New Guardian Urged for Terri Schiavo, More Evaluation of Her Condition Needed

LifeNews.com ^ | December 2, 2003 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael. He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state, but added that she should be re-evaluated by experts.

Under Terri's Law passed by the state legislature, an independent guardian was authorized to provide Governor Bush with recommendations about Terri's situation.

On October 31, Chief Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge David Demers appointed Dr. Jay Wolfson, a professor of health and law at Stetson University in Florida, as Terri's guardian ad litem, despite the suggestion of bias from Terri's family.

Wolfson submitted a lengthy thirty-page report to Bush on Tuesday.

According to a source familiar with the report, Wolfson describes Terri as being in a persistent vegetative state. However, numerous doctors say otherwise and videos made by Terri's parents show her responding to doctors and her family.

Dr. William Hammesfahr, a neurologist from Clearwater, where Terri was hospitalized, is a recognized national expert on PVS and is a Nobel prize nominee. He says Terri's eyes clearly fixate on her family and she tries to follow the simple commands her parents give her.

"She looks at you, she can follow commands," Hammesfahr said.

Wolfson says Terri should be granted a permanent guardian other than Michael Schiavo. Among other concerns, Terri's family says has denied her appropriate medical and rehabilitative care he was obligated to provide from a medical malpractice award he received.

Wolfson also said medical experts should be brought in to evaluate Terri's cognitive function and her rehabilitative abilities.

Following the passage of Terri's Law, Wolfson told WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida: "If this law stands the constitutional test of the courts, then it certainly implies the executive of our state has the prerogative of injecting the state into your life, or your family member's life."

Pat Anderson, the family's attorney, later told LifeNews.com that they met with Wolfson and were "very hopeful he can get his work done in the thirty days given to him."

Related web sites:

Terri's family - http://www.terrisfight.org

[Ethan_Allen]

The light is shining brighter more and MORE everyday from Clearwater, Florida.

Yes Orlando, Jesus is walking in Clearwater, touching hearts and breaking down strongholds. He is working through his saints, her family, priest, and faithful friends, including many FReepers.

Your comment enticed me to make this link:

Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERRI! You are very special. You are a part of God's greater plan. May He see you home soon to the arms of the family who cherish you.

[Ethan_Allen]

his saints=His Saints

[Orlando]

YES ! I have connections/friends in his district, who
voted for him over and over before, BUT now it's going
to turn, and if it comes down to it, We WILL unite forces
with the democrats to VOTE HIM OUT in 2004....

The Union people HATES him,because of his Temporary JOB
service $$$ operations , people working on min..wages,
No job security, NO Health coverages, and the right to work
state..etc... JIM KING runs alot of these Temp service, and
since he is Presdient of the Florida Senate, you wonder how
many gov't contracts & others his business(s) gets ???

Voter Education is/had begun in Death-King area(s)....
He thinks by September of 2004 people will forget, but he
is wrong...dead wrong...

[Orlando]

Amen .

When Theresa is FREED from that jail cell she's been in for over 3 years. I pray that her Family takes her to the
HOLY SITE just up the road ..., because there she will be healed by GOD. There are reports that people with pure heart/spirit get heal from sickness when they go there...

I KNOW Theresa will recover and be heal when she see and tough the HOLY MOTHER image in Clearwater.....

I dream it...pray this happens .

The image is Beautiful & Loving & caring.....let's not forget who we work for, because we are only here for a moment, then we return home, after we do what we got to do,and learn...Be strong my friends....it's all a test about LOVE, and Caring for those who needs us....


http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weeping13.htm


***BEAUTIFUL IS SHE ****
"Lord, please help your child Sweetliberty with a good job,please....we would of been lost without her, please
bless her, in Jesus name..amen"...

vet out....

[Ethan_Allen]

A Precedent-Setting Case
The importance of saving Terri cannot be overestimated, not only for her right to live but also to apply a brake to the current "right to die" movement that seems bent on terminating people with severe brain injuries or conditions. It is no accident that people like Terri are put into hospices and cases like hers are included in "end of life" education programs for health care professionals and the public. It is no coincidence that withdrawal of treatment decisions have become the justification for the new non-heartbeating organ donation policies.13 And it is the ultimate irony that even families and patients who choose to live can now be overruled by medical futility policies being instituted at hospitals throughout the country.

Going from a very naive to a very conspiracy-minded person, that sums up what was very clear and ominous to me from the time I first laid eyes on this case.

I have pretty much refrained from commenting on my view of the Catholic Church's role in this, because Terri's family is Catholic, there are a lot of devout Catholics on this thread, and because these and many others Catholics have put their heart and soul into this case, and I don't want to offend or antagonize them. Maybe before I put my foot into my mouth any further, I should just let it go for now that a lot of wolves have entered into not only the Catholic church, but probably every other church as well. I keep praying that God is using this to shine a light on this problem, which is at the root of all the problems in this country, and the whole world for that matter.

