Free Republic

March 12, 2004 Today, Judge Douglas Baird denied the parents of Terri Schindler-Schiavo (Bob and Mary Schindler) intervention and participation in the constitutionality case of Terri's Law for the second time. Judge Baird had previously denied Terri's parents participation in November, 2003. Upon review of the courts previous order, the Second District Court of Appeals determined that: "In denying the Schindlers' motion to intervene, the trial court did not address either of the elements of the Morgareidge intervention rule. Although the order denying the Schindlers' subsequent motion for rehearing does use language that appears to acknowledge the Morgareidge rule by...

A LITTLE NOTICED LITIGATION in the United Kingdom could be a harbinger of medical woes to come here in the United States. Leslie Burke, age 44, is suing for the right to stay alive. Yes, you read right: Burke, who has a terminal neurological disease, is deathly afraid that doctors will refuse to provide him wanted food and water when his condition deteriorates to the point that has to receive nourishment through a feeding tube.

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The family of Terri Schiavo, on Tuesday, filed a contempt of court motion against Terri's estranged husband Michael. They say he is once again withholding information from them concerning Terri's medical condition, in violation of a 1996 court order. Last week, Terri began vomiting and Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, asked nursing and hospice staff what had caused it and what measures were being taken to treat Terri. Terri is currently living at Park Place Assisted Living Facility in Clearwater, Florida, and staff at the facility told the Schindlers that they were under orders from...

At the beginning of the famous Monty Python movie "The Search For the Holy Grail," there is a funny, if not macabre, scene of a ragged and lurching man pulling a cart through the streets of a plague-ridden village, calling to the villagers: "Bring out your dead, bring out your dead!" In response, a man leaves a small house with the body of a much older man slung over his shoulder. The older man is protesting, "I don't want to go in the cart." The younger man replies, "Oh, don't be such a baby." When the cart puller protests that...

ennis Jones will not soon forget it. How could he? The Legislature's phone system was down for three days. The fax machines wouldn't work. Such was the power last October of Christian conservatives, who lobbied to ram through the bill that let Gov. Jeb Bush order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. The phone calls, faxes and e-mails so overloaded the Legislature that the communications system broke down. They were victorious last year, but conservatives probably won't get a chance to do more damage this year. Jones, from Treasure Island, and the senate majority leader, won't allow it. He'll...

THE DAMNDEST THING JUST HAPPENED," an early morning caller who is close to the Schiavo case enthused on my voice mail. "The Second District Court of Appeal actually decided to start applying the law." That would be big news. One of the most outrageous aspects of the Terri Schiavo debacle has been the almost universal adherence by the trial and appellate courts to the "The Rule of Terri's Case," a term coined by attorney Pat Anderson, who represents Terri's folks, Bob and Mary Schindler: "If following a legal procedure will likely result in Terri dying, it will be adhered to....

TAMPA, Fla. -- "Terri's Law" was actually an appropriate label for the measure passed by the Florida Legislature last fall to save the life of brain-damaged woman Terri Schiavo. Lawmakers in special session crafted the bill so narrowly as to apply only to Schiavo's unique situation. At the urging of her parents, they gave Gov. Jeb Bush authority to order a feeding tube reinserted into her stomach, six days after her husband had it removed with court permission. The unprecedented government intervention into a right-to-die case attracted national attention, aroused strong emotions on both sides and brought to the forefront...

Press Release Statement of Schindler Family in response Lakeland Ledger Editorial Attorney George Felos admits to ?tens of thousands? of starvation and dehydration deaths. Clearwater, FL February 6, 2004 An editorial piece published online by the Lakeland Ledger of Lakeland, Florida entitled Lawmakers Intrude Into Family Privacy included a recent quote by attorney George Felos of Dunedin, Florida that the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation believes is cause for alarm. In the opinion piece that reports on Florida Legislative action to protect incapacitated people from starvation and dehydration, George Felos is quoted as saying: ?Because of the notoriety of the Schiavo case,...

Lawmakers Tackle Right-to-Die Debate ATLANTA (AP) -- The case of a brain-damaged Florida woman who has been the focus of a fight over whether she should die has inspired a bill in the Georgia Legislature. Terry Schiavo of Clearwater, Fla., had been kept alive artificially since 1990, and her husband said she would've wanted to be allowed to die. The tube was removed for six days in October, but then the Florida Legislature and the governor stepped in to have the tube reinserted and an independent guardian appointed for her. Schiavo is still alive. The case inspired a Georgia representative,...

The volunteers of TerrisFight.org have learned that supporters are planning a demonstration on the steps of the Criminal Court House in Clearwater, Florida to demand Pinellas County's State Attorney, Bernie McCabe, conduct a full investigation into charges of abuse against Terri Schindler-Schiavo by her guardian. If you would like to be a part of this effort, please join us in peaceful demonstration. 14250 49TH STREETCLEARWATER, FL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 TH& THURSDAY, JANUARY 8TH 4:00 - 7:00 pm Map to Location   -   Signs to Bring   -   Why this demonstration is so important

But scientific reality didn't matter. The governor and legislators were indulging in anti-science, like medieval potentates, hauling Terri into a political forum to appease their ignorant zealots.

Press Release Source: End-of-Life Choices End-of-Life Choices Launches Statewide Campaign Friday December 5, 11:20 am ET DENVER, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In an effort to encourage a national discussion about end-of-life choices, the nation's oldest and largest right-to-die organization will launch a national campaign Monday (Dec. 8) beginning in Tallahassee.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGAN946WQND.html From the Article: Senate Bill 692, introduced by Republican state Sen. Stephen Wise of Jacksonville, would prohibit courts from ordering feeding tubes removed from any mentally incompetent patient in Florida who doesn't have a living will or other advance directive stating otherwise. Experts predict fewer than 12 percent of American adults have living wills. Not so fast, King said. When asked Tuesday whether Wise's bill would get a hearing in the coming session, he abruptly answered, ``No.'' In the 1980s, King was the architect of Florida's right-to- die law, considered a national death-with-dignity model and touted by the Senate...

As you may already know, Gov Jeb Bush has not yet taken steps to protect the life of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. This is in spite of memorandums of law from several notable legal scholars ensuring him that he has the legal authority and obligation to do so. People in the Tallahassee area of Florida are encouraged to hold vigil at the capitol offices as well as the Governor's mansion. Signs and banners can be fashioned inexpensively and will assist you in getting your message across. Please spread the word. Thank you. -phenn-