Parents ask judge to let Schiavo divorce husband/Jacksonville

The Florida Times Union ^ | 3/1/05 | PAUL PINKHAM

[cyn]

A Jacksonville victim rights group and a state legislator urged Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday to launch a criminal probe into events that put Terri Schiavo in the hospital with severe brain damage 15 years ago.

Justice Coalition founder Ted Hires also asked the state Department of Children & Families to take Schiavo into protective custody and Florida's attorney general to initiate a civil rights investigation into her treatment and efforts by her husband to have the feeding tube that keeps her alive removed. . . .

Her parents said they filed the divorce proceedings because of Michael Schiavo's "total disregard for Terri as his wife." ....

[Glacier Honey]

Name the 8 doctors

I have seen patient in a vegetated state. Terri is not.

[BibChr]

Well, this is a tough one. It certainly raises a bitter irony.

On the one hand: in the fact of, I believe, NO recorded statements that this would be her will, the courts seem ready to starve her to death. This, on the wishes of a husband who formerly argued that he'd need a lot of money for her rehabilitation. The court seems comfortable reading her mind on this issue. The MSM certainly is.

But, on the other hand, I don't know how likely the courts would be to grant this divorce. That is, they mightn't be willing to read her mind, that she'd want to be divorced from a man who committed adultery against her to the extent of fathering two children while still married to her. They might not be willing to read her mind to that extent. And surely the MSM won't.

Sick situation, very difficult.

Dan

[jbane]

If Terri were not in a persistent vegetative state, all her "supporters" would have reason to compain.

Here is the definition:

What is a persistent vegetative state? According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke people in PVS "have lost their thinking abilities and awareness of their surroundings, but retain non-cognitive function and normal sleep patterns. Even though those in a persistent vegetative state lose their higher brain functions, other key functions such as breathing and circulation remain relatively intact. Spontaneous movements may occur, and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli. They may even occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh. Although individuals in a persistent vegetative state may appear somewhat normal, they do not speak and they are unable to respond to commands." People suffering from PVS can generally be distinguished from afflicted but cognitively intact patients who suffer from "locked-in syndrome" by the fact that "locked in" patients can track visual stimuli and use eye blinks for communication.

According to most neurological experts, Terri Schiavo is definitely PVS—her eyes do not really track visual stimuli and she cannot communicate using eye blinks.

[cyn]

and 8 FL bishops have signed a petition for Terri:

Hires was joined at the afternoon news conference by Bishop Victor Galeone of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. Galeone left without comment but signed a statement released later Monday by the Florida Catholic Conference and signed by eight bishops. They said too many questions persist about Terri Schiavo's true prognosis and wishes.

As a "defenseless human being" Terri Schiavo is "deserving of our respect, care and concern," the bishops said. "We reiterate our plea that Mrs. Schiavo continues to receive all treatments and care that will benefit her," the bishops said.

HELLO, anyway -- why would what someone else says or does influence my ability to discern right and wrong?

[cyn]

jbane -- welcome to FR. Other than laz, it's generally good to skim the article before posting to the thread. And when someone posts links to answer your questions, it's a good idea to check them out before continuing a line of thought. or not.

[stopem]

Not the head of a political cause

I am curious, what "political cause" might this be?

[cyn]

"They might not be willing to read her mind to that extent."

They might not have to. Back in '90 - '91 medical records recorded that Terri was able to vocalize appropriate to stimulus. This ability still remains, so it is not inconceivable that the question "Do you want to divorce Michael?" would be asked, and she answers, "Yeah".

Doggone, I meant to ask Mr. Schindler that yesterday.... he needs to be bringing these things out in press conferences and other interviews. Not that such stories and facts are necessarily reported later!

[livius]

Thank you for posting this. I have been very disappointed in the bishops, and this is a wonderfully encouraging thing. Bp. Galeone is a particularly strong pro-lifer, and I am not surprised that he was their spokesman.

[cyn]

Speaking of political causes, someone has noted a link between "her" bishop and a law firm that donated to Judge Greer's campaign; I'll see if I can find the link to that info.

And, as you mention and has been posted here to FR, her priest was not allowed to give her last rites. I was there at the vigil outside of hospice Oct '03 and heard this -- and I saw her parents in their distress over that.

This is to Bishop Lynch's shame.

[OXENinFLA]

I was listening to The David Allen Show last night and boy does he have some questions!

Schiavo - Terri Schindler-Schiavo, disabled American

The Facts and Questions has an interesting one.....

---

Who had the law changed and why?

 

Note: Attorney George Felos and Judge Greer are/have been Hospice board members

 

May 1997- Attorney Deborah Bushnell writes the Judge on the case, Judge Shames, and states in the letter that the Schindler's need to be notified that Michael Schiavo intends to have Terri moved to a Hospice and have her feeding tube removed.

 

(February 13, 1997 until at least April 26, 2001, George J. Felos was listed as a member or recent member of the Board of Directors for "The Hospice of The Florida Suncoast" on the non-profit's annual reports.)

 

When was Terri Moved?

What happened to Deborah Bushnell and Judge Shames?

