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Terry Schiavo Executive Order
Governor's Office (email) | Oct 21, 2003 | Gov. Jeb Bush

Posted on 10/21/2003 4:32:56 PM PDT by beckett

The Governor has just sent this email to those who contacted him about Terry:

Thank you for writing to Governor Bush and expressing interest in the well-being of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Attached please find a statement by Governor Bush relating to actions taken today by the Florida Legislature and the Governor.

Again, thank you for writing to Governor Bush.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ALIA FARAJ
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2003
(850) 488-5394

Statement By: GOVERNOR JEB BUSH

Regarding Theresa Schiavo

TALLAHASSEE- "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. I understand the limitations cited by the judges who have declined to hear the later stages of this case. However, any life or death decision should be made only after careful consideration of all related facts and conditions. For that reason, I appreciate the extraordinary action of the Legislature today, and will use the discretion they have granted regarding the restoration of nutrition and water to Terri Schiavo.

"The conflict among family members over the best interests of this young woman has made us all acutely aware that uncertainty in these situations can, and does, compound the tragedy. I hope all Floridians, and any others who have followed this case, will ensure their best interests are clearly documented in a living will or other directive to spare their families a similar anguish.

"My thoughts and prayers remain with Terri and those who love her."

# # #

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 03-201

WHEREAS, on October 21, 2003, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 35-E (to be published as Public Law 03-418), signed this date by me, authorizing the Governor to issue a one-time stay in certain cases where, as of October 15, 2003, the action of withholding or withdrawing nutrition or hydration from a patient in a permanent vegetative state has already occurred and there is no written advance directive and a family member has challenged the withholding or withdrawing of nutrition and hydration; and

WHEREAS, under House Bill 35-E a person may not be held civilly liable and is not subject to regulatory or disciplinary sanctions for taking any action to comply with a stay issued by the Governor pursuant to House Bill 35-E; and

WHEREAS, in the case of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo, Robert Schindler and Mary Schindler, the parents of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo, have requested that the Governor enter a stay prohibiting further withholding or withdrawing of nutrition or hydration; and

WHEREAS, a court has found that Theresa Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Theresa Schiavo had no written advance directive as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, nutrition and hydration have been withdrawn from Theresa Schiavo, and continues to be withheld as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Schindlers have challenged the withdrawal and withholding of nutrition and hydration as of October 15, 2003; and

WHEREAS, an immediate and urgent need has arisen to address the removal of nutrition or hydration, because death due to lack of nutrition and hydration is imminent;

NOW THEREFORE, I, JEB BUSH, Governor of the State of Florida, by the powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, specifically House Bill 35-E, do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order, effective immediately:

Section 1.

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

B. 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.

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

D. This order shall be binding on all persons having notice of its provisions.

E. This order shall be effective until such time as the Governor revokes it.

F. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement shall serve a copy of this Executive Order upon the medical facility currently providing care for Theresa Schiavo.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed this 21st day of October, 2003. _______________________________________

GOVERNOR

ATTEST: ________________________________

SECRETARY OF STATE

Celeste F. Lewis
Director
Office of Citizens' Services
Executive Office of the Governor
850/488-7146 (Phone)
850/487-0801 (Fax)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: eo; euthanasia; schiavo
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To: Dixielander
ATTENTION - ATTENTION: BIKERMAN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.

Snooter ;o)
161 posted on 10/21/2003 5:50:05 PM PDT by snooter55 (People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do)
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To: Lauren BaRecall
In spite of the disingenous BS in the papers trying to hide this fact, out of 38 votes cast against this, 30 were by DEATH WORSHIPPING EVIL SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS.
162 posted on 10/21/2003 5:50:06 PM PDT by Rome2000 (McCarthy was right!)
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To: Conservative til I die
Jeb has not spared her life. He's granted a stay so that further clarification can be made on the law and the situation. Just like if she was sentenced to die. She may very well die in two weeks.

Well, we'll have to see what happens when doctors other than those hand-picked by the 'loving spouse' have to say about whether or not she can be taught to swallow. Cause that's really all it is about, from what I understand.

163 posted on 10/21/2003 5:50:56 PM PDT by wizardoz (Palestinians are just dynamite!)
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To: supercat
In other words, the person died of an accidentally-induced medical condition.

No, the person died because the fluid buidup killed her; but since you refuse to accept the basic premise of my example, you are not willing to discuss this rationally.

164 posted on 10/21/2003 5:51:54 PM PDT by george wythe
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To: Graybeard58
"... Just my thoughts on the matter."

Great thoughts. Thank you for them all. I will join you in the prayers for Terri's complete recovery and ALL IS POSSIBLE FOR GOD.
165 posted on 10/21/2003 5:52:48 PM PDT by AFPhys (((PRAYING for: President Bush & advisors, troops & families, Americans)))
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To: Notwithstanding
As I understood statements made in the House last night, this is an interim measure and they are going to address the existing laws in regular session.
166 posted on 10/21/2003 5:53:28 PM PDT by windchime
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To: Jeff Head
Excellent post.
167 posted on 10/21/2003 5:53:51 PM PDT by agrace
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To: beckett
I would like to thank the following for making this happen:

1. GOD








2. Everyone who prayed and lit a fire under those who had the power to change it

3. Jeb Bush

4. Florida congresscritters
168 posted on 10/21/2003 5:54:03 PM PDT by SerpentDove
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To: Conservative til I die
I believe that Sands is still hovering. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about Sands every time I read anything about Greer.

