JUDGE WHITTEMORE RULES AGAINST TERRI
Federal Judge Nixes Schiavo's Feeding Tube
MARK LONG, Associated Press Writer
TAMPA, Fla. - A federal judge on Friday refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, yet another setback for the parents of the brain-damaged woman in their battle against her husband to keep her alive.
For a second time, U.S. District Judge James Whittemore ruled against the parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who had asked him to grant their emergency request to restore her feeding tube while he considers a lawsuit they filed.
The tube was removed a week ago on a state judge's order that agreed with her husband, who has said she has no hope for recovery and wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially. The Schindlers believe their daughter could improve and wouldn't want to die.
As of Friday morning, Terri Schiavo, 41, had been without food or water for almost seven days and was showing signs of dehydration — flaky skin, dry tongue and lips, and sunken eyes, according to attorneys and friends of the Schindlers. Doctors have said she would probably die within a week or two of the tube being pulled.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050325/ap_on_re_us/brain_damaged_woman
Federal Judge Denies Motion
Thursday, March 24, 2005
http://www.baynews9.com/content/74/2005/3/24/75556.html
A federal Judge in Tampa this morning refused to have doctors reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. This was the second time this week US District court Judge James Whittemore refused to do so.
Michael Schiavo says Terri wouldn't want to live in this condition.
Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, are running out of options to keep Schiavo alive, as she is in her seventh day without a feeding tube.
Also, the Department of Children and Families filed a motion with the Florida Supreme Court to reinstate a stay in the case and to review the denial of a stay by the Second District Court of Appeals. Late Thursday the Supreme Court dismissed that motion.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Schindlers to reinsert their daughter's feeding tube.
The judges gave no reason for their decision, which was at least the fifth time they refused to get involved in Schiavo's case.
The Schindlers' hopes dropped further when Pinellas/Pasco Circuit Court Judge George Greer reinstated his own restraining order against the Department of Children and Families.
Greer also denied DCF's motion for a stay and access to her records to see if Schiavo was abused or financially exploited.
Later in the day, Greer denied another DCF motion. The organization wanted to take custody of Schiavo in light of new evidence from its adult protective services team that she was misdiagnosed.
That came from a neurologist DCF enlisted from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
The neurologist said Schiavo might be in a state of minimal consciousness and not in a persistent vegetative state as doctors have diagnosed Schiavo since she lapsed into a coma in 1990.
Governor Jeb Bush said Wednesday if there is any uncertainty about Schiavo's condition, they should err on the side of protecting her.
Bush said the neurologist has not examined Schiavo. His diagnosis is based on observing Schiavo in her room for approximately an hour, viewing videotapes and reviewing Schiavo's medical records. He has also done extensive research on persistent vegetative states.
A group of demonstrators plans to head to Tallahassee on a bus for a prayer vigil for Good Friday.
As news of Schiavo's condition worsened Thursday, demonstrators seemed resigned to her fate.
A demonstrator playing this drum outside the hospice said it signified Schiavo's heartbeat.