."
Bush urged Greer 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."
I guess if she's the ex-Mrs. Felos, her ex rid himself of the drag of her personal attachment.
oh, my--what a mess. Poor Terri!
Dear Kimberly,
My name is Tom Brodersen. I’m Pat’s office manager and paralegal, and have been involved in this case for two and a half years, with Pat. It seems like we’re always doing a Chinese fire drill in this case, with so much happening on an emergency basis that there is seldom time to look ahead and anticipate the next day. We have a couple of nurses who are always ready to help with records examination, multiple doctors who apparently feel honored to be consulted where Terri is concerned, and others from just about every field who feel the same way. We are blessed, you see, with a wealth of allies, all talented, caring people (like yourself, I’m sure… after all, the average person just coasts through life, stopping only to change the channel). I’ll pass this on to Pat, and if we develop a need for more help, I’ll keep you in mind, Thanks so much for your caring concern.
Tom
Terri was at death’s door on Saturday. She was transported from Hospice to Morton Plant hospital, but was apparently turned away without treatment. We can only surmise that Michael refused to authorize treatment. This is after being discharged before she was fully stabilized twice before. The good new is, since we filed a federal lawsuit, she is getting treatment at hospice, and is doing much better now. She is more responsive than ever.
-----Original Message----- From: Kimberly Pharris [mailto:kimkentp@bowlinggreen.net] Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 2:08 PM To: Tom Brodersen Subject: Re: Terri Schiavo
Dear Tom:
What a kind e-mail! After doing a lot (and I mean a lot!) of reading this weekend, I can see that the Schindlers are surrounded by talented, caring people. Of course, things are crazy now but when you slow down please feel free to contact me and my friends at Free Republic which include writers, paralegals, attorneys, teachers and on and on.
I hesitate to ask you for news of Teri, but we are all so worried about her making it through the weekend. Many of us have been in almost constant prayer, as the Lord has truly laid Terri, her family and all of you on our hearts so strongly. Is she okay? If you'd rather not comment, I understand. Please tell the Schindlers they are so often in our thoughts each day and that we are at their disposal as well.
May God bless you all richly in these difficult days.
Kimberly
"On July 5, 1988, the Palm Harbor Library officially opened its doors for business. Dedication of the building was on Sunday, September 17, 1988. Jeannette was there along with Congressman Michael Bilerakis, State Senator Kurt Kiser, County Commissioner George Greer, Chairman of the PHCSA Dale Belcher, and Virginia Grigg, chief of the Library Development Bureau for the State of Florida. " from palm harbor library site. FV
What wonderful news!! Thanks for finding out and letting us know.
How the heck can two men who apparently haven't been stricken with a chronic illness be objective in this case? Judge Greer has no perspective whatsoever to evaluate what it's like to be disabled or chronically ill.
I'm sticking to my theory. When Greer was County Commissioner, something happened and Felos is holding it over Greer's head. What if Terri is just the first, unjustifiable "exit protocol" because men in good health deem it's best? It you can't do yoga or run a marathon, you're not worth much. HERE IT IS: Judge George Greer,By BILL LEVASQUE © St. Petersburg Times, published April 28, 2001
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer is a rarity in two respects.
He is a former county commissioner who later won an unopposed election to the circuit bench, a seldom-used road to the judiciary.
And he boasted in 1986 that he was the first Pinellas commissioner in history to finish a 26.2-mile marathon.
Greer, 59, is a well-respected judge who consistently scores high in polls by lawyers rating judges on their judicial knowledge.
He is also the judge who ruled that Michael Schiavo could remove the feeding tube that had kept alive his wife, Terri Schiavo.
"He's diligent, fair and very astute about the law," said attorney Jay Hebert. "He's a very quiet guy. But he knows what he's doing."
Greer is a native of Brooklyn who moved to Florida when he was 4. A Southern Baptist, his mother was a housewife, and his father worked in title insurance.
He earned an undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his law degree from the University of Florida, making him a Gator and a Seminole.
Greer was a zoning lawyer before narrowly winning a seat on the Pinellas County Commission, where he served eight years. He was elected to the circuit bench in 1992."
FV SAYS: Well, there's no mention that he's a moral man, that he has family values or that he is a compassionate jurist. Sounds like he's in lawyers pockets which is why they give him awards. Whatta guy. He's a prostitute on the bench and what the lawyers want, they get.
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