" As stated previously, this is the only bill filed. There will be no other chances. This bill may not be tailored to Terri Schiavo, but there are no others addressing withdrawal of nurtition and hydration.
There will be others. That's why it's so important for things not to go wrong with this legislation.
You miss my point, Wampus. Terri's options are nearly exhausted. If this bill is not supported by Floridians, the lawmakers will not give it consideration. Session ends. No new bill till next year. By then, it is too late.
Florida has a part time legislature.
I have seen some internet blogs opposed to Terri's right to live claiming this bill as Terri's bill II. It is not. This is a bill for all Floridians.
Many lawmakers do not want anything to do with a bill that has Terri's name attached. We spent months talking to these reps.
We must remember that we are supporting the Bill to protect all incapacitated persons. There are many legislators that will stand in the way of any bill that they think is for Terri and some are still smarting after Terri's Law. We know that we are trying to save Terri, but it would be best if we leave Terri's name out of our letters and calls to the legislators. Tell your reps things like: I want you to support HB 107 to protect incapacitated people.
This issue is way larger than Terri.
Florida folks need to PHONE, E-MAIL and FAX members of the Florida House and Florida Senate in support of this bill, 701. And do it repeatedly.
As a final note, the law defining PVS in this state and ethics committees have been in place for years. This bill will not change these issues, nor can we expect it to. That must come from the professions involved. The goal is to protect the incapacitated, such as Terri.
Anybody who thinks they can make demands for major changes of this bill at this juncture, or tweak it for Terri, is not looking realistically at the problems we currently have, how we arrived here, and who and what can be done for change.