Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo

Firstcoastnews.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Cynthia Capers

[JulieRNR21]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I hope Jeb's lawyer asks for herself to be named the guardian ad litem.

[GopherIt]

...By the way, would you mount the same effort and expend the same energy to defend my parental rights as you have expended in defense of this poor woman?...

Damn tootin...

Why would you assume that you have to use brutal force to be a Texan? Or that I suggested that? If you're going to cop the DMWT screen name, then why doesn't that mean smart force instead? Ergo, are you a Texan or what?

[Graymatter]

Hannity segment coming up soon on FOX.

[berkeleybeej]

FYI - just got freepmail from Don'tMessWithTexas that I'd like to share with you:

"You aappear to be another fine example of the moral bankruptcy of the so-called pro-life movement today. No principle. No morals. No character. I suppose you do not fear the God who truly has the power over life and death. "

Repeat of my prior message to DMWT - get over it.

Can we stay focused on Terri????? Thanx

[Graymatter]

Too bad Bush's order didn't mention penalties for interference with the order.

[johnb838]

DMWT aapears to be a sleeper troll.

[diamond6]

The lights on but no one is home.

[CindyDawg]

Sh! Not now ok? Please.

What's going on guys? I go to dinner celebrating and come back to this. Have we heard anything from the family? I can't believe they would do surgery on her tonight. I figured they would insert an NG tube. Someone said this is the hospital her husband works at?

[honeygrl]

"If the folks that vote would understand that the Dems are the party of DEATH we could begin to turn this country around!

The arguments by the Dems in the House and Senate, were pathetic. They make NO SENSE!!! "

One sad thing is that there were even a few RINOs in the Senate that spoke out boldly against Terri's Bill. We should expect even better of our own than we do the Dems and remember who they are for future reference in case they ever run for any higher offices.

[diamond6]

If anyone would like to make a donation to the Schiavo's, here is their address:

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo foundation
4615 Gulf Blvd # 104-103
St. Petersburg Beach, FL 33707

I can only imagine, in addition to the emotional toll this has taken, but also the financial one. We can not forget them.

[honeygrl]

Wow, that is the second personal reply to someone here from Antone. He must have really regretted his decision because he seems to be taking criticism of it very hard.

[GopherIt]

...This thread is about action taken by the state. That action may have unintended consequences including the state using its power to veto the healthcare decisions of parents. Liberals do not care about the unintended consequences of legislation. Conservatives do because we fear the power of the state. ...

No, this is about representative democracy and the executive power to enforce the law as a check and balance against judicial tyranny. Unintended consequences can be corrected by ... representative democracy. Take your fear and tell a judge about it.

[pc93]

Kevin,
They are defying the Governor's order!!!! Hospice and Morton Plant Hospital both refused to hydrate her claiming the law passed today is unconstitutional and therefore, they are afraid of being sued. Michael Schiavo's attorney is threatening to sue any doctor who provides feeding or care to her - this is unbelievable and surreal!!!! Terri is still without any food or water and is under armed guard! Totally insane - totally evil!!
In Christ always,
Debi
P.S Can anyone get this up on Free Republic ASAP??? We have a delegate from Washington calling the chief of staff at Morton Plant right now asking them if they have lost their minds....
Meanwhile I filed a formal complaint today with Ashchroft - it went to several Catholic senators as well - DC is listening...someone needs to pull off a political miracle!!


Morton Plant Hospital

Morton Plant Mease Health Care is dedicated to improving the community's health and meeting its health care needs. They are a not-for-profit health care system offering convenient, quality medical services to Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Click to go to Morton Plant Hospital's own Web site.
http://www.mpmhealth.com/

323 Jeffords St
Clearwater FL 33755

Voice Phone
813-462-7000


Text of Bush's Excecutive Order

Bush issued Executive Order 03-201, which states that

"Effective immediately, continued withholding of nutrition and hydration from Theresa Schiavo is hereby stayed.

"Effective immediately, all medical facilities and personnel providing medical care for Theresa Schiavo, and all those acting in concert or participation with them, are hereby directed to immediately provide nutrition and hydration to Theresa Schiavo by means of a gastronomy tube or by any other method determined appropriate in the reasonable judgment of a licensed physician.

"While this order is effective, no person shall interfere with the stay entered pursuant to this order. And,

"This order shall be effective until such time as the governor revokes it."

