Capitol News Service: Schiavo Bill

[ryban]

The Florida Legislature returns to Tallahassee one week from today for the start of the 2005 session and it looks like Terri Schiavo’s case will be on the front burner.

Lawmakers will be voting on a bill that would forbid the removal of any feeding or hydration tubes unless the patient requests it in writing. Governor Jeb Bush says he hasn’t had a chance to look at the bill or speak with the sponsor…… but he likes the idea.

"I’ve seen just the basic outlines of the bill. It uh, I would be supportive of that. Whether that’s the best way to go to garner the quickest support in the legislature to deal with cases like Terri Schiavo’s case, I don’t know. That’s work in progress for the next week,” says Governor Bush.

<snip>

http://www.flanews.com/news6.html

[David Dunham]

1. Republican scum

[SW FL Dem]

2. I think I read somewhere that this law would not

be retroactive. Sorry no link.

[Kagemusha]

3. It won't help! The legal guardian for all purposes IS the person.

That's where the 'legal' part of legal guardian comes from.

They're still screwed.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Would that mean that children would now be able to decide

for themselves if they want those devices removed?

What about senior citizens that decide that they no longer want to live? Will they be allowed to commit suicide by this means? Will it now be legal?

[LostInAnomie]

4. Isn't there something in the Constitution about Ex Post Facto laws.

Of course there is something in there about separation of church and state too. So I guess it doesn't matter.

I guess they don't care about this woman languishing in a hellish prison she can't escape.

[Benhurst]

5. The Constitution? Oh, yeah, that old thing. As if that matters any more

in BushAmerica, or ever did in BushFlorida.

[daleo]

6. I hope they write in a "void once dead" clause.

Otherwise there will be corpses attached to feeding tubes all over Florida.

"Um, shouldn't we bury that one?"
"Not until we get in writing from the corpse."

[Kagemusha]

7. I know, I know...

This is getting ridiculous.

[booksenkatz]

8. What about children? Or those with Down's Syndrome or other

mental impairment? What about a quadruplegic (sp) who is unable to write? I guess if they ever are reduced to a vegetative state, they'll just have to suffer because they didn't file formal, handwritten legal requests beforehand, eh?

[Erika]

9. These extremists are disgusting in using Terri

for their own political agenda.

Dr. Dean was right when he called them evil. I will add they are also ghoulish in their hype to keep a shell functioning.

They also are damaging the sanctity of marriage.

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Why are DUers so anxious to see Terri Schiavo dead?

You all argue she is brain dead and feels no pain so why the hurry to bury her? Why not let her live out her life? There's no evidence that she's suffering and she has parents and siblings who want to care for her as long as she lives.

She did not put her wishes in writing so we only have hearsay as to what she would want.

(BTW, I don't object to people refusing extraordinary measures to extend their own lives. )

[KingoftheJungle]

12. Its a waste of resources and hospital space, and $$$

The last thing this country needs is a bunch of brain-dead meat popsicles living out decades on life support for no damn reason other than to keep their hearts pumping blood. Move aside and make way for the living

[northzax]

18. because everyone close to her

except her parents has stated, under oath, that they had heard her say that she would not want to be kept alive in a vegetative state. If that wasn't the case, I'd say we have to default on keeping her alive by any means neccesary, but she was clear to everyone she knew that she didn't want it.

for the record, at 10:00 am this morning, following a family conference call to say goodbye, we removed my grandfather from life support. he died five hours later. So I do have a little recent experience on this.

[janx]

19. Very recent.

:hug:

[moobu2]

13. So, if you failed to write down that

you wouldn't want to be a veggie, on life support, you're family will be obliged, no forced, by law to go bankrupt keeping your corpse warm.

Sick bastards.

[janx]

14. So they're going to try and rush through emergency legislation

again?

Unbelievable.

[janx]

15. Media seeks access to Schiavo file

CLEARWATER - A judge has set a hearing for today to determine whether to make public a court document in which the Department of Children & Families is seeking last-minute intervention in the case of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo.

Circuit Judge George Greer set the hearing after the company that owns the Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV sued to get access to the DCF petition. Lawyers say the state social service agency wants to investigate possible abuse of the severely brain-damaged woman by her husband who is seeking to remove the feeding tube keeping her alive.

The Tribune and television station argued that usual privacy concerns don't apply because of the extensive litigation and media coverage of the plight of the woman's parents to keep her alive. They also say the public has a right to scrutinize the DCF's actions in the Schiavo case.

"The extraordinary public interest in this proceeding is heightened by the executive branch's continuing efforts to inject itself into this controversy," the filing said.

(More at link)

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/11026681.htm

[ernstbass]

16. This is so unethical

These idiots will stop at nothing to promote their agenda. It sickens me.

[janx]

17. Then you're not going to believe THIS:

Last rites, cremation part of Schiavo battle

Lawyers for Terri Schiavo's parents file motions on several end-of-life issues.

(snip)
--Allow select media to visit Schiavo with the family to "memorialize and celebrate her life and the unity of their family bond."

--Let Schiavo die at her parents' home rather than at a hospice.

--Allow Schiavo's feeding tube to be clamped shut rather than removed to provide for less trauma.

--Allow Schiavo's family free access to visit her as she dies, saying members were barred from visiting her the last time feeding was stopped in 2003. Felos said the family was free to visit her in 2003.

--Give the parents permission to videotape or photograph their daughter to preserve "precious memories." (snip)

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/01/Northpinellas/Last_rites__cremation.shtml