Posted on 08/10/2005 1:56:42 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
The Florida State Guardianship Association has chosen Michael Schiavo as its "Distinguished Guardian of the Year" for 2005, outraging many in the pro-life community. Schiavo is the former husband of Terri Schiavo, the brain-injured Florida woman whose life ended March 31 by court-ordered dehydration at her husband's request.
While admitting that Schiavo was a "controversial choice," Michelle Kenney, president-elect of the association told the Associated Press that her group decided to bestow the honor on Schiavo because of his "commitment" to honoring what he claimed was his wife's wish "not to be kept alive artificially."
"We see a lot of situations where family steps away," Kenney told the AP. "He stuck by. He didn't walk away.""
Joan Nelson Hook, past president of the association, also praised Schiavo.
"He was an ordinary guardian," Hook told the Orlando Sentinel, "who carried out his duties in extraordinary ways."
Accepting the award, Schiavo called himself, "not much of a speechmaker.
"I don't talk much," Schiavo said. "But on behalf of my wife Theresa, I thank you."
Pamela Hennessy -- who served as the spokeswoman for Terri Schiavo's parents during much of the decade-long battle over her life, and who still volunteers with the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation -- rejected Michael Schiavo's explanation.
"Citing that he carried out his wife's wishes doesn't seem an adequate justification for awarding someone who has clearly failed to abide by the Florida statutes mandating the behavior of a guardian," Hennessy responded, "and who has clearly failed to meet [the] association's criteria for appropriate behavior as a guardian."
Brother Paul O'Donnell, who served as a spiritual advisor to the Schindler family during their battle to gain custody of Terri, told the Associated Press the award to Schiavo was "offensive."
Amber Dolle, spokeswoman for American Life League called the recognition "very disappointing.
"He did all in his power to remove Terri's food and water, the sustenance that kept her alive so, ultimately, she died at his hands," Dolle said. "To honor him with a 'distinguished guardian award' is something that's beyond belief."
Hennessy wrote the association asking them to explain the "logic in recognizing Michael Schiavo as a 'Distinguished Guardian of the Year.'
"On your web site, you outline the requirements for such an award as 'The awardee must: meet the criteria for a Guardian set in FL Statute 744,'" Hennessy wrote. "However, Mr. Schiavo has done no such thing as evidenced in court records from 1993 to 2005."
Hennessy noted that for more than a decade after a judge appointed Michael Schiavo to serve as his wife's guardian, Schiavo did not complete the state mandated guardianship training required by Florida law. Hennessy listed a number of other requirements Florida statutes place on guardians and her assessment of Schiavo's compliance.
Under Florida Statute 744.3215, an incapacitated ward retains the rights to:
* ... be restored to capacity at the earliest possible time. Hennessy said, "Schiavo refused therapy from 1992 until the day his wife died. In those 12 years, she received no range of motion, physical, occupational or speech therapy. He did nothing to restore his wife to capacity."
* ... be treated humanely, with dignity and respect, and to be protected against abuse, neglect, and exploitation. According to Hennessy, "Schiavo kept his wife confined to a single Hospice room for over 5 years. During those years, she was not permitted outside or in the common areas of the facility. During the 15 years of her incapacity, he limited her social interaction by enforcing a strict visitor's list and occasionally barring her own family from seeing her."
"Since these things are all a matter of court and public record," Hennessy added, "I fail to understand how Michael Schiavo could possibly be qualified to receive a 'Distinguished Guardian of the Year' award from your association."
Schiavo has never been charged criminally with violating the guardianship statutes. Judge George Greer, the probate judge with jurisdiction over the Schiavo guardianship, refused to hear civil complaints about Schiavo's alleged non-compliance.
ok, this is like the third thread on this.
Michael Schiavo ought to be Extinguished.
Yeh, he stuck around alright. It took him about 15 years to end his wife's life.
"He didn't walk away" ??
I consider finding youself a new honey and moving in with her and having a child with her to be "definitely" walking away.
He should have the Florida Death Sentence Award, not some distinguished health award.
........ much more appropriate.
whaa-aaat?
I agree. This thread is a crock.
Just giving us the finger, that's all.
What the hell is wrong with Florida? Some legal society gave Judge George Greer some award for his "stellar" work in killing Terri Schiavo. I hate to paint what's essentially a red state with the brush, but there's something horrifically sick within the state of Florida.
Looks like I missed the "spell check" button...sorry.
This is a lawyer front group. And Florida has the most corrupt judiciary in the US.
I nominate Adolf Hitler for Distinguished Guardian of All Time. He was 'guardian' for over 6 million Jews in their socialist government healthcare system. He cared for them very much. They were treated better than that Schiavo woman. At least the Jews had food and water until they were lead to the ovens.
/sarcasm
My2cents, for what its worth my 2 cents will never be spent in Florida and hopefully a lot of others will join me. That place is corrupt beyond measure.
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