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'Exit protocol' for brain-disabled woman? (Breaking - Schiavo)
WorldNetDaily ^ | Aug. 29, 2003 | Sarah Foster

Posted on 08/29/2003 10:41:03 PM PDT by kimmie7

'Exit protocol' for brain-disabled woman? Husband orders wife removed from hospital despite severe illness

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 29, 2003 6:15 p.m. Eastern

By Sarah Foster © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A five-year legal battle over whether a brain-disabled woman should be allowed to live or forced to die of starvation took another turn today when Michael Schiavo ordered his wife Terri removed from a hospital where she is being treated for a severe infection.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo before her disability.

The move back to a hospice where the Florida woman has lived for more than three years could lead to her death, a family spokeswoman told WorldNetDaily.

"The family is very concerned Terri won't be properly cared for at the hospice and won't make it through the weekend," said Pamela Hennessey.

Terri still is reported to be "extremely congested and at least a bit feverish," Hennessey said.

The Schindler family fears this move is intended as an "exit protocol," with the intention of hastening her death, Hennessey said in a just-issued statement.

"There can't be any way Terri was well enough to leave the hospital," Terri's sister Suzanne Schindler-Carr told Hennessey. "She's still such a very sick girl."

It was the second such crisis in less than two weeks and the most recent development in the on-going battle between Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and their son-in-law that began with his efforts to remove the feeding tube Terri depends upon for sustenance.

Michael Schiavo (Photo: WFLA-TV)

According to documents filed with the court, Terri was transferred Sunday from the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast to the emergency room of Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., because of vomiting, fever, coughing, and severe diarrhea. Tests revealed lung congestion and an elevated white blood cell count, indicating a "substantial infection."

The Schindler's attorney Patricia Anderson said a federal statute prohibits an institution from discharging a person before they've been stabilized medically. But a patient can always discharge himself against medical advice.

"Since Michael Schiavo is Terri's legal guardian, he can do that, and that's what he's doing," said Anderson.

By order of an appeals court, Judge George Greer of Florida's 6th Circuit Court will hold a hearing Sept. 11 to set a date for removing the feeding tube, which would lead to starvation within 10 to 14 days.

Schiavo's request to order Terri returned to the hospice was faxed to Greer yesterday by his legal representative, right-to-die attorney George Felos, and is the second attempt this week to ensure his wife receives no medical treatment.

The day following her readmission to Morton Plant, Felos filed papers asking the court to order all treatment for Terri stopped "other than comfort care" for her infection and any additional medical problems that might arise.

In an emergency motion faxed Monday afternoon to Greer, Felos argued that since the courts of Florida had approved the removal of her feeding tube, death by starvation was a foregone conclusion and there was no need to intervene.

"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," he declared.

He also requested an "immediate hearing" to set the date for removal of Terri's feeding tube.

Judge Greer denied the motion Tuesday, stating such a determination would require a hearing, but endorsed Schiavo's request to return her to the hospice.

As WorldNetDaily reported, the Schindlers have been locked in a decade-long battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at their home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.

The bitter dispute over Terri's quality of care erupted five years ago into a full-blown euthanasia battle when Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive by "artificially." Although Terri breathes on her own and maintains her own blood pressure, she requires a tube for nourishment and hydration. The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe that with therapy she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and attorney George Felos.

This current emergency medical crisis was essentially a replay of events two weeks ago when Terri was taken to Morton Plant because she was coughing up blood and appeared to have aspiration pneumonia. She was returned to the hospice less than a week later, before she had fully recovered.

As before, the Schindlers have not been apprised their daughter's condition, despite a 1996 court order in which Schiavo agreed to inform the Schindlers of any changes in his wife's physical condition.

The Schindlers learned about Terri's emergency transfer from the hospice to the hospital Monday morning, hours after the fact. Not until their attorney Patricia Anderson received a fax from George Felos informing her of Terri's sudden crisis did they have any information.

Pamela Hennessey recalled last Monday's events for WorldNetDaily.

"As soon as they heard, her parents went immediately to the hospital and to the admissions section, and the first thing admissions said was there's no one here by that name," said Hennessey.

"Then they did confirm she was there, but did not tell them what room she was in, Hennessey continued. "So the Schindlers had to carry on for at least an hour before they found out where Terri even was. They never got any indication of her condition, diagnosis, prognosis, nothing. And they still haven't. All they know is Terri has a massive infection and fever."

Pat Anderson reports Mary Schindler has been with her daughter every day, all day until 8 p.m., when hospital rules dictate they must leave. Bob Schindler says she holds Terri in her arms, and when they started to leave, Terri's eyes fill with tears.

'Exit protocol'?

Terri's current medical crisis drew the attention of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he was "disturbed" by rumors about Schiavo's actions related to Terri's current care. In his letter to Greer Tuesday requesting a delay in removal of Terri's feeding tube until certain issues are investigated, Bush called specific attention to Schiavo's request to disallow treatment.

"It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo has contracted a life-threatening illness and that she may be denied appropriate treatment," the governor wrote. "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."

Bush urged Greer 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."


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: death; euthanasia; schiavo
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To: getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL
Terri's husband is a real piece of work.

