Parents and Husband battle for woman's life over

[Jobber of the Week 0]

FAUX NEWS LOL2003!

 

Doctors Wednesday removed the feeding tube that has been keeping alive a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of an epic legal battle between her parents, who want her to live, and her husband, who said she would rather die.

 

Terri Schiavo (search), 39, underwent the procedure at the Tampa Bay area hospice where she has been living for several years, said her father, Bob Schindler. Attorneys representing her husband, Michael Schiavo, said it will take between a week and 10 days for her to die.

 

The removal came just hours after Gov. Jeb Bush (search) told Bob Schindler and his wife, Mary, that he was instructing his legal staff to find some means to block the court order allowing Michael Schiavo to end his wife's life.

 

About 100 protesters stood outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo has lived for several years in what has become a 24-hour vigil staged by advocates for the disabled and anti-abortion activists. The six-year-long legal battle between the Schindlers and their son-in-law has drawn international attention for the fierceness of the family fight.

 

Schindler said he and his wife Mary went in to see their daughter shortly after the tube was removed and gave her a kiss and hugged her. He said his daughter appeared groggy and was not as responsive as she normally has been.

 

"She's OK for the next couple of days," said Suzanne Carr, Terri Schiavo's sister. "We are just going to try to work some magic and hopefully a miracle.

 

"I have to believe that somebody is doing something, somewhere to stop this judicial homicide."

 

Michael Schiavo and his attorney George Felos were not immediately available for comment.

 

The tube removal came just hours after Gov. Jeb Bush told Bob Schindler and his wife, Mary, he was instructing his legal staff to find some means to block the court order allowing Michael Schiavo to end his wife's life.

 

"We are going to seek whatever legal alternatives are available and seek the best minds to find another avenue to submit to the courts to see if there can be a change in this ruling," Bush said at an appearance in Dover dedicating new housing for migrant workers.

 

"I am not a doctor, I am not a lawyer. But I know that if a person can be able to sustain life without life support, that should be tried," the governor said, adding the "ultimate decision of this is in the courts."

 

Bob Schindler Jr., Terri Schiavo's brother, said the family was heartened by the governor's last-minute effort. The Schindlers have pleaded with Bush — who in previous legal findings have supported their efforts to obtain therapy for their daughter — to intervene.

 

"The family has not given up hope on Terri," Bob Schindler Jr. said following the meeting with Bush. "We have spoken to the governor, and he hasn't given up hope either."

 

The tangled legal case has already been handled by 19 separate judges, and Wednesday's tube removal was the third time a date had been set.

 

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for two days in 2001 before a judge ordered feeding resumed based on new evidence; attorneys have said there is no such legal tactic to take this time.

 

Terri Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since her heart stopped in 1990 due to a potassium imbalance. Her parents believe she is capable of learning how to eat and drink on her own.

 

A state appeals court in Lakeland rejected motions by an attorney for the Schindlers and their legal remedies have been exhausted, their lawyer said Tuesday.

 

Michael Schiavo says he is carrying out his wife's wishes that she not be kept alive artificially. The parents say their daughter has shown signs of trying to communicate and could be rehabilitated.

 

"In our eyes, it's murder," Bob Schindler said Wednesday on CBS' "Early Show."

 

George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo, said that the Schindlers were "still in denial" over Terri Schiavo's wishes not to be kept alive.

 

Doctors have testified that the noises and facial expressions Terri Schiavo makes are reflexes and do not indicate that she has enough mental capabilities to communicate with others.

 

The Florida Supreme Court has twice refused to hear the case. It also has been rejected for review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

The Schindlers have sought to remove Michael Schiavo as his wife's guardian, saying he has a conflict of interest because he is engaged to another woman and they have a child together. Michael Schiavo has refused to divorce his wife saying that he fears her parents would ignore her desire to die if they became her guardians.

 

So, what's the ethical right thing to do?

 

Personally, I believe that if she's feeling pain then they should let her go, but if she isn't they should let her live. BUT, even if they do let her go, letting her starve to death is INHUMANE and some form of drug for a painless death should be used instead.

 

We don't even make our Death Row criminals go that way, for goodness sakes.

[Guest Urine Sane]

There's no way she's coming back, they need to let go of her, she was dead as soon as she was put in there.

[Dr. Tom 0]

If someone wants to die, they should be able to. It might be hard for parents to understand, but they should also respect their child's wishes. The various religious groups, general do-gooders, and politicians should stay out of the process. Jeb Bush can cram his legal research right up his ass.

[Jingus 0]

it will take between a week and 10 days for her to die.

 

his daughter appeared groggy and was not as responsive as she normally has been.

 

able to sustain life without life support,

 

Her parents believe she is capable of learning how to eat and drink on her own.

 

The parents say their daughter has shown signs of trying to communicate and could be rehabilitated.

