Guardian of The Year
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.
I recall one Freeper saying at the height of the Terri debacle that would never travel to Florida for fear that he might end up getting hauled up in front of one of their corrupt courts.
Who wants to have a judge in Florida appoint a guardian for them, from the Florida State Guardianship Association?
Show of hands.
Anyone?
Um, I'll put you down as a "No" vote.
Schiavo's narcissim knows no bounds. Wouldn't most people after making a life-support ending decision just want to be left alone?
LOL. (What else can you do but laugh - it's so tragic!!!)
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