Governor Bush orders feeding tube reinserted into coma victim's body

[Chewbacca]

An abuse of power by people who think their morals are the only "right" morals.


Link

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Invoking a law rushed through the Legislature earlier in the day, Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday ordered a feeding tube reinserted into a brain-damaged woman at the center of one of the nation's longest and most bitter right-to-die battles. The bill was designed to save the life of Terri Schiavo, whose parents have fought to keep her alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she would rather die. The Senate voted 23-15 for the legislation, and the House passed the final version 73-24 only minutes later. Bush signed it into law and issued the order just more than an hour later. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed last Wednesday. Doctors have said the 39-year-old woman will die within a week to 10 days without food and water. After the Senate's vote, a cheer went up among about 80 protesters outside Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park. "We are just ecstatic," Bob Schindler said after Bush told him he would issue the order that will keep his daughter alive. "It's restored my belief in God." George Felos, a lawyer for Michael Schiavo, took steps to stop Bush even before the governor received the bill. He filed a request for an injunction if Bush issued an order. Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer denied it on technical grounds, but said Felos could refile the request. In the Senate, even some supporters of the legislation expressed concern about their actions. "I keep on thinking 'What if Terri didn't really want this done at all?' May God have mercy on all of us," said Senate President Jim King, a Republican. Lawmakers were already called to the Capitol for a special session on economic development when they decided to intervene in the case. Bush said he did not think lawmakers were motivated by politics. "This is a response to a tragic situation." Bush said. "People are responding to cries for help and I think it's legitimate." Opponents said government was stepping in where it had no business being. "I do not believe the governor of Florida should be making a decision of life and death rather than the next of kin," said Sen. Steven Geller, a Democrat.

[ 10-21-2003, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Skunk]

Given that the families are in dispute - I believe that this was a matter for the courts to decide: not for a politician.

Hmmm. I read the Cnn report today and IMO we can judge both ways. According to the news, their was an accusation that the husband was trying to collect on a 1 million dollar insurance and start a new relationship. But then again the comatose woman, according to the husband, said she did not want to be left on life support and wanted to die. The parents wanted her to remain on the support because there was a chance that she could rehab through it. Still too early for me to judge this one.

[Sir Taliesin]

Heard about this in depth on George Noory's show, Coast to Coast. His guest that night was Wesley Smith who is the author of the book "Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder." He was talking about this specific case. He basically accused the husband of trying to have his wife killed in order for him to collect the millon dollars that was set aside for her therapy and care. Apparently the woman never recieved the therapy. He put her in hospice and waited for her to die. He also implied that there might have been foul play in connection with her brain damage.

The husband has also been living with another woman, who had his baby a few years back and is expecting another one.

What the court need to do is provide the therapy for six months to a year and see if there is any improvement. If not, then let her die. If there is an improvement, then continue the treatment until she gets enough facilties about her to make her on desicion.

I'm not totally certain why the husband just doesn't divorce her and walk away. It sounds like he is already carrying on with his life.

[Timber Loftis]

Bush said he did not think lawmakers were motivated by politics.

I listen to a radio station that runs a "Dumbass of the Day" bit every morning. I wonder if this might be in the running?

[Night Stalker]

Originally posted by Sir Taliesin: Heard about this in depth on George Noory's show, Coast to Coast. His guest that night was Wesley Smith who is the author of the book "Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder." He was talking about this specific case. He basically accused the husband of trying to have his wife killed in order for him to collect the millon dollars that was set aside for her therapy and care. Apparently the woman never recieved the therapy. He put her in hospice and waited for her to die. He also implied that there might have been foul play in connection with her brain damage. The husband has also been living with another woman, who had his baby a few years back and is expecting another one. What the court need to do is provide the therapy for six months to a year and see if there is any improvement. If not, then let her die. If there is an improvement, then continue the treatment until she gets enough facilties about her to make her on desicion. I'm not totally certain why the husband just doesn't divorce her and walk away. It sounds like he is already carrying on with his life.

