Posted on 08/28/2003 5:20:42 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
Freepers, we may be able to help Terri:
I made some phone calls today and have the ULTIMATE PHONE CALL for registering a Complaint against Judge Greer. I can't reveal my sources but this is the phone number for a few pay grades above J. Greer.
Call the: Judicial Qualifications Commission at
#1-850-488-1581. I am complaining to them tomorrow that J. Greer isn't God, that he's been in the husband's corner since Day One, he doesn't care a wit about Terri's parents or her husband's attempt at medical neglect, and I'd like to know if Greer can be recalled or impeached.
HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County.
Oh, and ping everybody you can think of.
72 posted on 08/27/2003 5:06 PM EDT by floriduh voter
From summer:
"..do a separate thread asking people to call this phone number FV provided. This could get a guardian appointed if the judge is tossed off the case for BIAS."
Background:
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."
8 From JEB to FR: Full text of Gov Bush's letter to Judge Greer re: Terri Schiavo. Email from Gov Bush to summer, for FR | 8/27
----- Original Message -----
From: [Governor Bush's office]
To: [summer's email]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:06 AM
Subject: Letter regarding Terri Schiavo
> August 26, 2003
> The Honorable George W. Greer
> Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit
> 315 Court Street, Room 484
> Clearwater, Florida 33756
Dear Judge Greer:
> I appreciate the challenging legal and ethical issues before you in the case > of Terri Schiavo. As I have expressed over the course of the past several > weeks, our system of government has committed these decisions to the > judicial branch, and we must respect that process. Consistent with this > principle, I normally would not address a letter to a judge in a pending > legal proceeding. However, my office has received over 27,000 emails > reflecting understandable concern for the well being of Terri Schiavo. > Given that there is no procedural avenue available for these views to be > expressed to you in the normal course of the proceedings, I feel compelled > to write in the hopes that you will give serious consideration to > re-appointment of a guardian ad litem for Mrs. Schiavo before permitting the > removal of her feeding tube or other actions calculated to end her life.
> This case represents the disturbing result of a severe family disagreement > in extremely trying circumstances. Emotions are high, accusations abound, > and at the heart of this public and private maelstrom is a young woman > incapable of speaking for herself.
> I am disturbed by new rumors about the guardian's actions related to the > current care of Mrs. Schiavo. It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo > has contracted a life threatening illness, and that she may be denied > appropriate treatment. If true, this indicates 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 issue of Mrs. Schiavo's care is still before the > Court, I urge you to ensure that no act of omission or commission be allowed > to adversely affect Mrs. Schiavo's health before the September 11th hearing > you have set. No one involved should be permitted to circumvent due process > or the Court's authority in order to achieve personal objectives in this > case.
> Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members, I respectfully ask that you re-appoint a > qualified guardian ad litem to independently investigate the circumstances > of this case, and provide the Court an unbiased view that considers only the > best interests of Mrs. Schiavo.
> It is a fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right > to life, both of which are co-equal in our Constitution. To err on one side > is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the > debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no > remediation. I respectfully ask that you give Mrs. Schiavo's family the > opportunity to present any new evidence as to her wishes. Evidence as to > her wishes should be reweighed as often as necessary to take into account > the effect of any new evidence, that is, to determine whether "clear and > convincing evidence" still exists that Mrs. Schiavo would now choose > withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures. While this process may delay the > surrogate's exercise of Mrs. Schiavo's privacy rights, it is necessary to > avoid denying her right to life. I urge you to err on the side of > conservative judgment to ensure that all facts can be uncovered and > considered before her life is terminated.
> I appreciate your compassion for Mrs. Schiavo's plight, and that of the > family members locked in dispute in these tragic circumstances. In light of > the ongoing contention related to so many issues in this case, I hope you > will consider appointing a guardian ad litem to ensure that the ultimate > decision is based on facts presented clearly, unclouded and uncolored by > personal interests of litigants.
> Sincerely,
> Jeb Bush
> cc: Patricia Fields Anderson, Esq.
> George J. Felos, Esq.
(WND article excerpts, cont.:) "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.
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.
***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.
~~~~
The article is on CNSNews.com.
Florida Judge Rejects Governor's Bid to Help Terri Schiavo
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
August 27, 2003
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Florida Circuit Judge George Greer Tuesday rejected a plea from Governor Jeb Bush to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of Terri Schindler Schiavo, a 39-year-old disabled woman who suffered a brain injury in 1990 under questionable circumstances. Bush had intervened Monday after receiving 27,000 email messages asking for his help on Terri's behalf.
