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.

[Askel5]

...

You may be asking ... what possessed me to get involved.

My brother (in law) in Kentucky called and we'd discussed this situation.

I began looking at the case and asked "why".

This is not the bill I came up with. Rep. Tarantino, you did an excellent job of summarizing reasons I think we need to discuss this. The Gov. and his attys find this bill legal, a means to move forward and save this person's life.

When I thought of Persistent Vegetative State, I thought of people on life support, comatose, machines running them. Not people who wake up every day, follow motion around the room, who try to speak.

My brother (like Rep Jennings and Smith) talked about family. Who should be making these decisions. Who should get involved.

This happens with normal families ... the husband works with the in-laws, they start rehab processes and then come to a conclusion.

As I read the facts, shortly after Schiavo won the award, ordered nurses to CEASE positive stimulation oif Terri. Consulted on how to hasten her death.

These are decision a spouse WITHOUT A CONFLICT OF INTERESET shoudl be involved in. We need to decide if guardian ad litem in order. The Bible's a great argument but it also says till death do us part. He didn't divorce her and he didn't stand by her in devotion.

Tonight there's only on thing we can do to ... I urge you to vote for this bill.

[angelwings49]

Julie, I've been asking Blessed Mother Teresa to intervene for days!!!

[JulieRNR21]

58 to 23 Passes!

[Askel5]

BILL PASSES ... 58-23.

[PeyersPatches]

Oh good lord almighty - the Senate won't take it up until TOMORROW....I'm going to be sick

[angelwings49]

I don't know anything about FL politics, but do you think the Senate will pass the bill too????

[Theodore R.]

toughest decision I've had to make

How can this be the "toughest decision" this lawmaker has had to make? What is "tough" about stopping the forced starvation of a disabled woman in a country which extols its "Americans With Disabilities" Act? How is that "tough"? Terri knows what is tough.

[iowamomforfreedom]

YES! YES! YES!!!!

[syriacus]

As I read the facts, shortly after Schiavo won the award, ordered nurses to CEASE positive stimulation oif Terri. Consulted on how to hasten her death.

I am so glad he brought this up.

[JulieRNR21]

Me too.....especially this weekend....Bill goes to Senate in the morning.

[sfRummygirl]

ping me to list

[angelwings49]

It looks as though our bombardment of calls and e-mails DID work, thank God!!! Now, if Terri can just hang on a little longer!!!

[TigersEye]

The Creator may not be mentioned in the section of the FL Constitution he was reading from.

I was referring to the Declaration of Independence which is the foundation of every law in every State. The foundation of the U.S. and all State's constitutions. IOW's what is more basic than that?

[sfRummygirl]

THEY PASSED THE VOTE

[Askel5]

Believe me ... I don't get it either.

I can understand the agonizing decision of whether or not to sentence harshly a convicted mercy killer but state-sanctioned homicide of a responsive human being is objectional on its face.

[iowamomforfreedom]

One thing I have been praying for is that there is some compassionate, brave hospice worker that maybe has slipped her a sip of water here and there...

I know she's being watched like a hawk, but God is on our side...

[syriacus]

Hang in there, Terri.

Mike will be pacing the floor all night.

[sfRummygirl]

oK, FOLKS WHAT IS NEXT.....DOES SHE EAT TONIGHT?

[Graymatter]

Right, she shouldn't survive six days without fluids. There could be damage if she does survive.
What she needs is someone of the hospital staff to do something still illegal tonight. Save her life despite police guards and Michael Schiavo.
I hope someone there has the humanity.