Florida Agency, Legislators Move to Save Schiavo

Florida Agency, Legislators Move to Save Schiavo

NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, March 10, 2005

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Florida's social services agency and Republican state lawmakers acted on two fronts Wednesday to block the March 18 removal of a feeding tube for a woman at the center of a contentious right-to-die case.

The Department of Children & Family Services sought to intervene in the case to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect by Terri Schiavo's husband, while Republican lawmakers crafted a bill requiring that incapacitated people be given water and nutrition unless a living will directs otherwise.

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Lawyers for DCF told Judge George W. Greer the agency wants as much as a 60-day delay in the removal of the feeding tube to investigate the abuse allegations.

DCF supervisor Susan McPhee testified the accusations include denying the severely brain-damaged woman some medical treatment and therapy, and isolating her in her room with the blinds closed.

"This is a heightened situation because we are talking about the life of Terri Schiavo," DCF attorney Kelly McKibben said.

'No Legal Right'

Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, argued DCF has no legal right to interfere and Greer has no jurisdiction to allow it. He said he believes the agency's last-minute attempt is politically motivated, especially since dozens of previous complaints to DCF have failed to yield any evidence of abuse.

"DCF is simply acting as an arm of the executive branch to try to undo a court order they don't like," Felos told reporters.

Greer said he would rule on the DCF request as early as Thursday.

In Tallahassee, a House committee approved a bill requiring doctors to provide nutrition and hydration to incapacitated patients who didn't leave an advance directive. It passed 7-4 on a party-line vote and still needs approval from two more committees before facing the full House.

Also Wednesday, Greer denied two motions by the woman's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. One asked for new medical tests to determine if the 41-year-old woman has more brain activity than previously thought. The other asked that the order allowing removal of the woman's feeding tube be thrown out because the judge mistakenly discounted the testimony of a witness during a trial to determine Terri Schiavo's end-of-life wishes.

Michael Schiavo contends his wife, who collapsed 15 years ago, suffered severe brain damage and would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents say she had no such death wish and believe she can get better with rehabilitation.

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