Posted on 08/26/2003 2:58:58 PM PDT by yhwhsman
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH Jeb Bush intervenes for Schindler-Schiavo Asks for delay to investigate case of brain-disabled Florida woman
Posted: August 26, 2003 1:37 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Flooded with 27,000 e-mails urging him to intervene, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has asked a judge to delay setting a date for removal of a feeding tube sustaining the life of a brain-disabled woman, Terri Schindler-Schiavo.
Gov. Jeb Bush
In a letter, Bush asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer yesterday to keep her alive until a court-appointed guardian can "independently investigate the circumstances of this case and provide the court with an unbiased view that considers the best interests of Mrs. Schiavo."
On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case, clearing the way for a Sept. 11 hearing in which Greer would set a date for removal of the feeding tube.
Bush said, according to a copy of the letter obtained by WND, he normally would not write a judge concerning a pending legal proceeding but noted the 27 e-mails his office received "reflecting understandable concern for the well being" of Schindler-Schiavo.
"This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement in extremely trying circumstances," Bush said. "Emotions are high, accusations abound, and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman incapable of speaking for herself."
As WorldNetDaily reported, Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler of Gulf Port, Fla., have been locked in a decade-long legal battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at her home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo before her disability.
The bitter dispute over Terri's lack of care became a major euthanasia battle five years ago when her husband Michael Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding tube removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive "artificially." The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and his lawyer, right-to-die advocate George Felos.
Schindler-Schiavo was hospitalized Sunday for the second time in less than two weeks, CNSNews.com reported yesterday.
"The parents don't know what's going on, but she appears to be in critical condition," family spokeswoman Pamela Hennessy told the news service. "It appears to be pretty serious."
Here's your answer:
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A judge said Tuesday he is bound by court rulings and likely won't delay the removal of a brain-damaged woman's feeding tube, despite a plea from Gov. Jeb Bush. In a letter Tuesday, Bush asked Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer to put off setting a date for removal of the feeding tube keeping Terri Schiavo alive and appoint a guardian to investigate the case, sparked by a battle between her parents and husband over whether she should be allowed to die. Bush, whose office received 27,000 e-mails asking him to intervene, asked Greer to preserve Schiavo's life until a court-appointed guardian can "independently investigate the circumstances of this case and provide the court with an unbiased view that considers the best interests of Mrs. Schiavo." But Greer said Tuesday he must abide by court rulings instructing him to set a date for removal of the tube and is "not inclined" to appoint a guardian. "Frankly, I think I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeal, and frankly I don't think I can stray from that mandate," Greer told The Associated Press. Bush also urged Greer to determine whether "clear and convincing evidence" exists regarding Terri Schiavo's wishes to not have her life artificially prolonged. Her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo, contends that she had said she would not want to be kept alive in her current state, and he has for years sought to remove the feeding tube and allow her to die. But her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, say their daughter responds to them when they visit and can be rehabilitated with therapy, despite court-appointed doctors' opinions that she will never recover. "This case represents a disturbing result of a severe family disagreement in extremely trying circumstances," Bush wrote to the judge. "Emotions are high, accusations abound, and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman incapable of speaking for herself." Terri Schiavo, who has been in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state since collapsing in 1990, has been hospitalized in Clearwater since Sunday night with an infection and other problems. Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, asked the judge Monday to stop her medical treatment in light of a Florida Supreme Court decision last week that cleared the way for her feeding tube to be removed. Following the Florida Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in the case, Greer still must schedule a hearing to set a date for removal of the feeding tube. That could happen Sept. 11, when a hearing is already scheduled to address the issue of her parents hospitals. The Schindlers' attorney, Pat Anderson, filed a motion Monday asking for testing to determine if Schiavo can be kept alive by spoon-feeding after her feeding tube is removed. Anderson also asked the judge to order speech therapy because Schiavo's parents believe she is trying to communicate. Anderson has accused Michael Schiavo of trying to withhold medical treatment from his wife so she can die before any more legal steps are taken to preserve her life. Bush noted this possibility in his letter to Greer, saying that, "if true, this indicates a a decision by her caregivers to initiate an 'exit protocol' that may include withholding treatment from Mrs. Schiavo until her death, which would render this court's ultimate decision moot." While the Schindlers have fought Michael Schiavo's efforts, Florida courts have supported his legal arguments. The 2nd District Court of Appeal in June agreed with Greer that Michael Schiavo can legally have his wife's feeding tube removed. The Florida Supreme Court has now twice declined to hear the Schindlers' appeals. Terri Schiavo was 26 in 1990 when she suddenly collapsed in her home after her heart stopped from what doctors believe was a potassium imbalance. Doctors said the loss of oxygen to her brain left her in a state where she can breathe on her own but is reliant on a liquid nutritional supplement and water delivered through a tube. Doctors have said she would live just 10 to 14 days without it. --- On the Net: http://www.terrisfight.org AP-ES-08-26-03 1317EDT
THANK YOU JEB BUSH!!!
I remember you saying that he would ..
I wasn't sure either .. but I am so glad he was able to do something .. what is happening to the poor girl is wrong ..
I think the (dis)honorable Judge Greer is lying through his teeth. 'I think' and 'I don't think' invalidate his statement. If he was truly required to operate under a mandate he would have said "I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeal and can not stray from the mandate."
Jerk. *Next sentence voluntarily deleted*
Governor Jeb Bush Weighs In.
In response to more than 27,000 emails asking for his intervention in the Terri Schiavo case, Governor Jeb Bush has issued a letter to Judge George Greer recommending that a Guardian ad Litem be appointed to Terri and that her medical treatment continue. Mr. Bush urged Judge Greer not to initiate an "exit protocol" for Terri. Read it here.
Terri's husband had petitioned the courts to halt medical treatment for massive infections on Monday. Today, Tuesday August 26, 2003, Judge Greer denied this petition.
A hearing is scheduled for September 11, 2003 to determine a date when Terri's feeding tube is removed. In the meantime, the attorney for Terri's parents has filed a motion for immediate therapy.
We still need your petitions to the Governor. Judge Greer has told the press that he is "not inclined to appoint a Guardian ad Litem". Your voice is still needed!!
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