Legislature Acts To Save Schiavo

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | Oct 21, 2003 | ALLISON NORTH JONES and ELAINE SILVESTRINI

[Rutles4Ever]

Sort of. It still has to go before the Senate. Meanwhile, Terri's organs are shutting down...

[UCANSEE2]

Thank You God, and to everyone involved on FR, and to The Florida Senate for listening and responding so quickly.

Please keep her going until she gets hooked back up. In your hands, God.

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

[jmc813]

If Bush can pull this off, he'll be getting a decent sized contribution to his re-election campaign from this non-Floridian.

[EggsAckley]

Tick tock, Jeb.

[ChemistCat]

What? But we're "turning democracy on its head here." /sarcasm

[chiefqc]

First came the murder of defenseless babies, next the defenseless sick, next comes the defenseless elderly, then the handicapped, then the ones who don't look the same as everybody else, then comes those who do not conform to a standard, then comes the etc, etc., etc..

DOES ANYONE GET THE POINT?

[conservativecorner]

Dear God please right this hideous wrong that humanists have wrought!

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.waragainsttheweak.com/

[tgbluesky]

Isn't it odd that Governor Bush can commute the death sentence of a convicted person on death row, but is unable to commute the death sentence imposed by a judge on a helpless woman who has done nothing wrong? May God have mercy on this country.

[mattdono]

Just so everyone is aware, Jeb has been working vigorously on this issue. It is my understanding that he has been doing everything that he could to help Terri.

I know some people don't like Jeb and have angst built up for him being a Republican, a Bush, whatever, but he is a compassionate man and is doing everything possible.

As I continue to pray for Terri, I salute you, Governor Bush. Sign that law as soon as it comes to you and have doctors standing by to provide the nourishment that Terri needs.

[anniegetyourgun]

"If Bush can pull this off, he'll....."

Right. At least until one can find the next excuse to castigate and walk off in a huff - from that which they never intended to support anyway.

[blastbaby]

I get your point.

It was what drew me into this in the first place.

Even if we were to believe the husband, that she didn't want tubes... the act of starvation to death as a common way to inflict mercy is relatively new. And one that hasn't been debated/explored. There needs to be a process in place to ensure that something other than a pro-death husband and judge decide whether you live or die.

[Xenalyte]

Y'all who are there, please, PLEASE keep us posted! Prayers going Terri's way, and some for the wonderful FReepers keeping vigil!

[Samwise]

``This bill so oversteps our role, it not only sets a dangerous precedent, it turns democracy on its head,'' said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach.

How does the legislature fulfilling its role to pass laws turn democracy on its head?

It sounds to me like the legislature is simply placing a gubernatorial check on a right-to-kill judge.

[A. Patriot]

This should teach us all a lesson on the culture of death.

We all know about the pro-abortionist and some homosexuals who think it erotic to place themselves in a position to contract AIDS, but I never knew that there were so many people in power who are pro-euthanasia (pro death), even though it is illegal.

It seems in Florida the hospice industry pull a lot of influence. On other FreeRepublic threads I read that many of the people making the decisions in this case are associated with the hospice industry.

We need to beware of the culture of death and especially the hospice industry now that it has shown itself for what it really is.

[kancel]

Well this whole case stinks. I don't understand how a judge can rule on a case where being able to actually physically see the evidence is important when said judge cannot see. I don't understand how a judge can decide on hearsay that a woman would choose to die when she left no written directions to the fact. I don't understand how a judge can say no water when the law as currently written says that patients who agree to starvation may not be dehydrated. I don't understand how a man can take money that was supposed to go to his wife's rehab can take that money and use it on lawyers fees to try and kill her with the courts backing. I don't understand how the rogue judge can legislate in a matter the defies law as previoulsy written and yet everyone with a drop of power can keep their hands off saying they don't have the authority to do anything about it. I don't understand how no one has the power to stop the crime that has been committed in this case.

This woman's rights have been violated up one side and down the other and yet everyone says they can't stop it, they don't have the power. Even the legislature- who I thought was tasked with writing all these laws in the first place is sniveling they shouldn't be doing this.

Who the hell has the power to stop atrocities like this if not the government tasked with such. Has our government become that useless and dysfunctional?

[fqued]

you wrote; "Isn't it odd that Governor Bush can commute the death sentence of a convicted person on death row, but is unable to commute the death sentence imposed by a judge on a helpless woman who has done nothing wrong? May God have mercy on this country."

I want this bill to pass, but no, it isn't odd hat the governor couldn't do anything, and there is a very good reason why he can't

In Anglo-American law, you have an almost fundamental right to REFUSE any medical treatment. About the only exceptions are where you are withholding life-saving treatment from a child or with a pregnant woman who is carrying her baby to term.

In many states, if the person is unconscious or in a coma, advance medical directives are allowed and are followed, including those where a person is given medical power of attorney. In the absense of written advance medical directives, many states have a system for husband/wife/family to be medical proxy.

Ignoring this case for the moment, the system essentially enshrines that basic right to refuse medical treatment, even if it results in death.

Do you really want a governor to have the right to interfere with our rights? like, maybe, decide you can't say anything about abortion, or like, take away your guns, etc. etc.?

That is why the governor couldn't do anything before this bill, and this bill had to be worded carefully so that the courts wouldn't overturn it.

[fqued]

This woman's rights have been violated up one side and down the other and yet everyone says they can't stop it, they don't have the power. Even the legislature- who I thought was tasked with writing all these laws in the first place is sniveling they shouldn't be doing this.

Who the hell has the power to stop atrocities like this if not the government tasked with such. Has our government become that useless and dysfunctional?

Please see my post #17.

[BCHSgenuis1]

ok...