He seems to have a way with the ladies, like Scott Peterson, Bill Clinton, and others. I suspect that if his current live-in left him, thousands of other desperate women would write Michael and ask that he court them!
201 posted on 08/31/2003 7:14:18 PM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: MHGinTN
I have finished the Amended Complaint from PDF document
to text document anent Federal Court Case No.:

8:03-cv-1860-T-26TGW

Request of me if you would like to see it by sending
me an e-mail to pc93@bellsouth.net

You can't miss this.

202 posted on 08/31/2003 7:22:13 PM PDT by pc93 (Murder of Terri Schindler by Michael Schiavo sanctioned by Jeb Bush and the Florida Supreme Court)
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To: pc93
Just trying to be helpful as it is easier for me. This interface jumbles it all together. I tried in vain yesterday evening but gave up. I have no place to put it. Not everyone can read PDF's and typed and formatted it into text.

Let's keep up the good work in Terri's fight.
203 posted on 08/31/2003 7:25:36 PM PDT by pc93 (Murder of Terri Schindler by Michael Schiavo sanctioned by Jeb Bush and the Florida Supreme Court)
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To: pc93
Where is Terri now -- 10:30 p.m. Eastern Sunday? Is she in the hospice?

Can the parents visit her tomorrow, a holiday?
204 posted on 08/31/2003 7:26:36 PM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: Theodore R.
I'm not sure.
205 posted on 08/31/2003 7:30:04 PM PDT by pc93 (Murder of Terri Schindler by Michael Schiavo sanctioned by Jeb Bush and the Florida Supreme Court)
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To: kimmie7
Have you seen this article? It says that in the first trial ( for the money) the husbands lawyer used video to show that she recognizes her husband.Here is a link to the article http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/iua27.htm It is under the background part of the article.
206 posted on 08/31/2003 7:42:20 PM PDT by dixiegrrl
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To: dixiegrrl
From the article you linked to:
And, as for the $700,000 awarded to Terri for her long-term care, it’s almost gone. That’s how Michael has paid for all the legal costs he’s incurred trying to end Terri’s life. [AP, 11/16/02; World Net Daily, 11/1/02; Ragged Edge Online, Issue 6, 2002] Felos has made sure he got his blood money, eh?
207 posted on 08/31/2003 7:54:46 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: MHGinTN
That man makes me so sick. I also found out on Blue Dolphin Publishing that Felos is a minister. I can't even imagine what he must preach or the type of people that would go listen to him
208 posted on 08/31/2003 8:04:18 PM PDT by dixiegrrl
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To: dixiegrrl
He's in the same class of demon cleric as THESE devils in masquerade.
209 posted on 08/31/2003 8:09:28 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: Don Joe
To your post #20...I don't think it's the money at all. He doesn't want her testifying against her some day. That's why he is being so relentless in denying her any kind of care.
210 posted on 08/31/2003 8:15:32 PM PDT by attagirl
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To: MHGinTN
As my Nana used to say what you do here will be held against you in a higher court and there is no appeals process!
211 posted on 08/31/2003 8:24:36 PM PDT by dixiegrrl
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To: attagirl
I suppose that Michael Schiavo has contemplated many times killing her with his bare hands while he "visited" her in the hospice.

Why does he have so much influence with the hospice, getting nurses fired for going against his brutal commands, etc?

I wish the nurses would help the desperate creature behind his back.
212 posted on 08/31/2003 8:27:50 PM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: dixiegrrl
I seem to remember something about wedding garments, also ...?
213 posted on 08/31/2003 8:28:17 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: Theodore R.
If a mother withholds stimulation from a newborn, the Protective Services people can take the child away from her for abuse and neglect. Personally, I think Michael needs to be in a simulated PVS for a while, to see what an evil he's doing to Terri, but such evening of scores doesn't usually happen on this plane. It does appear that Michael Schiavo is filled with hate and power issues. Such a big guy would suffer greatly in a penal system.
214 posted on 08/31/2003 8:34:24 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: MHGinTN
I don't remember that one.
215 posted on 08/31/2003 8:36:18 PM PDT by dixiegrrl
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To: MHGinTN
I, personally, would like to see him doing the cha-cha with a large man named Spike for a while before his execution. Of course, I need to pray about those feelings. But the human side of me pops up whenever I think about the punishment this would-be murderer and Felos-the-Felon deserve.
216 posted on 08/31/2003 8:48:07 PM PDT by kimmie7 (I need more time, more coffee, and more bandwidth.)
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To: attagirl
"To your post #20...I don't think it's the money at all. He doesn't want her testifying against her some day. That's why he is being so relentless in denying her any kind of care."

See my post 184.

217 posted on 08/31/2003 8:48:50 PM PDT by Don Joe
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To: MHGinTN
me either. could you refresh?
218 posted on 08/31/2003 8:49:01 PM PDT by kimmie7 (I need more time, more coffee, and more bandwidth.)
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To: annyokie
The man that Terri once married has a child by another woman and is expecting one more. In my opinion, this man does not qualify as a husband. The guardianship over Terri shoudl be given to her parents who have her best interest at heart. The court here has been just so wrong, that they have become criminal, as far as I am concerned.
219 posted on 08/31/2003 9:01:30 PM PDT by tessalu
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To: dixiegrrl
Remember the parable Jesus shared regarding the wedding and the person who tried to slip in but didn't have on the required garment?
220 posted on 08/31/2003 9:14:44 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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