Governor Bush seeks to collect evidence in Terri Schiavo case - Appeal filed in Schiavo v Bush

 

 
(Note from Gordon Wayne Watts: "Bush also questioned whether Terri Schiavo would want her husband being in charge of her "end-of-life decisions" if she knew he was living with another woman and had two children with her." Pretty good question. Here's another: Why would the judge NOT disqualify Michael for this living arrangement when it is, in fact, against the law in Florida? How can a spouse be considered 'next of kin' when that spouse has had another family for NINE years? "George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo, called the issues raised by the governor irrelevant or already decided upon." Mr. Felos is an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and who is a member of the Bar Association. I'm assuming his designation carries with it certain duties to uphold, respect and observe Florida law, yet, in this case -- he considers the law 'irrelevant'?)

 

 
January 21, 2004

 

 
Associated Press
 
The Miami Herald
 
One Herald Plaza
 
Miami, Florida 33132
 
305-350-2111 or 1-800-437-2535 (HERALDS) Editorials: 305-376-3512
 
 
To submit a Letter to the Editor: HeraldEd@herald.com

 

 
[Florida] Governor Jeb Bush has asked an appeals court to be allowed to question witnesses and collect evidence to defend his right to keep a brain-damaged woman alive.

Terri Schiavo, 40, who doctors say is in a persistent vegetative state, has been the subject of a long legal battle between her husband, Michael Schiavo, who has sought to disconnect the feeding tube keeping her alive, and her parents, who want to take care of her.

Michael Schiavo is challenging the constitutionality of a law that allowed Bush to order her feeding tube reinserted six days after it had been removed in October.

In Tuesday's filing with the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Bush wants to know why Michael Schiavo was able to win a "seven-figure award" in a medical malpractice case over his wife's 1990 heart failure without telling the jury about her alleged wishes not want to be kept alive with a feeding tube.

"Why did Mr. Schiavo present evidence regarding the cost of a long-term life care plan during that civil case when he knew that his wife wouldn't want to live under those circumstances?" the pleading states.

Bush also questioned whether Terri Schiavo would want her husband being in charge of her "end-of-life decisions" if she knew he was living with another woman and had two children with her.

A probate judge addressed similar issues before allowing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed.

George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo, called the issues raised by the governor irrelevant or already decided upon.

 

Information from: Tampa Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com

 

Copyright 2004, The Miami Herald. 



http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/7759302.htm

http://reports.tbo.com/reports/schiavo/



"First, they [Nazis] came for the Jews. I was silent. I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists. I was silent. I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists. I was silent. I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me. There was no one left to speak for me." (Martin Niemoller, given credit for a quotation in The Harper Religious and Inspirational Quotation Companion, ed. Margaret Pepper (New York: Harper &Row, 1989), 429 -as cited on page 44, note 17, of Religious Cleansing in the American Republic, by Keith A. Fornier, Copyright 1993, by Liberty, Life, and Family Publications.