Terri Schiavo’s Parents File Emergency Motion To Prevent Her Death

Terri Schiavo’s Parents File Emergency Motion To Prevent Her Death

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 18, 2003

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — The parents of a woman whose husband wants her to be removed from a feeding tube keeping her alive have filed an emergency motion with the Florida Supreme Court hoping it will intervene to prevent her death.

The motion, filed by attorney Pat Anderson, seeks a stay to keep a state appeals court from setting a date on which Terri Schiavo’s life would be taken. It comes less than a week before a stay issued by the appellate court is expected to expire.

Schiavo’s parents and siblings hope the court will issue the stay while it decides whether to review the main lawsuit.

They believe Judge George Greer of Pinellas has shown bias in favor of Terri’s husband Michael, who wants to end her life. Greer issued the original ruling saying Terri should be removed from life support.

"Though video evidence has been submitted of Terri responding to doctors and family members, Judge Greer has determined her responses to be reflexive or ‘inconsistent,’" Pamela Hennessy, a representative of the family, told LifeNews.com.

The family is also seeking assistance from Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) and the Attorney General Charlie Crist in the case. Approximately 22,000 petitions asking the Governor to intervene have been signed and submitted to the Capitol.

Last week, Terri was removed from hospice care to a Clearwater, Florida hospital under questionable circumstances.

Terri Schiavo fell into a coma after collapsing in 1990. She was deprived of oxygen to her brain for several minutes, causing brain damage. She receives nutrition and hydration via a feeding tube but is receiving no other life-support measures.

Michael has petitioned the Florida courts to remove her feeding tube, stating she wouldn’t want to be kept alive artificially. Terri’s parents and siblings have, for years, tried to block his efforts, citing 13 physicians who say Terri can recover with proper
therapy.

Michael is accused of wanting to cash in on an insurance policy and already is living with another woman, while still married to Terri, and has had a child with her.