Freepers call to action re. Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Make a complaint against Judge Greer:

Various ^ | August 28, 2003

[windchime]

This is new information from the web site and provides information on the position the Catholic Church takes on nutrition/hydration of a patient and on Terri Schindler-Schiavo's situation specifically.

 

 

STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF FLORIDA

August 27, 2003

---

 
Florida Bishops Urge Safer Course For Terri Schiavo

   We continue our fervent prayers for Terri Schiavo, for her family, and all involved in this most difficult and heart wrenching situation. After a fourth consideration of her case, the 2nd District Court of Appeals has upheld the latest order of the trial court judge to withdraw her hydration and nutrition tube. An emergency appeal to the Florida Supreme Court was denied. Barring unforeseen legal intervention, the trial court will soon re-schedule the removal of Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube.  It is most unfortunate that family members have not been able to agree on her care, forcing the Court’s involvement.

   Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg has spoken in detail to this case (Concerning Terri Schiavo).*  His statement followed careful consultation with his brother Bishops and we fully support it.  Because of so much uncertainty and dispute, we reiterate his plea that her treatment be continued while all parties pursue a more clear understanding of her actual physical condition.

   Bishop Lynch’s statement clarifies the teaching of the Church that nourishment or hydration may be withheld or withdrawn where that treatment itself is causing harm to the patient or is useless because the patient’s death is imminent.  Church teaching is clear that there should be a presumption in favor of providing medically assisted nutrition and hydration to all patients as long as it is of sufficient benefit to outweigh the burdens involved to the patient.

   The Church cannot make this decision, but her teaching guides those who must:  the patient or those legally entitled to do so if the patient is unable.  If Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube were to be removed because the nutrition she receives is of no use to her, or because she is near death, or because it is unreasonably burdensome for her, her family, or caregivers, it could be seen as permissible.  But if her feeding tube were to be removed to intentionally cause her death, or because her life is perceived to be useless, or because it is believed that the quality of her life is such that she would be better off, this would be wrong.

   Without question, removal of Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube will result in her death.  We respect the need for finality of the court’s decision, but we urge additional time to allow greater certainty as to her true condition.  We respect, too, the limitations on new evidence being considered by the court, but in matters of life and death, exceptions should be made.  If additional medical treatment can be shown to be helpful to her condition, we urge that all parties involved take the safer course and allow it to be used.

   Just as we are concerned for Terri Schiavo, we are also concerned for others who are weak and vulnerable.  There is an inherent danger in assuming that food and water can simply be withheld without clearly knowing a patient’s wishes.  There is reason to be circumspect and ever careful in these cases.  We reject outright the euthanasia movement and its utilitarian standard that some lives are not worth living.  Every life is precious and unrepeatable.

   And finally, we remember there are times when one may refuse treatment that will result in a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life.  Properly, this may be seen as an expression of our hope in the life to come.  Let each of us communicate ahead of time with our families and loved ones, our wishes for treatment at the end of our lives.  To do so will give great comfort to them in an emotionally stressful time.

   We join our prayers with the family and loved ones of Terri Schiavo in this most difficult time.

http://www.flacathconf.org/Publications/BishopsStatements/Bpst2000/TerriSchiavo.htm
 

Archbishop John C. Favalora Archdiocese of Miami	Bishop John J. Nevins   Diocese of Venice	Bishop Norbert M. Dorsey, CP Diocese of  Orlando
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ Diocese  of Pensacola/Tallahassee	Bishop Victor Galeone   Diocese of St. Augustine	Bishop Robert N. Lynch Diocese of St. Petersburg
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, JCL Bishop-Designate of Palm Beach		Bishop Thomas G. Wenski Co-Adjutor, Diocese of Orlando

Bishop Lynch's statement concerning Terri Schiavo
* ( http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/news_releases/statement_of_bishop_robert_n.htm )

[windchime]

Link to report by Sara Foster, World Net Daily, with anti-euthanasia author and attorney Wesley Smith.

Smith pulls no punches in stating his opinions.

[yhwhsman]

Not to mention that as soon as she dies he's planning to cremate her body--great way to get rid of evidence.

[yhwhsman]

Thanks for the post, and welcome to the family.

[yhwhsman]

Don't forget, he didn't start to make those claims about her wishes till after he won all those malpractice suits.

[yhwhsman]

"We can keep a human body "alive" with its heart beating and its lungs pushing air for a very long time after the person who inhabited that body is no longer there."

That's true, we sure can. But exactly how does this apply to Terri? All she has is a feeding tube, there are no other machines attached to her body.

" There comes a time when someone has to decide that everything that can be done has been done."

Exactly what has been done? She hasn't had any type of therapy, hell she hasn't even had her teeth brushed. Nothing has been done to truly see whether or not she can recover.

And why is it, that the husband was very supportive of his wife until he won the large malpractice suits, where he suddenly revealed that "oh, by the way, Terri told me she doesn't want to live as a vegetable." And he has been trying to end her life since.

Terri's parents have begged him to give them the guardianship rights, even to signing over all the malpractice money (which he can't touch till she's dead), yet he refuses to do so. Why, that doesn't make sense? And why is Judge Greer so adament about setting a death date? You're right, this case has been going on a long time. But what's the harm in letting her be examined by unbiased examiners, to settle the question once and for all if she's a vegetable or not?

[BlessedBeGod]

Beautiful letter.

[mommadooo3]

The FL Bar Association cannot be of any help against this judge? I always thought they were supposed to investigate any claims of unethical behaviors?

