CLEARWATER — The family of a severely brain-damaged woman urged a judge to reappoint an independent guardian in the case to protect her from her husband, who they say wants her dead because he is engaged to another woman. In a court filing Monday, Terri Schiavo's family also asked Pinellas-Pasco Chief Circuit Judge David A. Demers to let guardian ad litem Jay Wolfson determine whether Michael and Terri Schiavo's marriage can be dissolved and to let him oversee swallowing tests to determine if she can eat on her own. Demers discharged Wolfson Dec. 17 after the court-appointed advocate filed an investigatory report he was appointed to do. Gov. Jeb Bush and Terri Schiavo's family have now asked Demers to reinstate Wolfson so he can continue to monitor the situation and gather more information. Michael Schiavo, who is Terri's legal guardian, opposes the reappointment. His attorney, George Felos, said in a filing Monday that Wolfson already completed the investigation. Felos also said Demers lacks the authority to reappoint Wolfson. Michael Schiavo denies a conflict of interest and says he is just carrying out his 40-year-old wife's wishes not to be kept alive artificially. Felos sued Bush after a bill hastily passed by the Legislature in October gave the governor authority to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube after her husband had won court permission to have it removed so she could die. The law violated Terri's constitutionally protected right to privacy, Felos contends. A judge's decision on that issue is on hold while an appeals court sorts out some related procedural matters. Michael Schiavo has battled his in-laws, Bob and Mary Schindler, for years to get court permission to withdraw the feeding tube. He convinced a judge that his wife had made statements that she would not want to be kept alive artificially. The Schindlers dispute that their daughter had any such end-of-life wishes and believe her condition could improve with therapy. Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990 at age 26 when her heart stopped from what doctors believe was a chemical imbalance.
BTW, another thing to remember is that Greer is still sitting on the Guardianship case. You know, the one he scheduled for when Terri was supposed to be dead after the last tube disconnection. BIG thing to remember.
Felos affectionately known as goat boy.
Oh, could we be anything but affectionate!?! We're not ad hominum people. Far from it! :o)