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Today in the Sixth Judicial Kangaroo Court - Michael Schiavo's Contempt Motion Heard in front of Judge Greer, Courtroom B
March 26, 2004
By Cheryl Ford, RN
Firstly, for those needing a refresher, this hearing was a rescheduling from a previous date in order to accommodate the schedule of attorney Deborah Bushnell, who represents Michael Schiavo. The original motion stems from a 1996 Court Order, which mandated Michael Schiavo to disclose any changes in Terri condition to her parents. Of course, as of this date March 26th, Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler are still not being given any information about Terri. Since Terri's move to Park Place assisted living located at 2750 Drew Street in Clearwater, it has become evident to the Schindler family that Terri's personal care has gone downhill. They have legitimate concerns and again today, they tried to elicit the help of the judicial system in an effort to help their daughter, Terri Schindler-Schiavo. In court today, I am again left speechless and incredibly angry with regard to what I have witnessed. I question, where is the justice in the state of Florida??? Michael Schiavo of course, was NOT present. I cannot help but wonder why Mr. Schiavo does not have to appear in court when he was up on a contempt motion? How many people do you know can be up on a contempt motion and NOT appear before the courts? Is it because Michael knows ahead of time that he will not be held accountable for any criminal actions as long he has Judge Greer covering for him? The outcome of Judge Greer's ruling was an outrage and blatant evidence of the corruption with regard to Terri Schiavo's situation. If I had not sat there and heard and seen it all myself, I would not have believed that once AGAIN Judge Greer IGNORED the contempt Motion; a contempt of court which clearly revealed that Michael Schiavo has not provided any medical information to the Schindler's about their daughter. Judge Greer essentially has said that because he was not Judge Pennick, who was the original judge who filed the motion in 1996, which stated Michael needed to provide medical information to the Schindler's, that he would need to review what was said and would wish for the Schindler and Schiavo attorney's to open discussion about its interpretation. Greer basically used this as an excuse to ignore and excuse Michael Schiavo from the contempt motion. Deborah Bushnell, attorney for Michael Schiavo, had the audacity to stand before the court and tell Judge Greer that the Schindler's have been given information, but that they are never satisfied and always want to ask more questions. Basically, my interpretations of Bushnell’s snide remarks is that she was stating to the judge that the Schindler's don't have a right to ask about the child that they brought into this world. Bushnell essentially said that they also don't have the right to ask more than one question, or to receive clarification when it is needed. And, if they are "fortunate" enough to get one answer to a medical question or concern that they have about their daughter...they should be satisfied and not ask any more. Bushnell also had the NERVE to come right out and state to Judge Greer that even if they decide to open discussion with regard to what the Schindler's should have a right to know, she would argue what their limitations or knowledge to know about Terri should be. Deborah Bushnell in my opinion is a blatant liar because of her stating the Schindler's have been provided medical information. The fact is, they have not been provided medical information and this is why they brought a contempt motion against Michael before the courts. I personally feel that Bushnell is on a mission to assist Michael Schiavo in seeing Terri die. I also have questions as to why Mr. Gibbs, attorney for the Schindler's did immediately file a motion for an injunction to take Terri out of Park Place Assisted Living.
Terri needs to be placed in protective custody, as any individual would do if they had reason to believe a disabled patient was not being properly cared for, or furthermore, was in a path of someone attempting to bring harm to them. While the courts continue to procrastinate and avoid bringing up charges against Michael Schiavo, let it be known that Terri continues to lie in a facility where there is no supervision over the nurses -- who are not providing her proper care. On two occasions in the past few weeks, both Bob and Mary Schindler have told me that they asked why Terri's hair was oily and not washed.
They have questioned why she was not taken out of bed, or dressed.
They have questioned why she had a sudden unexplained bout with vomiting.
They questioned what happened to one of her teeth; why was it missing. They now want to know why Terri has a decubitus ulcer on her buttock? An ulcer, which would most likely not be present if proper nursing care was being given to Terri. However, they are not given answers by the nursing staff or by anyone else. I cannot help but to find the situation here in Clearwater the most appalling and blatant disregard for human life in my entire 25 years in the medical profession. Am I angry? YOU BET! To date, Woodside Hospice has spent approximately $125,000.00 to hire police officers to stand inside Terri's door and watch Terri so that her parents -- the parents who brought Terri into this world -- don't give her anything that could help her to feel comfortable. The police officer watches Terri so that the Schindler's don't take Terri from her room for a walk in the sunshine. How can any person who knows this and who resides in the United States of America agree to such blatant criminal and communist actions brought upon another human being? Even those folks, who for whatever absurd reasons aren't in agreement with the Schindlers, who argue that Terri should die, cannot, I feel sit back and tell me that if their loved one was actually dying over a terminal disease, they would leave them to rot in a bed and not provide them with basic comfort measures. The situation in Florida is out of control. On Wednesday, I attended a meeting in St. Petersburg at the Center for Independent Living where Assistant Attorney General Shanika Graves, was in attendance. I personally sat across from Shanika and asked her to please help Terri. I asked, that if she could not help this blatant situation of abuse against a disabled innocent woman whose husband is out to kill her, that she refer me to another agency who could help in this untenable situation. She agreed to do so. Yesterday, on March 25th, I received a voice mail message from a man named Tyrone in Ms. Graves office at 954-712-4607. He said that the attorney general's office "Charlie Crist" had sent out an opinion stating that they had no jurisdiction over anything that had to do with Terri Schiavo. He then referred me to Governor Jeb Bush's office at 850-488-4441, stating that "Governor Bush has done a successful job in blocking problems that were related to Terri so far." If this was true... would Terri still be held hostage by Michael Schiavo and not receiving proper and basic patient care? I asked Tyrone to place what he had said to me on my voicemail in writing. He asked me to "hold on" and then came back on line and told me to call 850-414-3990, the Citizens Services Office. He said they could possibly tell me where I might find the statement that he had told me was sent out by the Attorney Generals office. Where or when does this all stop? I became involved with this case back in October when it became evident on the news that there was something very wrong here in the state of Florida. When it was obvious that for some unknown reason an innocent life was about to be taken. I, as a nurse and an American Citizen have NO DOUBT about the corruption and injustice that is going on with Terri Schindler-Schiavo. I don't have reasons or answers as to why it is happening. I just know that as a Registered Nurse and concerned American citizen there is something very wrong! I implore all of those who read this to PLEASE ... help the Schindler's. Please become involved. Those of us here in the state of Florida are witnessing a crime and cannot help them without the help of others in mass numbers. I ask that in the interim of us forming a coalition of dedicated people who are fighting to help Terri, that you please call the state abuse line at 1-800-96-ABUSE and ask for them to follow up with an investigation regarding lack of care for Terri. We need your help! The Schindler's need your HELP! Terri needs your HELP! Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Respectfully, Cheryl Ford RN Contacts: Florida’s Attorney General, Charlie Crist The Capitol PL-01 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050 Main office telephone numbers Switchboard: 850-414-3300 Citizens Services: 850-414-3990 Fax: 850-410-1630 http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact Present and Representing the Schindler's: Attorney's Pat Anderson, David Gibbs and Barbara Keller 5666 Seminole Blvd., Suite 2 Seminole, FL 33772 727-399-8300 Fax: 727-398-3907 Present and Representing Michael Schiavo: Deborah Bushnell 204 Scotland Dunedin, FL 33755 727-733-9064 Scott Swope, Attorney at law 727-797-3900 Where Terri presently resides: Park Place Assisted Living 2750 Drew Street Clearwater, Florida 727-799-2177 |