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.'

[unfortunately a bluestater]

Following up, if she is in a state of "minimal consciousness" (rather than "PVS"), that makes a significant legal difference and, I think, that is why DCF decided it might intervene.

[YOUGOTIT]

Who is LEO and by what method will the judge enforce his order. The police work for the executive branch not the judiciary.

[PaRebel]

That's what Stalin said about the Pope, "How many divisions does the Pope have? Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.

[Tamatoa]

Action is louder than words.

[MplsSteve]

Your last mini-paragraph says it well.

The three branches function together, not with one branch (the judiciary) lording over the others.

[gopwinsin04]

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Dehydration - A Major Health Concern Water is the essence of life. It is the most important nutrient in our bodies, making up roughly 70 percent of our muscle and brain tissue. Only oxygen is craved by the body more than water. Unfortunately, most Americans and Canadians do not consume sufficient water every day to meet their bodies' most basic requirements, leaving them dehydrated. Dehydration itself is responsible for a wide range of common ailments experienced by just about everyone in today's busy, fast-paced world, including headache and fatigue. When we breathe, we lose moisture to the air every time we exhale - as much as two cups a day! Furthermore, our bodies lose water through evaporation from the surface of our skin even without rigorous exercise, and of course we also pass water in our urine. During the course of an average day, a healthy adult can lose eight to 10 cups of water. Add in exercise, and this number rises considerably. If we fail to replenish the water we lose through these natural processes, we set off a physiological reaction that can have serious health effects. The following is the natural progression of dehydration and its effects on the body (symptoms): Mild  because your kidneys will begin to conserve water, your urine will become concentrated and will be amber colored as opposed to a normal light-tinted yellow color.  constipation and/or bloating may be noticed  dry skin, mucous membranes, and lips  thirst, often extreme  flushed face Moderate  fatigue  sunken eyes or sunken fontanels (soft spot on head) in infants  lack of tears in crying infant  "doughy" skin that doesn't bounce back when pinched  dizziness / vertigo / lightheadedness  up to 30% decline in physical labor capacity, muscle cramping  headache  cold hands and feet  problems concentrating  drowsiness  fainting  impatience and extreme irritability  major reduction in urine production Severe  weak irregular heart beat (often racing) and low blood pressure  rapid breathing  failure of body's heat regulation systems (sweating, for example)  confusion  vomiting and/or diarrhea  shock, collapse or unconsciousness  seizures coma and death http://www.home-water-purifiers-and-filters.com/dehydration-information.php

[scott7278]

Do it Now!

[RoseofTexas]

Sad to say the vote come down to what the LIBERAL polling numbers were! I'm afraid we have tried almost everything to no avail. I just pray Terri won't linger in painful death. No mercy was granted to her, and I pray to the Lord that this will backfire on ALL the rats who run for office in the future. REST IN PEACE SWEET TERRI for soon you'll be in the arm of the Lord, in heaven's peace. (sigh) :(

[SaltyJoe]

New Florida slogan from the Governor:

"Welcome to Florida. If you were thinking of using
our courts or hospitals to kill your spouse or other
family member here, go find another state."

[MplsSteve]

I also wonder if there are Pinellas County sheriffs there too?

I wonder how that figures in as well.

[CedarDave]

I condemn Bush for not acting sooner.

I believe the State Cops would prevail if it came to that. How it must turn the stomach's of the local cops to arrest children and prevent Terri's family from giving her even a drop of water.

[CedarDave]

I condemn Bush for not acting sooner.

I believe the State Cops would prevail if it came to that. How it must turn the stomach's of the local cops to arrest children and prevent Terri's family from giving her even a drop of water.

[.30Carbine]

president@whitehouse.gov

[demlosers]

What's that saying, "How many tanks does the judge have"?

Yes.

LEO works for the executive part of government. The judiciary has no way of enforcing their court orders without cooperation.

Getting ugly.

[disgruntledinCa]

Ah yes, thanks for the refresher.

[A. Patriot]

Probably not. If the Judge gave one order to the cops and the Governor gave a counter order, the cops would stand down.

---

Remember, the Highway Patrol is a part of the Executive branch of state government. The head of this agency is usually appointed by the governor.

I think that they would follow the Governor's orders. To do otherwise could result in charges of not following orders from their superiors.

[NautiNurse]

the balance of powers playing out...its a beautiful thing...

...and a life hangs in the balance.

Good post--thanks.

[GaltMeister]

El Conservador wrote: Hey, if it worked for Elián, it may work for Terri...

No kidding! They send that child back to hell at the point of a machine gun after his mother gave her life to get him to a free country.

[GretchenM]

Reading this is the first time I've shed tears during this whole ugly, filthy, wicked battle. This is the first time I've had hope that reason might take the day.

God, Lord God, make it so. Push aside every force of darkness and send in those who will help "the least of these" in Jesus' Name. Make fools of the proud, the wicked, the death-dealers. Lift up life, lift up Your resurrection life wholly, and mock those who are wanting to mock You as the Creator and Sustainer of life, the One Who loves Your creation. Give Terri a true chance at life. Transport her into drydock and overhaul her "ship." Scrape the barnacles of destruction off of her and her family. Cancel every death sentence ever spoken or written over her life. Bring her out of this terrible condition. Release her to life!