"I read [Gov. Bush's letter] because it came from the governor and I respect his position," Greer told the Tampa Tribune. "Beyond that, it is going in the file."
As CNSNews.com previously reported, Bush wrote Greer Monday asking him not to remove the disabled woman's feeding tube until a new guardian ad litem could "independently investigate" her condition. In the letter, Bush referenced the "fine balance between Mrs. Schiavo's right to privacy and her right to life," which Bush noted are co-equal under the Constitution.
"To err on one side is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes and to continue the debate," Bush wrote. "To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no remediation."
But Greer told the Associated Press that he no longer has a choice in the matter.
"Frankly, I think I'm operating under a mandate from the 2nd District Court of Appeals," Greer said, "and frankly I don't think I can stray from that mandate."
In that same interview, however, the judge contradicted his own assessment of the limitation on his authority by stating that he was "not inclined" to appoint a guardian ad litem.
Michael Schiavo called Gov. Bush's intervention on behalf of Terri "crazy."
"The governor has deliberately twisted the facts in this case in an apparent effort to kowtow to his right-to-life political supporters," Schiavo told Tampa Tribune reporter David Sommer. "This has nothing to do with him. He should stay out of it."
Schiavo - who, for five years, has been seeking judicial approval to end his wife's life by denying her nutrition and hydration - also accused Terri's parents of manipulating their Catholic faith to keep their daughter alive.
"I believe in God and so did (?) Terri," Schiavo said, speaking of his still living wife in the past tense, "but they are out to push it on people... suddenly they are on a religious kick."
Judge refuses motion for hearing to set 'death date'
Greer also denied a motion Tuesday to hold an immediate hearing to set a date for the removal of Terri's nutrition and hydration tube. The hearing will be held, as previously announced, on Sept. 11. At that hearing, Greer will also rule on whether Schiavo may legally prohibit Terri's priest from visiting her.
Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, had also petitioned the court Monday to prohibit doctors from caring for Terri's current fever, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and a "substantial infection."
"Given the imminence of the ward's death, further treatment (other than comfort care) for the ward's infection and other medical problems is unnecessary, unwarranted, inappropriate and futile," Felos said in an emergency motion, adding that Terri, "should be put back in hospice and receive comfort care and die in a peaceful setting."
Greer denied that motion, as well.
55 posted on 08/27/2003 5:29 PM EDT by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
Michael Schiavo is using "privacy" as an excuse for denying Terri every contact from the outside world, even flowers. "One sign of the case's nastiness is the Schindlers' complaint that Schiavo limits their visits with their daughter. They also say he has refused to allow doctors to examine her, refused her antibiotics and needed dental work, refused to replace a broken wheelchair so she could be taken outdoors and refused the delivery of flowers from a friend to her room on her birthday."
"Her teeth are fine; she doesn't eat," Michael Schiavo said. "Why take her to a gynecologist? She was supposed to die months ago. I don't want her room filled with flowers from strangers or right-to-life activists. Even though she is vegetative she has a right to privacy."
17 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by I still care
***
I thought Gov Bush very eloquently made his case here, in this part:
To err on one side is to prolong her existence, perhaps against her wishes, and continue the debate. To err on the other is an irrevocable act that affords no remediation.