 

August 1997 - New attorney for Michael Schiavo, George Felos, notifies the Schindlers that Michael was going to have the feeding tube removed.

 

May 1998 - George Felos files a petition to have Terri's feeding tube removed.

 

April 1999 - House Bill 2131 was introduced in the legislature by the Florida Elder Affairs & Long-Term Care Committee to amend  Section 765 (Civil Rights) of the Florida Statutes. Amendments to Section 765.101 = legal definition of life prolonging procedures to add: "INCLUDING ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED SUSTENENCE AND HYDRATION, WHICH SUSTAINS, RESTORES, OR SUPPLANTS A SPONTANEOUS VITAL FUNCTION". It becomes law on October 1, 1999.

 

January 24, 2000 - Judge Greer presides over the case determining whether Michael Schiavo can have Terri starved/dehydrated to death.

 

February 11, 2000 - Judge Greer orders Terri Schiavo to rot away.

 

Notice, Felos becomes the lawyer and files the petition. Then the law in Tallahassee gets changed. Then the Schiavo case gets heard. In that order.

 

Who lobbied for changing the law to make food and water be defined as "artificial" life support in 1999?

 

Next: What is the connection between Suncoast Solutions and Hospice?

[cyn]

What is a persistent vegetative state?

According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke people in PVS "have lost their thinking abilities and awareness of their surroundings, but retain non-cognitive function and normal sleep patterns. Even though those in a persistent vegetative state lose their higher brain functions, other key functions such as breathing and circulation remain relatively intact.

Spontaneous movements may occur, and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli. They may even occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh. Although individuals in a persistent vegetative state may appear somewhat normal, they do not speak and they are unable to respond to commands."

People suffering from PVS can generally be distinguished from afflicted but cognitively intact patients who suffer from "locked-in syndrome" by the fact that "locked in" patients can track visual stimuli and use eye blinks for communication.

.

Terri goes Goo~Goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs

By Cheryl Ford RN
February 25, 2005

Last night at hospice Terri's father, Robert Schindler and Attorney Gibbs visited with Terri. Mr. Schindler was the first to enter Terri's room, approaching Terri on her right. As always, Terri was delighted to see her Dad until Mr. Schindler announced that Mr. Gibbs was with him.

Mr. Gibbs moved closer to Terri's left greeting her with, "Hello Terri."

Terri, hearing Mr. Gibb's deep voice immediately turned to her left to look at him. Terri's Dad stated that once she eyed Mr. Gibbs that was the end of his visit with her because she was no longer interested in anything he had to say to her ... "she was goo-goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs."

Mr. Schindler then exclaimed, "Terri, Terri, look at me. I've come here to see you as well and now you cannot take your eyes off of Attorney Gibbs, what am I chopped liver?" Terri responded with laughter to her father's comment but her eyes remained focused on Mr. Gibbs.

Bob said, "Well, Cheryl that's the last time I will be taking Mr. Gibbs along with me since my daughter did not hear anything I had to say once he had her attention.

[cyn]

lol, I love it! thanks!!

amdg, we have here a classic stimulus / response. As another poster said, this shows that not only is Terri not in pvs, but she has a good eye, lol! I really appreciate Cheryl sharing her accounts, but I especially enjoyed this one -- please tell her, thanks.

The Schindlers really, really need to bring out the details of their visits with Terri in EVERY public appearance or interview. Most folks just do not know Terri's real condition and situation. And they need to point out that Terri has not had the ordinary care given to other patients in her condition, including the mandated swallow test.

I want to see a wheelchair delivered to hospice for Terri to get out in like she used to, since Michael Schiavo has not seen fit to have hers fixed.

[i_dont_chat]

Have you seen the videos of Terri responding?

I think NOT.

[amdgmary]

"What's more, you don't see her priest or bishop coming out against her husband."

Terri's priest, Monsignor Thaddeus Malanowski, did indeed speak out against Michael Schiavo and his negligance of Terri. Michael Schiavo has been co-habitating with Jodi Centonze for over 10 years and has fathered two children with her. He has clearly moved on with his life. Now he needs to let Terri be with her family so they can take proper care of her. In addition, about 6 doctors gave court depositions stating that Terri is not in a persistant vegetative state. How can some who is PVS smile and laugh at her family, and interact with her nurses?

[amdgmary]

Please visit Terri's website at www.terrisfight.org for more information.

Please view the videos on Terri by clicking on the links:

http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_Mum.rm

http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_music.rm

[cyn]

Hi, Oxen -- great, thanks for posting the timeline & that link to David Allen's Terri Schiavo Info. I've listened, but didn't know about that website. It looks like that's the Jax version of my much beloved, much missed WARROOM

NEFL ping?

[amdgmary]

David Allen's Terri Schiavo Info.

Another supporter!

[Sender]

The doctors say she is brain dead

Doctors can be wrong. Look at her.

[texaslil]

That you, Jodi?

[cyn]

Thanks for the links.

lol, I stand by my "mom fussing as only a mom can" assessment of that clip! I really prefer the version on http://www.Terrisfight.org, in which I could hear Terri's mom ask, "How's your cold?" as she was arranging and fluffing Terri's pillow.