[angelwings49]

According to Fox News Alert, Terri IS currently receiving IV fluids...

[CindyDawg]

Can't get thru. Line is busy. I'll keep trying. What is going on here? If you or I refuse to obey the law we go to jail.

[Lovergirl]

You mean the Fox News that never carries the story?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

No, this is about representative democracy and the executive power to enforce the law as a check and balance against judicial tyranny. Unintended consequences can be corrected by ... representative democracy. Take your fear and tell a judge about it.

The actions of a representative democracy can always have untintended consequences. Once the state goes down the road of accumulating more power, those who hold minority viewpoints or religious convictions are toast. Representative democracy is not helpful as long as they remain in the minority. A tyrannical court cannot be corrected by a tyrranical state.

Rejoice in your legislative victory, but look out for your liberal enemies who will use even well-intentioned legislation to advance a liberal agenda.

[honeygrl]

From CNN.com:

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a feeding tube reinserted into a brain-damaged woman Tuesday afternoon, less than two hours after the Legislature passed a bill allowing him to do so.

Florida lawmakers gave Bush the authority in an effort to keep Terri Schiavo alive nearly a week after the tube was removed at the request of her husband, Michael, effectively overturning a court ruling that she be allowed to die.

"Like the tens of thousands of Floridians who have raised their voices in support of Terri Schiavo's right to live, I have been deeply moved by these tragic circumstances," Bush said in a statement issued after he signed the bill. "My thoughts and prayers remain with Terri and those who love her."

Michael Schiavo's lawyers filed an emergency injunction Tuesday evening to prevent the re-feeding of his wife. A Pinellas Circuit Court judge has agreed to hear arguments at 8:30 p.m.

Schiavo's attorneys argue that the bill authorizing Bush to reinsert the tube is unconstitutional.

"It violates the separation of powers between the judicial and executive branches," attorney Debbie Bushnell said.

Earlier Tuesday, a judge in Clearwater refused to issue a temporary restraining order that Michael Schiavo's attorneys had sought, saying the filing was made in the wrong jurisdiction.

Schiavo was being cared for at a hospice in Pinellas Park but was moved Tuesday evening to a hospital in Clearwater. An attorney for Schiavo's parents said lawyers at Morton Plant Hospital said Schiavo was being rehydrated intravenously in preparation for reinsertion of her feeding tube, which will not happen immediately.

The state Senate voted 23-15 on Tuesday to approve a measure allowing Bush to issue the one-time order. The tube was removed after a lengthy court battle between Terri Schiavo's husband and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler.

The bill also allows a judge to appoint an independent guardian for Schiavo, taking away guardianship from her husband.

Outside the hospice, the crowd cheered and embraced after learning of Bush's signature.

"I don't know what to say," said Bob Schindler. "I thank the governor, I thank everybody in the Legislature. There's a lot of people up there who pulled together. It's just incredible, totally incredible.

"We've had a roller coaster ride. Hopefully, that's over now."

By a vote of 68-23, the GOP-controlled Florida House approved the bill late Monday.

The Schindlers had been publicly pressing Bush to intervene. He had expressed sympathy for their position but said he did not have the authority to countermand court orders allowing the tube to be removed.

Terry Schiavo, 39, has been in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state since suffering heart failure in 1990. Doctors said she is responsive but shows no significant cognitive ability, and that she was left in that condition when her heart failure cut the flow of oxygen to her brain, leaving it damaged.

Schiavo is not terminally ill, but because of her condition, she cannot feed herself, so the feeding tube provides her with nutrition and water.

She left no written instructions about her wishes should she be incapacitated, but Michael Schiavo said she made it clear before her collapse that she did not want to be sustained with life support.

"Some people do not agree with the decision the court made to remove this feeding tube. I struggle to accept it myself," Schiavo said in a statement late Monday. "But I know in my heart that it is right, and it is what Terri wants. There is no longer any realistic hope of Terri's recovery."

Her parents dispute that contention, insisting that despite her medical condition, she still responds to them and could improve with rehabilitative care.

Michael Schiavo collected more than $1 million in malpractice settlements stemming from his wife's collapse, but only about $50,000 of that settlement remains. The money has been frozen by the court.

The hospice is caring for Schiavo free of charge

[angelwings49]

Well, I was a little upset w/Fox News, too, but just happened to be watching Hannity & Ass**** when the alert came on... just thought I'd share :)