 

noises and facial expressions Terri Schiavo makes

 

The Schindlers have sought to remove Michael Schiavo as his wife's guardian, saying he has a conflict of interest because he is engaged to another woman and they have a child together.

Why is this even a question? The woman is brain damaged, not comatose. And the only one who wants her dead is her husband, who's already had an affair and had a kid with a new fiance? Fuck him, he doesn't have any say over her anymore.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Ultimately it doesn't matter what both parties think. In most states a spouse has power of attorney, so they could make the decision.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

My insta-opinion:

 

1) I heard today that the hubby asked for a million dollar settlement so he could pay for this woman's care for the rest of her life. Once the money came through that's when he remembered that she didn't want to "live like this."

 

2) The guy has two out-of-wedlock kids since the heart attack and wants to marry another woman.

 

I don't understand why he just doesn't divorce her and let the parents do what they want.

 

Granted I heard the above information from people on the parents' side, but if these facts are true, the husband is a piece of shit and if there was any justice in the world his "new family" would get struck by a MACK truck, making them all veggies in the garden of life...

[Firestarter 0]

I don't understand why he just doesn't divorce her and let the parents do what they want.

Maybe he still loves her and wants to respect the wishes he says she expressed?

 

This case (and all others like it) is just one more reason for legislation to be enacted requiring all adult citizens to make a living will. It'd save untold millions in legal costs alone.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Maybe he still loves her and wants to respect the wishes he says she expressed?

 

This case (and all others like it) is just one more reason for legislation to be enacted requiring all adult citizens to make a living will. It'd save untold millions in legal costs alone.

I am leaning more toward him wanting the settlement money.

 

My better half and I have agreed that if one of us would go brain dead (I'm sure many of you here think that has already happened with me) to just pull the plug. Hell, my better half said she won't wait to be asked in my case.

 

Anyway, we devised a test to see if an injury is pull-the-plug worthy. If she puts on Sunday football and I show no emotion, or if I put on Scooby Doo or the Golden Girls and she shows no emotion, it's time to flat line...

Edited October 16, 2003 by kkktookmybabyaway

[Guest MikeSC]

Maybe he still loves her and wants to respect the wishes he says she expressed?

 

This case (and all others like it) is just one more reason for legislation to be enacted requiring all adult citizens to make a living will. It'd save untold millions in legal costs alone.

I am leaning more toward him wanting the settlement money.

 

My better half and I have agreed that if one of us would go brain dead (I'm sure many of you here think that has already happened with me) to just pull the plug. Hell, my better half said she won't wait to be asked in my case.

 

Anyway, we devised a test to see if an injury is pull-the-plug worthy. If she puts on Sunday football and I show no emotion, or if I put on Scooby Doo or the Golden Girls and she shows no emotion, it's time to flat line...

Man, I'm glad I didn't have such an arrangement with my ex.

-=Mike

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

pull the plug.

 

she's not coming back and even if she does she won't live her life how she wanted to.

[Vyce 0]

If there's no living will here, she should be kept alive. IMO, him just saying, "Oh, this is what she wanted" without actual proof (i.e. some documentation of this assertion) is unsatisfactory and letting her die without such sets a dangerous precedent.

 

. BUT, even if they do let her go, letting her starve to death is INHUMANE and some form of drug for a painless death should be used instead.

 

I agree.

 

I'm quite firmly AGAINST euthanasia, but if it's going to occur, there are better ways of doing it than this.

 

A bullet to the head would be more "humane" than starvation.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The Schiavos lived in Bucks County for a while so this is getting a LOT of press where I live. I have a couple of points that didn't get mentioned by FAUXNEWSLOL2003!:

 

1. The parents at first claimed that the husband wanted to "get rid" of the wife because he wanted to spend the remainder of the 700,000 dollars insaurance to pay for medical fees in case of something like this for himself. Obviously, the funds have been depleted for some time now and he's still fighting.

 

2. The Parents now say that husband attempted to murder his wife and is trying to cover up the evidence. Police have found nothing to support this claim.

 

3. The only people to ever claim to see signs of coherence of recovery in Terri are the parents and her sister. No doctors, no nurses, not the kids, not the husband. Every medical man involved says Terri is a lost cause.

 

4. Even though the husband remarried, he is still Terri's legal guardian, and responsible for her.

[Perfxion 0]

My 2 cents.

 

1: If she has a will, pull the plug, if not, make sure something says she wants to go.

 

2: If she is brain dead and is living off of machines, pull the plug, don't waste money and hope over a loss cause.

 

3: All unneeded BS needs to be taken out of this and let the two parties agree to something.

 

4: If the million is spent, why not just pull the plug, it is showing to not only be costly, but waste of time.

 

5: Can they "kill" her humanely? Bullet to the head, CN, or anything that is quick and painless. This is just, just, wrong.

[The Robfather 0]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

 

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

 

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[Guest Anglesault]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

 

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida.

