Florida House passes tube-feeding law

Associated Press ^ | October 20, 2003 | By JACKIE HALLIFAX

[JohnHuang2]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)

[GeronL]

hey. now thats weird.

I guess people are upset because he is doing it a day late?

[vox humana]

The tube was removed Wednesday. As of Monday, doctors estimated Terri Schiavo would live little more than another week.

One has to wonder what additional permanent damage has been done to the body and the brain by withholding nutrition for the past five days.

[Dianna]

What does the "15 days" part mean? Does this mean that this bill is a reprieve that expires in 15 days, that it only applies to cases the governor exercises in the next 15 days, or something else?

I would assume that it means the governor has 15 days from the time a feeding tube has been ordered withdrawn to have it reinserted.

The law is covering more people than Terri. Since it states that a relative must be protesting the removal, I assume that the order to remove a feeding tube will likely come from a court. I guess they want to avoid a last minute reinsertion, keeping alive a person who has already been severely damaged by no nutrition.

[A CA Guy]

That is what I was told from someone else on a related thread.

I would think this would be needed.

[fly_so_free]

Thank God. Thank you Jeb, but this isn't over. I can't beleive they are waiting another day to pass it . Terri needs hydration- NOW!!! HURRY UP!! DANG IT!!!!

EVERYBODY BETTER PRAY HARD THAT TERRI MAKES IT THROUGH. I heard one of the "doctors" say she had "begun they dying proccess." I don't like the sounds of that- considering they are giving her morphine. Terri's parents and family better go to the "doctors" and staff at the hospice and "make it real clear" that Terri better survive through to tommorow or else ..

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[Lib Buster]

I certainly hope this bill includes language prohibiting anyone removing the patient from the State of Florida.

[wizardoz]

The bill would give the state's governor 15 days to order a feeding tube to be reinserted in cases like Terri Schiavo's.

Uhm.... not to be pushy, but she's already been 5 days without water....

[wizardoz]

This whole story is incredibly tragic and the behavior of her "husband" has been beyond despicable, if not criminal.

I still don't understand how he retains custody of his wife while begetting babies on another woman.

[bonfire]

I don't either. Which makes me not believe a word he says.

[cgk]

Wow. How did I miss this earlier??

[nutmeg]

ping!

[Qwinn]

"One has to wonder what additional permanent damage has been done to the body and the brain by withholding nutrition for the past five days."

Probably not as bad as you think. Remember, it's not like she's sweating or exercising and burning calories. In that state a human being can go a remarkably long time without being permanently damaged by lack of food and water. At a rough guess I wouldn't expect real damage to occur until about 8-10 days. If she gets put back on tomorrow, she should be fine.

Of course, this is assuming she had no medical issues that I'm unaware of beforehand. Also, I have no idea what effect the morphine would have on her (raising or lowering metabolism, that is).

Qwinn

[nutmeg]

Good news ping!

[deannadurbin]

Praise God!

Let's hope and pray it is enacted before MORE harm comes to Terri from her "husband."

Bet Michael is now quivering in his "safe house." :)

[JohnHuang2]

Bump!

[JustPiper]

WND- Bill gives Jeb Bush power to 'stay' case, but needs to overcome Senate foes today

[ordinaryguy]

What does the "15 days" part mean?

It mean Jeb has 15 days, from the time the law takes effect, to order the stay.

[ordinaryguy]

The law is covering more people than Terri.

The bill appears to be a one-time use law. That is, he has 15 days to use it on one person. Then it expires (though the stay will remain in effect).

[BushCountry]

There were several post that stated that King did not want a special session. Here is an excerted one.

Schiavo life fight waged in Tampa court, state capitol
herald tribune/ap ^ | 10-20-03 | VICKIE CHACHERE


Posted on 10/20/2003 1:00 PM PDT by MarMema


TAMPA, Fla. --

A watchdog agency for the disabled pleaded Monday with a federal judge to keep a brain-damaged woman in the process of starving to death alive long enough to investigate a claim that she is being abused by her husband.


The court argument came on a day of frantic activity from Tampa to Tallahassee by backers of Bob and Mary Schindler's efforts to keep their daughter Terri Schiavo alive and reverse a court order which is allowing their son-in-law to end her life with last week's removal of a feeding tube...


...In Tallahassee, some lawmakers who gathered for the special session on economic development issues on Monday discussed trying to pass legislation that could save Schiavo's life.


House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, said negotiations were under way to see if some kind of a moratorium could be passed Monday to keep Schiavo alive.

Lawmakers were eyeing "moratorium on the removal of nutrition and hydration from those who do not have a written directive and where there's a contest among the family about how to deal with this," Byrd said.

Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said he was not in favor of taking up the Schiavo case.

"Our family prays that the members, including Senate President Jim King, will put any politics aside and approve this bill for the sake of Terri's life and also for the sake of future Terri Schiavos," said sister Suzanne Carr.