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Attorneys for Terri Schiavo's parents seek to block tube removal

By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. --

The parents of a brain-damaged woman at the center of a life-or-death court fight sued their son-in-law in federal court Monday seeking to block the removal of the feeding tube which has been keeping her alive.

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube will be removed Oct. 15 under a state judge's order issued last week. Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, arguing the removal of the tube would violate her constitutional rights.

The Schindlers and their son-in-law, Michael Schiavo, have been engaged in a long legal battle over the fate of the 39-year-old woman, who suffered severe brain damage following a heart attack more 13 years ago.

Michael Schiavo has said his wife never would have wanted to be kept alive artificially.

"I would hope that the federal judge looking at this realizes this is just an attempt to rehash what has gone on before," said George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney. "I think a federal judge is well aware that he doesn't have jurisdiction. Beyond that, it must be pointed out that so much of what is in this complaint is just an out-and-out lie."

The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy between Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer and Michael Schiavo in seeking to end Terri's life.

"It just shows how desperate they are becoming," Felos said.

Pat Anderson, who is representing the Schindlers, wouldn't comment on the filing.

The Schindlers accused their son-in-law of blocking attempts to rehabilitate his wife, despite pledging to do so when he testified in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against his wife's doctors.

The Schindlers contend their daughter can be rehabilitated and in the lawsuit said their daughter's caregivers have reported hearing her say, "help me" and "mommy."

They also accuse Michael Schiavo of using more than $700,000 awarded Terri Schiavo won in the malpractice case for her care instead to pay for attorneys in the court fight to end her life.

The Schindlers are seeking to have Michael Schiavo removed as his wife's guardian and are arguing she has a right to swallowing therapy that could teach her to eat and drink if she were disconnected from the feeding tube.

Greer last week ordered her feeding tube be removed after state appeals courts backed his ruling that Terri Schiavo has suffered such severe brain damage she is in a permanent vegetative state.

Both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court have refused to consider the case.

Monday's lawsuit is amended from a complaint filed in federal court earlier this month. U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara has said he was not convinced the federal court has any jurisdiction in the case, but allowed the Schindlers a chance to present their case on pape