18 posted on 08/27/2003 10:14 AM EDT by summer
***
..this judge is going to look really bad if this part is ignored by the judge:
Even discounting these rumors, there are a number of factual disputes > regarding Mrs. Schiavo's medical condition, past and current care and > therapy, and her prognosis. Given the contradictory positions of her > guardian and other family members
21 posted on 08/27/2003 10:17 AM EDT by summer
*** HE SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE HONORED GOV. BUSH'S REQUEST TO ASSIGN A GUARDIAN AD LITEM to represent Terri's interest instead of once again, taking the side of the husband. Judge Greer is from the Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County. That is one thing that floors me .. This Judge should have long ago appointed an independent Guardian Ad Litem and not left her husband as her sole guardian .. especially since there are questions about her husband with abuse and the fractured bones that were reveled in xrays of Terry. Everything I have read .. this Judge seems hell bent on having her killed 73 posted on 08/28/2003 2:45 AM EDT by Mo1 (http://www.favewavs.com/wavs/cartoons/spdemocrats.wav) *** I know that Mr. Schiavo has tried to ban Terri's mother and family and priest from seeing her. 27 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by hocndoc (Choice is the # 1 killer in the US) *** Judge Greer has been with the husband since day one. A guardian ad litem would have been fair for Terri and her parents. Her parents love her but they are treated as the enemy. I'm ashamed this is happening in Pinellas County. 31 posted on 08/26/2003 7:41 PM EDT by floriduh voter
Judge Greer will not appoint a guardian ad litem. I have phone numbers from the phone book for the Clearwater Courthouse and all the guardianship phone numbers. He husband held a presser today and was very flippant about Jeb's letter and called the emailers a "bunch of right to lifers." Hubby is looking a little nervous but with a pal like Judge Greer who is no Judge Moore, Terri has until the September 11 hearing to decide the date her starvation begins. Here are the phone numbers: courthouse - 727-464-3000, guardianship numbers: 727-582-7563, 727-582-7771, and 727-464-8700. We can at least call as friends of Terri and voice our concerns. 25 posted on 08/26/2003 7:34 PM EDT by floriduh voter Freepers, please call the Juducial Qualification Commission regarding Judge Greer: 1-850-488-1581. *** Contact friends, thank those have been fighting on Terri's behalf, including Glenn Beck, Lars Larson, CNS News.com, WND, and Bill O'Reilly. *** Terri Schindler Schiavo's website - background and news updates: www.terrisfight.org *** 8 Terri Schiavo's website Media Contacts Governor Jeb Bush (R) The Honorable(?) George W. Greer Attorney General Charlie Crist
But, I don't know how a court could prevent doctors from ordering therapy, speach therapy (which is often actually swallowing therapy) and most especially oral nutrition.
Office of The Governor
Florida Capitol Building, PL-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-7146
(850) 488-4441
jeb.bush@myflorida.com
6th Judicial Circuit
315 Court Street, Room 484
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3933
ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963
Fax: (850) 487-2564
ag@oag.state.fl.us
Florida Bar Attorney Profile Attorney Number: -- 226653
Member in Good Standing
George James Felos
595 Main St
Dunedin Florida 34698-4998
Phone: 727/736-1402
Fax: 727/736-5050
E-Mail: proofg@aol.com
County: Pinellas
Circuit: 06
Admitted: 02/01/1977
As long as we're letting people know how we feel...
Kimmie, please ping the list.
My email to the DOJ was fairly detailed but I made the point that the "exit protocol" should be halted so that someone can investigate if J. Greer and George Felos were acquaintances when Greer was a County Commissioner and Felos was a State Attorney. If they knew each other, then Greer should have recused him from this case from day one.
The rest shall remain confidential because I don't want to be their next project, if you know what I mean.
In November 1994, George Soros delivered a speech on the questions raised by the culture of dying in America. His speech, reproduced here, elaborated much of the origins and aims of the Open Society Institute's Project on Death in America.
Excerpts:
Third, we must increase the availability of hospice services for terminally ill patients removing restrictions on admittance and enhancing reimbursement regulations. We should consider laws that permit next of kin to decide to forego life sustaining medical interventions even when a patients wishes are not known. The government may have to help family members financially so that they can take care of dying persons at home by the least expensive means. These are only a few of the approaches to transforming the culture of dying that our project will be exploring in the months to come.
More:
This brings me to that hotly debated subject, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. This is the one aspect of dying that is talked about everywhere -- on television, in public forums, in newspaper headlines, and serious journal articles. Voters in Oregon just approved a law that makes it the first state to lift the prohibition against physician-assisted suicide.
As the son of a mother who was member of the Hemlock Society, and as a reader of Plato's Phaedra, I cannot but approve. But I must emphasize that I am speaking in my personal capacity and not on behalf of the Board of the Project on Death in America. There are members of the Board who take a different position and the Board as a whole wants to steer clear of the issue because it feels it has plenty to do before opening that Pandoras box. Instead of getting embroiled in the debate on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, they want to support the training of health care professionals, enabling them to provide humane, compassionate care to the dying, including improved physician-patient communication, patient-centered care, better physician judgment on withdrawing or withholding care, and familiarity with the principles and practices of palliative care.
****
I believe someone posted a reference to Judge Greer's interest in politics. George Soros is heavily involved in politics. Maybe there's a connection with George Felos, also. Guaranteed they are both dems.
Recent links:
Billionaire Pledges $10 Million to Defeat Pro-Life President
Multibillionaire Soros commits $10 million to new Democratic-leaning group
Soros Backs Anti-Bush Campaign With $10 Mln
George Soros Link to material on FreeRepublic
George Soros Google goes on for pages
I can't find a website for the specific Soros group, Americans Coming Together or ACT, although there are many by that name. Perhaps it isn't set up yet or perhaps they are obscuring it in some way.