Irrational liberal judges, the both of them. And Greer legislating euthanasia from the bench....
169 posted on 10/21/2003 5:57:47 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Impeach Greer!)
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To: supercat
What are the odds that an audit of Terri's books will show criminal activity in which Judge Greer was complicit?

How does the audit happen? Frankly I think that Terri's parents should oh say, "find" a note, page, or doc that Terri had once upon a time written stating how much she belived in life and that suicide was wrong etc. hidden in a desk somewhere.
After all that was what her "husband" did with his "hire a witness" (B-in-law and Sis-in-law) after the only GAL that Terri ever had pointed out that it was ONLY the husband with conflicting matters that seemed to remember Terri saying anything about wanting to die if in need of artificial support.

170 posted on 10/21/2003 5:59:03 PM PDT by alexandria ( T.A.K.E. {{"The All Knowing Entity."}})
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
I think having "human being" status should mean something. Where I live, starving a dog or cat to death is a felony punishable by 5 years in prison.

This woman is not brain dead. Her heart and lungs work without mechanical assistance. Her only "crime" was that she couldn't feed herself, and for that this idiot "judge" sentenced her to die by starvation/dehydration.

Kudos to the FL legislature and Gov. Bush for taking a stand and saving this poor woman's life!

171 posted on 10/21/2003 5:59:03 PM PDT by flair2000
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To: beckett
Story at TampaBayOnline (TBO.com):

Fla. Gov. Orders Feeding Tube Reinserted

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Invoking a law rushed through the Legislature only an hour earlier, Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a feeding tube reinserted Tuesday into a brain-damaged woman at the center of one of the nation's longest and most bitter right-to-die battles.

The bill was designed to save the life of Terri Schiavo, whose parents have fought for several years to keep her alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she would rather die.

The woman was taken by ambulance later Tuesday from the hospice where she had gone without food or water for six days. She was to be given fluids at a Clearwater hospital before again being fed through a tube.

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed by court order at her husband's insistence last Wednesday, and doctors said the 39-year-old woman would die within a week to 10 days without food and water.

The Senate voted 23-15 for the legislation, and the House passed the final version 73-24 only minutes later. Bush signed it into law and issued the order just more than an hour later.

After the Senate's vote, a cheer went up among about 80 protesters outside Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park.

"We are just ecstatic," Bob Schindler said after Bush told him he would issue the order. "It's restored my belief in God."

Suzanne Carr, Terri Schiavo's sister, called the development "a miracle, an absolute miracle." Terri's mother broke down crying when she heard the news.

172 posted on 10/21/2003 6:00:47 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: bikerman
I guess this means the laws of the land and the judges who uphold the laws have just been told their voice and judgement mean nothing.

Understand something, buddy: judges do not make the law. The people make the law through their elected representatives. The people, through their elected representatives, changed the law tonight. Do you understand that the people's will expressed through the legislative process is superior to the whims of a judge, or are you already a slave in mind if not in body?

173 posted on 10/21/2003 6:01:24 PM PDT by Campion
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To: beckett
If Bush were with me right now, I'd plant a huge wet one on him! Thank you Jeb Bush!
174 posted on 10/21/2003 6:02:14 PM PDT by Arpege92
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To: Libertina
Yea!
175 posted on 10/21/2003 6:05:00 PM PDT by GregoryFul
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To: pollywog
That's what I read... Moved her to Clearwater - whatever or wherever that is. I imagine she needs some serious medical help after being starved for so long.
176 posted on 10/21/2003 6:05:39 PM PDT by Humidston
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To: shhrubbery!
Suncoast, a nightmarish place that will live in infamy.
177 posted on 10/21/2003 6:05:50 PM PDT by Dixielander
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To: alexandria
How does the audit happen?

A guardian ad litem is appointed, as had always been required by law but is now explicitly required by law, someone suggests he demand an audit of the books, he decides it's a good idea, and he orders the audit.

Since part of a guardian ad litem's job is to supervise his ward's trust fund, having an audit of that fund would only natural, especially if there has been any confict of interest between the guardian and the ward.

178 posted on 10/21/2003 6:07:56 PM PDT by supercat (Why is it that the more "gun safety" laws are passed, the less safe my guns seem?)
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To: Humidston
I hope this workds. Terri is NOT being helped yet!

Here's the thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1005495/posts

179 posted on 10/21/2003 6:09:59 PM PDT by TruthConquers ("Who will liberate us from these tyrants of secularist tolerance?")
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To: Uno Animo
The stay is in effect until the Govenor removes it. It does not automatically expire and no one other than the governor can remove it.

The 15 days mentioned was a time frame to implement the feeding, not a duration. In other words, Gov Bush had 15 days to start the feeding or not feed at all.
180 posted on 10/21/2003 6:11:11 PM PDT by dglang
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