.....it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints....... Jude 1:3-4

Jhn 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jhn 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

1Cr 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [the goal of the New Covenant link ]

Terri's supporters are already one with God in spirit and love, and I believe that is why He is on our side:

Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

[Ethan_Allen]

let's not forget who we work for, because we are only here for a moment, then we return home, after we do what we got to do,and learn...Be strong my friends....it's all a test about LOVE, and Caring for those who needs us....

Bump for Sweetliberty, Pegita, and many, many others.

God CAN heal Terri. I pray for that miracle.

Bless you too, Orlando.

[FR_addict]

Thanks for the post on the Catholic Church and the right to die. I would like to see the pope get involved in this case. He speaks out to save the life of condemned murderers.

It seems like he could find it in his heart to speak out for Terri as well, if he was made aware of this situation.

[msmagoo]

Yes, is it a time for the people to stand up and be heard. We should not let our life or the life of our loved ones end until such time as God chooses. Above all, the end of our life should be in agreement with our faith and our beliefs, not chosen by health care policy 'experts' or dictated by our health insurance company. If we do not value life enough to accept the right to life of people with disabilities, we are not a civilized people.

[FR_addict]

"First, you say there is no claim or mention that anyone tried to starve her to death, then in the next post to me you say you saw the interview where the husband claimed just that. Why did you post something you knew not to be true?"

The statement "there is no claim or mention that anyone tried to starve her to death" was referring to Adamson's website.

So you think if it isn't on her web site, it didn't happen. I'm sure there are plenty of incidents that happened to her during this time and are not on her web site.

She has a book about her experiences. If the feeding tube incident with the doctors is not in the book, then I would be more inclined to agree with you. Has anyone here read the book?

Be as it may, there are other cases out there, where the person has woken from a PVS or coma state. Hers is just one of the many cases out there.

[pickyourpoison]

I'm wondering if she has grounds for annulment. MS's new family plus he refused her having communion.

[Saundra Duffy]

"If she didn't want to live," he said, "she could have thrown in the towel a long time ago."

That is so true.

[Saundra Duffy]

I love Jeb Bush.

[Saundra Duffy]

Anyone can study court documents. It's what's NOT in the court documents that's important. Sheeeeeesh.

[Saundra Duffy]

If we move to change FL law to make eyeglasses "artificial life support" can we starve and dehydrate Greer as a test case? I "telepathically" heard him saying he wished he was dead the morning after New Year's Eve in 1999. And, my dog heard him say that too! Bye bye, Greer!

LOL!

[Krodg]

"Within the construct of the GAL's role, an additional recommendation is proferred to the court and to the Governor. During the more than nine years of adversarial relationships involving Theresa, no permanent Guardian Ad Litem has been appointed to stand exclusively in her shoes. It is the additional recommendation of the GAL that as long as controversy and an adversarial relationship exist in Theresa's case, a Guardian Ad Litem should be appointed to represent her exclusive interests. This in no way intended to detract from or impunge the role of Theresa's existing Guardian, Michael Schiavo."

This doesn't agree with the first article..and doesn't sound good. From the first article...

An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael. He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state, but added that she should be re-evaluated by experts.

[FR_addict]

This doesn't agree with the first article..and doesn't sound good. From the first article...

Sounds like a little bit of wishful thinking in the first article. I didn't read the whole 39 pages, but Wolfson makes a lot of sweeping statements without giving the references for his statements. For instance, Terri went down to 110 pounds. Is this in her medical records or something Michael S. said?

[FR_addict]

I'm wondering if she has grounds for annulment. MS's new family plus he refused her having communion.

It would be nice to find out what the rules are on this. I know that both parties have to enter the marriage in good faith of keeping their marriage vows. If you can prove the other entered the marriage without planning to abide by the rules of the Catholic faith, you can receive an annulment.

If one is a non-Catholic they have to agree to allow the children to be raise in the Catholic faith. It does seem if the husband will not allow Terri to practice her faith by receiving Communion, this should be grounds for an annulment.

Maybe the parents need to check into the grounds for an annulment and specifically mention denying Terri her right to receive Communion.

[Saundra Duffy]

The news today is kind of depressing. It is so sad that Terri's life hangs in the balance while all these legal battles are raging. I feel bad for Terri's family. I just wish they would hurry up and decide to protect Terri's life, remove the HINO as her guardian, and turn over her care to her family. Why is it so hard? I know, it's a spiritual battle.

[FR_addict]

It is a little depressing, but just from the little I read of Wofson's report, I don't think it makes sense for a Guardian Ad Litem to determine whether the stay for removing Terri's feeding tube should be lifted. Why should one unelected guy be able to control whether a law should be overturned?

I think Bush's attorney will have a good legal brief that will make mincemeat of the other side.

[cyn]

Hi, hope you are well. The contents of the report lend themselves to any number of headlines, as we can see here on FR!