DCF Considers Removing Schiavo from Hospice by Force

Palm Beach Post ^ | 3.23.05 | Dara Kam

[gopwinsin04]

State officials say they are considering removing Terri Schiavo from hospice, by force if necessary, despite numerous court orders upholding the removal of the artificial nutrition tube that has kept her alive for 15 years.

Lucy Hadl, secretary of the Department of Children and Families, said Wednesday morning that her staff is relying on a state law that gives the department the authority to intervene on behalf of a vulnerable adult who is 'suffering from abuse or neglect that presents a risk of death or serious physical injury.'

Hadl said that the DCF would have to file a petition in order to remove Schiavo, but that 'it doesn't mean we'd have to have judicial approval in advance of taking the action if we believed it met the threshold for doing it.'

Hadl said that seven years of court rulings backing Schiavo's husband Michael, in his contention that Terri Schiavo did not wish to be kept alive artificially would not stop the DCF from taking action.

'We're not compelled to look at prior judicial proceedings,' Hadl said.

What we are compelled to look at is the presenting circumstances and any allegiations of abuse and neglect that we have recieved. So we have to deal with those and fufill out statutory responsibility.'

[Miss Behave]

"This is precisely what they are there to do."

Ski, you know it.

[pw2000]

28"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather (A)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in (B)hell. Matthew 10:28

[presently no screen name]

I like you sarcasm - too bad Mother Therese died - I was thinking if someone dressed up like her - would they arrest her. She is doing it because she is following her religion - God says....give water to the thirsty in My Name - we are commanded to do it!

[connectthedots]

Judgments made without authority are void and unenfordeable.

[glock rocks]

[rodguy911]

All we need is for Jeb to call the DCF and get the wheels rolling. Greer belongs in jail with huge inmate "lookin' for love".

[Glenmerle]

This is not what the agency is there for. Just remember when the libs turn around and start sending in govenment agencies for their moral reasons. Just remember.

It's my understanding that that is what the agency is there for. And the libs have already sent in their government agencies--and the ACLU and various other groups. They've been doing it for forty years.

I completely understand the concerns of people who wonder what the involvement of Congress, the DCF, etc. in this case might mean for the future. But my personal philosophy is that human beings come first.

When a gross injustice is being done to an innocent human being, I care less about potential ramifications (which I think are being overblown in this case) than about righting the injustice. But then, I'm not a lawyer and I don't find the legal chess game more important than Terri.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

I can't even count the number of misconceptions in your post. The Gov/Prez would be saving, not killing anyone. The check is the legislature's impeachment power. And your history simply substitutes judges for kings, a pointless trade. Just rubbish.

[Miss Behave]

Bumpin' that fact all over town, Glenmerle.

[shhrubbery!]

FOX just said some judge has already issued an order STOPPING THE DCF FROM TAKING HER

Yeah, surprise, it's Judge Greer! At least, according to Fox News.

Isn't that rich?

A judge who thumbed his nose at the interference of our national legislative branch (Congressional subpoenas), and who no doubt is joining in the general outcry re "separation of powers," now thinks HE can interfere with a lawful function of the executive branch!

Why don't we just call Judge Greer by his real title -- God.

[pw2000]

"It won't happen to you by those that know and love you - because they would give you range of motion, therapy, interaction, good medical care, take you out in the sunshine. You end up like this w/no care and she is still very much capable of living a productive life but her 'guardian' says no - not a loved one - just a guardian."

That would not be productive life to me. I haven't heard anyone talk about what Terri was like before her tragedy, but I bet she was an energetic person like we all were at 26. No thanks, not for me.

[glowworm]

I expect to see a corruption investigation of the gud judge and who could have bought or coerced him.. But whatta I know?? Hoping for real justice.....

[CyberAnt]

Well .. that's not what I'd call him - my name is unprintable.

[Fudd Fan]

just MHO but if we're too quick to call people Trolls, it will obscure the real trolls. I'm just sayin'

[Miss Behave]

Greer is COMPLETELY out of control. A power drunk bozo.

[Rain-maker]

Your not on your deathbed either, are you clyde?

[lainie]

Pat Buchanan and Katrina Vanden-whatever are coming up on Hardball next, talking about this case

[not-alone]

I was able to with their help to keep my husband home until the last 30 hours when his pain became unmanageable at home.. His room had sliding glass doors out to a lovely garden . I remember the peaceful atmosphere. Right now, tonight, my cousin is dying of a brain tumor and his teenage children are visiting him. They have been told he has no pain and he had given instructions no feeding tube. Now some of them are very upset.

[CyberAnt]

Yep! That's what you get when you go on national TV and tell your enemy what you're doing. Sheeeeeesh!

[maryz]

Apparently they tried to intervene before and Greer wouldn't let them. The item below, which I found on the Jurist website, was dated March 10; I would assume they've been trying to get their ducks in a row in a way he couldn't do anything since:

AP is reporting that a judge has rejected a bid by the Florida's Department of Children and Families to intervene in the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case. The Department had sought an additional 60-day stay [JURIST report] of the removal of Schiavo's feeding tube so it could investigate allegations of "abuse, neglect or exploitation" by her husband, Michael Schiavo.