by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 23, 2005
Clearwater,
FL (LifeNews.com) -- Terri Shiavo's estranged husband Michael won't
be able to starve her to death until at least Friday, thanks to a decision
by Circuit Court Judge George Greer Wednesday afternoon.
Terri's parents Bob and Mary Schindler have been fighting a decade-long legal battle to save their daughters life and provide her the medical care and rehabilitative treatment Michael has denied her.
They lost their latest legal battle in a Florida appeals court where they argued starving Terri would violate her religious liberties as a Catholic whose church opposes euthanasia.
The Schindlers are appealing that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and need Judge Greer to issue another extended stay preventing Terri's die while their appeal moves forward.
The previous stay expired Tuesday and Judge Greer authorized its extension until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, in time for a hearing in his courtroom on the matter. The Friday extension allows the Schindlers more time to file legal motions.
Despite the latest ruling and pleas for Michael
to walk away, his attorney, euthanasia advocate George Felos, says that
won't happen.
"Even if Mr. Schiavo walked away,
the court would appoint an independent guardian who would carry out
Terri's adjudicated wishes," attorney George Felos said. "The
fact is, he is not going to walk away because he is resolute in carrying
out what her wishes are."
Michael claimed -- years after Terri's collapse and only after their estate was awarded a $1 million medical malpractice judgment -- that he remembered a supposed conversation where Terri indicated she didn't want extra measures taken to prolong her life.
However, a good friend of Terri's vividly remembers watching a television program with Terri about a woman who was in a coma for years. Terri was upset when she told a joke about the woman and said there was no way doctors or lawyers could know the woman's wishes.
"Where there is life, there is hope," Terri told her friend.
The money was supposed to be used to take care of Terri, but much of it has been used for Michael's legal bills and her parents say Terri has never received appropriate medical care or rehabilitative therapy.
The Schindlers want Terri's brother Bobby to be replaced by the courts as Terri's legal guardian.
Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo's family - http://www.terrisfight.org
