Jeb Bush supports therapy for brain-damaged Florida woman; feeding tube removal set Oct. 15

AP Wire (breaking story) | October 7, 2003 | VICKIE CHACHERE

[NYer]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Jeb Bush is arguing that a brain-damaged woman should be provided therapy despite a state judge's order to remove the feeding tube that has been keeping her alive.

In documents made public Tuesday, lawyers representing the governor argued that Terri Schiavo is entitled to therapy aimed at helping her swallow to determine if she can eat and drink on her own.

The brief, filed late Monday, argues that state law recognizes the persistent vegetative state Schiavo is in as different from having a terminal illness. ``Terri's right to life is violated by the state when the state, acting as her guardian, assumes that her wish to live without artificial sustenance is the same as her wish not to be fed at all,'' the governor's brief said. ``The fact that she is unable to give herself nourishment is not a symptom of a dying body. It is the result of severe injury and disability.''

The 39-year-old woman has been at the center of a long legal battle between her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo. She suffered severe brain damage following a heart attack in 1990. The parents want her kept alive; her husband says she never wanted to be kept alive artificially. A hearing is scheduled Friday.

George Felos, a lawyer representing Michael Schiavo, contends there is no provision in the court rules for Bush's brief and said he will file a motion to strike it from the record. ``I think it's a very poor precedent, and it's an unfortunate use of his authority by the governor trying to intervene in this case ... gives the impression that he is trying to put political pressure on the judiciary, and I think that's wrong.''

Pat Anderson, the lawyer representing the Schindlers, declined to comment on the filing. Court-appointed doctors have testified that Terri Schiavo's brain damage is so severe she cannot be rehabilitated. Her feeding tube is set to be removed Oct. 15.

The governor's filing in the Schiavo case is an opinion, not a formal intervention seeking to replace Michael Schiavo as his wife's guardian. Earlier this year, Bush had unsuccessfully tried to intervene in another case, asking an Orlando court to appoint a guardian for the fetus of a disabled rape victim.

On the Net: Terri Schiavo's parents: http://www.terrisfight.org/

AP-ES-10-07-03 1502EDT

[sfRummygirl]

Oh, man, what a day you had on this thread today!
Phenn, that 'only one woman' remark was awful. I'm so sorry you had to have that thrown at you. That wasn't fair, and it was abusive and cruel.
Folks, I want to talk a little bit about the death culture here. Because what you encountered here today is a really good example. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you already haven't figured out, though.
I am in death culture central. San Francisco. I get to see parades of people on a monthly basis, protesting. Well, it isn't so much 'protesting', as it is screaming out a cry for help.
The person who was crying out for help today on this site was just the same. She actually admitted at one point that she 'just didn't care'.
We are dealing with people who really, really need help. I don't know what happened to them in their family life to make them this way, but they truly are lacking alot of humanity.They act like children, because emotionally, most of them are.And this issue of terri really triggers some issues with some of them. Abandonment stuff, family stuff.....
I'm not saying we should pamper them, I just want all of us to take a deep breathe, and keep this in mind. Because we are in it for the long haul with these types. They will be there every step of the way. Not just with Terri, either.
I pray these people find good counseling.
By the way, if anyone is interested, there is a VERY good Christian-based counseling show on the radio. New Life Live, from New Life Ministeries. Check your am Christian radio stations, or www.newlife.com, I think. I think the boys are just wonderful.
Hang in there, everyone. I'm praying for all of you, too!;-)

[trustandobey]

I haven't read the whole thread yet in case you changed your mind, but want you to know Terri is not dead, she is very much alive, to her husbands detriment.Her parents are not sick, they are doing what God put parents on this earth for, to protect their children! The Good Lord has the power over life and death, not husbands who need their wives dead so they can get the insurance money and remarry, not judges who are so warped in their minds they are fascinated by anyone's death but their own, not doctors who just see you as one more patient they have to deal with, and definately not the government, who would get rid of anyone who would cost them anything, babies, old people, sick,mentally ill,
or anyone who happens to disagree with whoever is in office. I highly recommend that no one sign a living will, make it a point to write down what you want, tell your closest relatives, and pray that they are never faced with a situation to have to decide.

[trustandobey]

And you Hildy depend on food to survive also! May I recommend you try going without food or water for 15 days, and then post your comments? I'm not trying to be rude, I just want people to see that God gives life and He has the power to take it away. How dare anyone decide whose life is profitable and whose isn't? Terri's life is profitable for us, as she has opened our eyes to what the government is trying to do to not only Terri, but anyone they can.

