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

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

[litany_of_lies]

Terri is dead and her parents are sick. The fight is over money not whether she is alive.

Even if I agree with your first sentence (which I don't), I would like some enlightenment as to what specific financial gain is in store for Terri's "sick" parents if they should save her and treat her.

[Salvation]

This sounds hopeful for Terri and for life.

[Theodore R.]

It was announced this week that a liberal group is challenging lethal injections for executions on grounds that the drug causes cruel bodily reactions that are not observant to the human eye. I wonder why this group is not also concerned with cruel bodily reactions from the removal of feeding tubes on the innocent.

[Ethan_Allen]

You are entitled to your opinion. I, for one, will pray you find a heart, and that you never find yourself in the Schindler's shoes.

http://www.catholicmediacoalition.com/euthanasia.htm#PrayerTrumpsPoliticsandEvilinaFloridaCourtroom

[Ohioan from Florida]

More rights for criminals than the innocent. Sick, isn't it?

[iowamomforfreedom]

One of the many problems of this case is the assumption by people like you that she HAS to be in this state. If her "husband" had been giving her therapy - with the MONEY HE WON FROM THE MALPRACTICE SUIT FOR THIS PURPOSE - who knows what her "state" would be right now.

I know, why should you believe me. Don't - ask Rus Cooper-Dowda.

[OldFriend]

Please don't ping me on this topic.

Allow me the courtesy of my opinion.

[syriacus]

Thanks for the wondeful report, NYer.

Thanks for the ping, Ragtime Cowgirl.

[syriacus]

Ruling to kill a Florida woman absurd

A decision by a circuit judge in Florida to remove a feeding tube from a woman who has brain damage but is conscious and responsive is an absurd ruling.

Terri Schiavo, 39, of Pinellas County had a heart attack in 1990, temporarily cutting off oxygen to her brain, and has been hospitalized ever since.

Her husband, Michael Schiavo, wants the tube removed and her parents want it to remain because they believe she has a chance of improving.

After five years of court battles, Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer agreed with Michael Schiavo and ordered the tube to be removed Oct. 15.

Experts say that it will take one to two weeks for Terri Schiavo to die from a chemical imbalance, basically starving and dehydrating her to death.

Terri Schiavo isn’t hooked to a machine, attempts to speak, wakes up and goes to sleep on her own, moves her eyes and is responsive to visitors.

It is one thing to unhook someone from a machine that is keeping them alive if they are in a coma for years, but to pull the plug on a person that has a chance of improving is quite troubling.

Florida law states “artificially provided sustenance or hydration are considered to be life-prolonging procedures that may be denied.”

Although Terri Schiavo is being fed through a tube, her life should not be terminated as long as the possibility of improvement exists.

Seven doctors have testified before the 2nd District Court of Appeals that Terri Schiavo’s idle cells might “wake up” with the right treatment.

These doctors wouldn’t be lying under oath about her chances of improvement.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who has the power to order a stay, has been following the case and will be making a decision on it soon.

We hope that he will find it in his heart to spare Terri Schiavo’s life.

Hers is a case that has very special circumstances.

Although no one can guarantee that she will improve, she deserves the chance to try.

[phenn]

>>Although no one can guarantee that she will improve, she deserves the chance to try.

There is it. That's the whole enchilada. She not only "deserves" a chance to try - she has a *RIGHT* to it.

[Palladin]

Get out those Rosaries, folks. If ever there was a time to intercede for an innocent human life, this is it.

This is the month of Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. I will be praying my beads every day for Terri.

[Theodore R.]

I am grateful that Governor Bush has issued his brief. Is he also asking to testify personally at the Oct. 10 hearing? I seemed to gather from his statement that he would like to testify. Does "testify" mean appear in person only, or does he mean merely the submission of this written brief.

Can Schiavo-Felos-Greer keep the governor's brief out of the court record?

I hope that he can reverse the decision to starve Terri, but we can be sure that Michael Schiavo will be in the governor's face on this.

It may be that the governor can do nothing else in this regard other than calling a special legislative session.

[Theodore R.]

Gov. Jeb Bush, who has the power to order a stay,

Is this true? If the governor can issue a stay order, why doesn't he do so now? Why would he NOT issue a stay order if he has the power.

[MistyCA]

"Pro-life". You betcha! And proud of it. Of course, I notice that you and the rest of the people who are not for life still breathe our air. I guess it's just other people's lives you do not support. Hmmmmm. Interesting.

[Theodore R.]

Joseph Farah's radio program on "Radio America" will cover Terri's fight NOW -- 5:30 Eastern Tuesday. Farah is very sympathetic to the Schindlers.

[MistyCA]

I also have a living will. But I would not want to be starved to death! There is a lot of difference between turning off breathing machines and failing to give someone food or water. I hope to God no one ever decides that you should be starved to death, and if they do, I hope you have no brain function and are not aware of pain. Terri is.

[Theodore R.]

Has anyone figured out how the wealthy Michael Schiavo has been able to keep his "wife" on Medicaid, health coverage for the "poor"? If he so "loves" her as he has proclaimed, why isn't he using his money for her "care"? How can he farm her out to Medicaid and then still exert total control over her lack of therapy?

[MistyCA]

You are absolutely right, imo. Starvation is cruel and unusual punishment that no one deserves! They wouldn't even do that to someone on death row! My gosh, if they want to kill Terri they should at least find a humane way to do it! This makes me sick.

[Theodore R.]

Farah spoke for about 10 minutes on Terri. He praised Governor Bush for intervening in the lawsuit. He declared the attempt to starve Terri as a husband trying to kill his wife with the support of the government.

Farah criticized other media commentators, specifically Bill O'Reilly, for not speaking out on Terri's fight. He vowed to discuss Terri each day henceforth. Farah may be unaware that O'Reilly has focused on Terri -- several weeks ago. Some though seemed to think that O'Reilly was not sympathetic to Terri's fight.

[Theodore R.]

Farah is now taking callers on the Schiavo case. A caller is now saying this is "a personal thing between a man and his wife." This caller is anti-Schindler. This caller said that he stopped feeding his infant daughter, who was comatose but not brain dead.