HOW can 'the law' listen to an ADULTEROUS husband?

Has anyone informed Gov. Bush, or that judge, that if the husband succeeds in killing off Teri, that the action will be NO DIFFERENT than what Kevorkian was jailed for. It would be NO DIFFERENT than the various healthcare workers we've read about, who were caught and found GUILTY of killing off patients that were in 'bad condition'. It's going to set a horrific precedent for anyone alive.

If Teri did NOT have the 'I-don't-want-to-live-as-a-vegetable-in-case' put IN WRITING then how can 'the law' proceed with killing her?

[yhwhsman]

There are so many things that just don't make sense about this case. The parents have asked the husband to give them guardianship of Terri, even to promising to sign over the malpractice money, but he refuses. The judge refused to allow doctors testimony that didn't go the way they wanted.

The husband didn't come up with the 'Terri didn't want to live as a vegetable' claim till after the large malpractice suits. He sealed her medical records, hiding the x-rays that seem to show abuse till recently, and because it's been over ten years the judge refused to allow it as evidence.

It's just totally sickening. I really really wish I had the means to wisk Terri to safety.

[countrydummy]

ping!!!

[2timothy3.16]

I would like to sign the petition, but as a Born Again Christian, the site won't let me sign unless I login and to do that I must join this Roman Catholic organization, which I can't.

Is there any other way to sign the petition?

[mommadooo3]

It doesn't make sense. There are SO MANY legal aspects that are being conveniently ignored. It disgusts me that liars and law-perverters are 'winning'........

but GOD.

HE knows what's going on. I truly think the strongest 'attack' believers can launch, is to pray and expect Him to step in and cause Teri's swallowing action to 'kick in'. How AWESOME that would be. And how awesome it will be to see that destroy the grounds that the 'husband'/judge/doctors stand on.

ANOTHER thing I wonder about....isn't there a way that Teri's parents can get OTHER doctors who are 'experts' in Teri's condition, make statements and THEN start lawsuits against the husband's ghoulish 'doctors'?

[Tax-chick]

God bless you for all your work, FV. Later today I will put together a summary with the contact information you've looked up, and see if I can get it on the "Mothers of Many Young Siblings" e-mail digest. That goes out to about 3,000 readers.

I wonder whether Terri's parents and their supporters are planning an Action if it becomes necessary? There must be hundreds of people without day jobs, just in their parish, who could mob the facility and physically prevent someone from harming Terri. If security guards (or sheriff's deputies, or state police) were to physically assault a crowd of (tax-paying, voting) retirees and SAHM's, wouldn't that finally make the "mainstream" news?

[Tax-chick]

Is there any other way to sign the petition?

There's an option for "sign petition without registering."

[expatguy]

emails sent requesting a "stay of execution" for Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

[syriacus]

http://www.2dca.org/, Homepage for Florida Second District Court of Appeal

Telephone (863) 499-2290

FAX (863) 499-2277

Postal address P.O. Box 327, Lakeland Florida  33802 Electronic mail

Administrative Information: strzalkar@flcourts.org

Webmaster: holmesl@flcourts.org

[syriacus]

Florida Second District Court of Appeal also has a Tampa branch, which "requests that all documents be filed in the Lakeland Headquarters. "

Tampa Branch 801 E. Twiggs Street Suite 600

Tampa, Florida  33602
(813) 272-3430

Fax: (813)229-6534

The court requests that all documents are filed in the Lakeland Headquarters.

[syriacus]

I would LOVE to see a movie called "Freddie Vs. Jason Vs. Michael Schiavo".
[Source: http://www.victorlams.com/etc/2003_08_01_etcarchive.html]

[syriacus]

What connections does Judge Greer have to the Hospice where he has sent Terri?
It seems that the sister of one of Greer's fellow judges sits on the board of that Hospice, which may have some ethical lapses of its own (diverting non-profit funds to for-profit division)

From: Board members of Hospice of the Florida $uncoast,

Martha Lenderman (Chair)

(Sister of Judge John Lenderman ... bench buddy to Judge Greer in the Terri Schiavo case who always rules in favor of the hospice efforts to end Terri Schiavo's life)

7268 Moffatt Lane North

Pinellas Park, FL 33781

(H) 541-7888 (F) 547-2296

Page: 790-1271

lendmar@gte.net

Also from the same webpage

Why is it that the C.E.O. of the hospice, LABYAK, DENIES Ever Giving Charitable Donations to For-Profit one moment, and then admits to it the next day? The article reports: "Hospice donations diverted, suit says" C.E.O. LABYAK ADMITS diverting Medicaid money into the For-Profit Subsidiary! Yet, Labyak denies that even that is wrong! [2/25/2003].

[floriduh voter]

Thanks for the 2nd DCA info above.

I am posting auto responses that I receive on Terri's threads. So far, I've received auto responses from Fla AG Crist and from Jeff Johnson.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for writing to share your thoughts. I've received your message and will review it as soon as possible.

If you've included a news tip in your message, thank you! Should I need more information, I'll be in touch.

If you've included a comment about my story, thank you, as well! Your message will be forwarded to the editor for possible inclusion in our "Letters to the Editor" section.

Again, thanks for writing and keep reading http://www.CNSNews.com

-- Jeff Johnson -- Congressional Bureau Chief -- CNSNews.com --

There's an op-ed piece about Terri's dire predicament in today's St. Pete Times. Until I've got time to do a thread, their url is http;//www.sptimes.com. The columnist in support of Terri is Debra J. Saunders of Creators Syndicate.