[kimmie7]

All we're talking about is one woman.

And that, dear friends, is why the euthanasia movement has gained the ground it has -- and why it will continue to take hold if left unchallenged.

One woman changed the way our country lived forever. Her name was Susan B. Anthony.

One woman changed thinking in the south forever. Her name was Harriet Beecher Stowe.

One woman changed life in the south forever. Her name was Rosa Parks.

One woman changed the very face of Christianity when she decided to have a baby that was her 18th child. Her name was Susanna Wesley. (Charles Wesley)

One woman has changed countless lives through her testimony as a quadraplegic author, painter, and speaker. Her name is Joni Ericson Tada.

I am one woman. I hope I have made a difference for the better in this world. I continue to try.

I am 'just' one woman. So are you. And seven little words spells out our differences....All we're talking about is one woman.

[freeparoundtheclock]

Great 204, kimmie7. When we let activist courts decide who matters and who doesn't, then we are through as a country. If Florida must once again be the proving ground for moral and common sensibilities, I am ready for the challenge.

God Bless America and God Bless Florida's leaders. We must continue to pray, continue public awareness and I promised to contact the media today. I'll be back.

freeparoundtheclock

[Hildy]

I agree with you, but you really don't know this woman's preference now, do you?

[tracer]

"Gov. Jeb Bush is arguing that a brain-damaged woman should be provided therapy....."

Call it bi-partisan cooperation......

[freeparoundtheclock]

It's a scientific fact that people need to "go outside". Without being exposed to fresh air and sunshine, they can catch all kinds of maladies.

My mom isn't in top shape and after encouraging her for what seemed like years, she spends more time outside. She certainly looks healthier.

I wish Terri could be granted the enjoyment of her life which has long been denied. Judge Greer has "hell to pay" (borrowed from Barbara Olsen).

[Hildy]

Give me a break.

[presidio9]

There is a special room waiting in Hell for Michael Schiavo.

[kimmie7]

No. But I will give you some advice. If this thread upsets you, or you don't want to take part in civilized discourse -- don't visit this particular thread again. There. A break.

[Hildy]

I have done nothing but partake in civilized discourse. If you don't want any dissenting viewpoint, take this thread to chat.

[iowamomforfreedom]

There has been nothing remotely civilized in any of your comments.

I am convinced you are simply here to get a rise out of us. You seem to take enjoyment out of it. There is no way someone could be so coldhearted and continue to function in life.

Go take your meds.

[freeparoundtheclock]

This is an activism thread, NOT a DISCOURSE thread. May I suggest that you take yourself to yahoo? You belong in a kill Terri chat group. They'd love to have another member.

[freeparoundtheclock]

IGNORE DISRUPTORS. They thrive on attention. Remember we went through this before and that's resolved itself.

[Theodore R.]

Hildy is just the typical liberal who thinks that liberals should decide who live and who dies. Were Terri Schindler a prominent member of some organized interest group, I suspect that liberals would be rallying to her defense. But Terri is neither prominent nor a part of some organized interest group, and she may not even be liberal. So there are few of prominence willing to speak up for her "right-to-life." What a sad state of affairs in the good ol' USA.

[sfRummygirl]

Exactly.

[Hildy]

I'll leave you with this...I have taken care of sick people 24/7 for the last 5 years. When my brother was dying of cancer at the age of 42 I asked him if he was afraid. He was astonished, because he said that it wasn't dying that frightened him, it was the pain and the helplessness. I'll never forget that. We have different ideas of what compassion is. That's all. I just have a natural suspicion of people who butt into other people's lives and think they know best. Then when the cameras are gone...so are they.

[sfRummygirl]

It keeps going back and forth between 'good cop/ bad cop' doesn't it? Or in her case, good freeper/ bad freeper. Hate/feel bad for me. I don't care/I went through this myself. Who cares if she dies/ someone please listen to me.....

[Theodore R.]

We have different ideas of what compassion is. That's all. I just have a natural suspicion of people who butt into other people's lives and think they know best.

Oh no, what you just described is what liberals do. They claim a monopoly on "compassion" and maintain that only THEY are "caring" and "smart" enough to know who can get well and who cannot. The people trying to spare Terri's life are the true conservatives who believe that life is an unalienable right given from God and that it cannot be denied, in this case, by a hateful spouse, a misguided lawyer, and a monstrous judge.