It's sad that there isn't one already.

[Jingus 0]

One BIG question: is there any proof of what Terri's actual wishes are in this situation? All I've seen so far is the husband claiming that she wants to die... and he's already got another woman and a kid. Not exactly the most reliable of proxies.

[Vyce 0]

Jingus, that was something I took issue with.

 

I'm not saying this guy has some sort of ulterior motive, as has been suggested by some who oppose him.

 

All I'm saying is, if there is no documented evidence that this is something she wanted - as in a living will - if they're just basing this decision on the husband's word that this is what she wanted - than it shouldn't be done.

 

As it is, it shouldn't be done until they can figure out a more humane way of doing this outside of starving her to death.

[Vyce 0]

Just saw on FAUX that Jeb Bush has ordered the tube to be put back in.

 

I'm sure that will inspire a fresh round of controversy, perhaps in this thread as well, but I applaud his actions, if for no other reason than it's an awful way to die - even if she is supposed to be in a vegetative state.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Just saw on FAUX that Jeb Bush has ordered the tube to be put back in.

She's probably a Republican -- need every vote you can get in the Sunshine State.

 

And, yes, I'm waiting for some lib on this board to throw down the "She must be a Republican -- she's braindead" line I have set them up so perfectly for...

[Guest MikeSC]

Just saw on FAUX that Jeb Bush has ordered the tube to be put back in.

 

I'm sure that will inspire a fresh round of controversy, perhaps in this thread as well, but I applaud his actions, if for no other reason than it's an awful way to die - even if she is supposed to be in a vegetative state.

I feel for her --- but what legal right does Jeb have to do this?

 

Far as I can tell, he has NO legal standing whatsoever to issue this order.

-=Mike

[The Metal Maniac 0]

To those who have asked if there was a better way for her to die - do you think it would be morally (or even legally) proper to inject her with something?

 

I'm pretty damned sure that she could be killed, without feeling any pain, if they injected her with something (I don't know what, but something). But would that make her doctor a murderer? I mean, I can see the difference between letting someone die, and causing their death, but in a situation such as this, where she will be dead eventually anyway (Well, she WAS going to be) and where they've already done something to lead to her death (pulled the plug) do you think it'd be better if they just killed her, rather then let her starve?

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Well, again, power of attorney.

 

Although really, with two kids this guy should have divorced this woman by now. He's living a real life incarnation of a Vince McMahon angle for god's sakes ("Make sure Linda doubles up on her medication!")

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

He's living a real life incarnation of a Vince McMahon angle for god's sakes ("Make sure Linda doubles up on her medication!")

Woah, I never noticed that before.

 

Art does imitate life.

 

Let's pray this guy doesn't turn into HHH once this woman dies...

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I'm pretty damned sure that she could be killed, without feeling any pain, if they injected her with something (I don't know what, but something). But would that make her doctor a murderer?

 

Well, last I knew, doctors couldn't be executioners for people on death row, so I'm not so sure they're allowed to do anything like that. She's been a vegetable for the past 13 years though, it's not like she's going to "snap out of it."

[Guest MikeSC]

I'm pretty damned sure that she could be killed, without feeling any pain, if they injected her with something (I don't know what, but something). But would that make her doctor a murderer?

 

Well, last I knew, doctors couldn't be executioners for people on death row, so I'm not so sure they're allowed to do anything like that. She's been a vegetable for the past 13 years though, it's not like she's going to "snap out of it."

And, as has been pointed out previously, the only people who have claimed to see ANY noticeable recognition on her part are her parents. The doctors and nurses have never seen any recognition by her.

-=Mike

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Oh, I completely think she should be taken off of life support, but that's more my personal feelings on the subject. I don't know how the legality of that sort of situation works at all. Shouldn't that sort of burden fall on the next of kin?

 

And also, what's the deal with people branding this woman's husband a dirtbag and all that? He finally gets a new family Thirteen Years after his wife effectively died, and suddenly he's a philandering sleaze who just wants to off his "wife" as a convenience...

 

There has to be SOMEONE who is related to this woman who has the ability to make a decision about this. Jeb Bush can keep his nose out of this. Since when is he a doctor, or any relation to this woman?

[Dr. Tom 0]

Jeb Bush can keep his nose out of this. Since when is he a doctor, or any relation to this woman?

He's not. But he's got the belief that life is sacred and only God can call his children back to him, or some such rubbish. Personally, I've been a fan of euthenasia for years, as well as assisted suicide. If someone who's terminal wants to end their suffering, why is it so wrong to let them? Why is it wrong to pull the plug on someone whose existence is maintained by machines? Why do these religious people and their "loving God" like to perpetuate human suffering just to prop up some musty piece of dogma?

[Highland 0]

If she had killed someone, those same people would be crying for the death penalty.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Because it would be a loophole to get into heaven quicker.