It was her father. And she seemed to think that he died from his lack of being able to forgive past offenses, things done by himself and others. While I believe that our attitude in life does have some bearing on our general health, she made it sound as though all we need to do for health is just let go of any of our detrimental "personal attachments". For me, I guess it all depends on how you define "personal attachment".
Anyway, all of you are doing a great job keeping us informed of your research. I am so impressed with the talent of the many Freepers! I will be phoning that courthouse tomorrow a.m. for sure. Thanks for digging up those numbers!
It would seem that Associated Press news(?)wire and the Tallahassee Democrat had the story they did on Terri wrong on two counts.
(1) She is not, as we all know, in a coma, and
(2) the filing with the federal court is not about gaining access to Terri's medical records.
Both entities should be censored for the blatant errors and omissions in their coverage of a pending court order to terminate the life of a conscious woman who is breathing without assistance. That order, penned by Circuit Court Judge Richard Greer is, in my opinion, a reckless abandonment of judicial temperament in favor of a kind of Tartar barbarism.
The citizens of Tampa and Tallahassee have been told a lie under the guise of news journalism.
Do they deserve this insult to their intellect? Have the news organizations of Florida become so lazy as to use unverified sources, and trample upon the trust of their subscribers in an effort to reduce staff overhead expense? What percentage of profit is realized from manufacturing misinformation these days?
Emergency hearing set in coma case
The truth of the federal court hearing has been as near as www.terrisfight.org
But that would have been too easy for either the Associated Press news(?)wire or the Tallahassee Democrat. It seems they don't care enough about thier fish wrap to source the validity of their 'stories'.
Pause and consider the incredible burdern Terri's family has had to shoulder in the past five years.
The church,
the media,
the courts,
and the medical profession
have created a culture of collusion that makes the butcher of Waco and kidnapper of Elian Gonzalez, Ms. Janet Reno, appear tolerant.
Is was of great interest to me to read that this filing was penned at least in part by :
Christopher A. Ferrara, Esq.
Specially appearing pursuant to Rule 2.02(a)
American Catholic Lawyers Association, Inc. ( My emphisis. )
50 South Franklin Turnpike, Suite 1
P.O. Box 277
Ramsey, New Jersey, 07445-0277
Phone: (201)236-1799, Fax: (201)236-3965
Please read:
ROBERT SCHINDLER and MARY
SCHINDLER, as parents
and next friends of Theresa Marie
Schindler Schiavo, an
incompetent ward,
Plaintiffs,
v.
MICHAEL SCHIAVO, individually
and in his capacity as Guardian
of the person of THERESA MARIE
SCHINDLER SCHIAVO,
an incompetent ward; HOSPICE
OF THE FLORIDA SUN
COAST, INC., and MORTON PLANT
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
Defendants.
The filing concludes:
WHEREFORE, the plaintiffs Robert Schinlder and Mary Schindler seek the following relief:
A. A declaration that Schiavo's actions violate Terri's federal statutory and constitutional rights and her rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and EMTALA.
B. A temporary restraining order and permanent injunctive relief barring the defendants and their agents, and those acting in concert with them, from withdrawing or withholding food, water, nutrition, and medical care to Terri, including, but not limited to, food and hydration given her by means of a gastrostomy or other type of feeding tube in her body, requiring evaluation by therapists and any other health care professional such as a physician to determine the true medical condition of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo, the administration of antibiotics and medical treatment for any emergency medical conditions she has or may develop and ordering access to medical information about Theresa Marie Schindler be provided to Plaintiffs Robert and Mary Schindler.
C. Prohibiting the defendants from denying or restricting Theresa Marie Schiavo access to and the ministrations of the aforementioned Rev. Msgr. Thaddeus Malanowski or any other Roman Catholic priest with whom she is acquainted or who wishes to bring her the Sacraments while she is under said defendants' care and watch;
D. Prohibiting Defendant Schiavo from ordering the cremation of the body of Theresa Marie Schiavo, should she die;
E. Appointing Plaintiffs as Guardian Ad Litem for their daughter Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo for the duration of this action;
F. An award of compensatory and punitive damages against all of the defendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 and attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1988; and
G. Such other and further relief as this Court should deem just and proper.
Pray God that He be merciful in his wrath upon all who have had a hand, active or passive, in harming Terri all these years.
May His justice and healing be swift.
THEY ARE SICK AND HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? Thanks for the research, WC.
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