Don't forget that these are allegations. In twelve years, he has yet to be charged with a crime, let alone be convicted. The govenor showed very poor form here. And her parents need to get on with their lives as well. Now there may be reasons he just doesn't divorce her, but so what. Her parents are being just as selfish and petty as the guy is. Either way, it is very doubtful this woman will ever wake up, time to let the grieving being and let this whole case be put to rest.

In anycase, this is a matter for the courts, NOT the executive. Bad Bush! Bad!

[HolyWarrior]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chewbacca:
An abuse of power by people who think their morals are the only "right" morals.

That's how I feel about your liberal judges. 'Bout time a governor put the smack down on one. [img]graemlins/whackya.gif[/img]

[ 10-22-2003, 01:14 AM: Message edited by: HolyWarrior ]

[Chewbacca]

[quote]Originally posted by HolyWarrior:

Originally posted by Chewbacca: An abuse of power by people who think their morals are the only "right" morals. That's how I feel about your liberal judges. 'Bout time a governor put the smack down on one. [img]graemlins/whackya.gif[/img]

One of *my* liberal judges? Unless you are not an American, the correct term would be one of *our* liberal judges.

Well whatever, enjoy it while you can. Although I am unaware of the political leaning of the two+ courts that ruled this woman's body be taken off the feeding tube, I'm pretty sure the FL Leglislator's & Governor's new "law" will be challenged in court. I'm putting my money on this "law" being struck down. I read another article that had a quote of a FL lawmaker who voted for the "law" and even he questioned the constitutionality of it. The shame...lessness of it all.

[ 10-22-2003, 01:26 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Sir Taliesin: Heard about this in depth on George Noory's show, Coast to Coast. His guest that night was Wesley Smith who is the author of the book "Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder." He was talking about this specific case. He basically accused the husband of trying to have his wife killed in order for him to collect the millon dollars that was set aside for her therapy and care. Apparently the woman never recieved the therapy. He put her in hospice and waited for her to die. He also implied that there might have been foul play in connection with her brain damage. The husband has also been living with another woman, who had his baby a few years back and is expecting another one. What the court need to do is provide the therapy for six months to a year and see if there is any improvement. If not, then let her die. If there is an improvement, then continue the treatment until she gets enough facilties about her to make her on desicion. I'm not totally certain why the husband just doesn't divorce her and walk away. It sounds like he is already carrying on with his life.

Hmmm, I heard the exact opposite concering this case. That the husband stands to gain nothing from his wife's death and that many doctors have ruled that her vegtable state is terminal and beyond recovery. I don't recall anything about this woman recieving or not recieving therapy, but I do recall that money the husband has been alledged to recieve upon her death has already been spent on her care.

[Azred]

I have two words for all the people involved in this case or even those only moderately paying attention to this case: LIVING WILL. If you don't have one, then get one tomorrow...just in case.

The husband's decision should stand, because the decision involves his spouse. The wishes of the parents should not be considered, because they no longer have the legal authority to make decisions for her, unless she signed an appropriate power of attorney; part of getting married means breaking away from your parents. Despite the fact that my psychotic ex's mother was close to her children the doctors listened only to my ex's father, because as the spouse his was the only voice to whom they could listen (she had a massive stroke that resulted in coma and she was breathing only with the aid of a machine).

I hadn't heard anything about "mysterious" circumstances involving her original debilitating illness. If law enforcement investigated the case to the best of their ability and didn't find enough to bring charges, then there is nothing further of criminal nature to discuss. If this means that he gets to collect on an insurance policy, well that is what insurance is designed to do--protect the surviving spouse. If monies are to be used for therapy, then they aren't going to be spending very much because there is no therapy that will help someone who is in a lingering vegetative state; at that point only the hypothalamus is active so the only possible activities are breathing, pulse, digestion of food, and elimination of waste.