President Bush: No Legal Options Left for Terri Schiavo

President Bush: No Legal Options Left for Terri Schiavo

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 23, 2005

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Bush told reporters on Wednesday that he has no legal options left to help Terri Schiavo's parents prevent their daughter's starvation death. Short of filing briefs to help them take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court or a full appeals court, there is little left the president can do, he said.

President Bush indicated that the Congressional bill he signed was the best idea his staff and Congressional leaders could come up with on how to help Bob and Mary Schindler.

"We felt like the actions taken with Congress was the best course of action," Bush said.

"Now we'll watch the courts make (their) decisions. But we looked at all options from the executive branch perspective," Bush explained.

"This is an extraordinary and sad case, and I believe that, in a case such as this, the legislative branch and the executive branch ought to err on the side of life," Bush added.

Later, according to an Associated Press report, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reports, "There really are not other legal options available to us. We have explored all our options previously."

Bush signed the bill Monday allowing Terri's parents to take their lawsuit to federal courts.

In a statement, Bush said he would "stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans, including those with disabilities."

"In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life," the president said.

Bush's signature came after the Senate approved the measure by a unanimous voice vote. House members scrambled back to Washington from their Easter recess and voted for it on a wide 203-58 bipartisan margin.