Today was Day 11 of Judge George W. Greer's court ordered slow death by starvation and dehydration of Terri Schindler Schiavo. Over the next two weeks we will post stories of the events that occurred on each of those days. We offer this not only in respect for Terri's memory, but a reminder that in this moment countless people are suffering slow, agonizing deaths in hospice, nursing homes, and hospitals in America and around the world.
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Judicial Barbarism May End in Horrific Death
From March 28, 2005 (Jewish World Review)
By Nat Hentoff
Florida Circuit Court Judge George Greer (pictured) has again ordered the removal of 41-year-old Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. As of this writing, attempts by the Republican Congressional leadership and some Democrats are being made to save her, through the courts, but the odds are long.
If she dies of dehydration and starvation, this grave injustice can affect the rights of many disabled Americans who do not have clearly written directives as to their treatment when they can no longer speak their wishes.
The fundamental issue in Terri's case is disability rights — not the right to die. Throughout all the extensive media coverage of the case, there has been only slight mention — usually none at all — that nearly every major disability rights organization has filed legal briefs to prevent what they and I regard as judicial murder. The protests are not only from pro-lifers and the Christian Right.