Judge in Terri Schiavo Euthanasia Case Won’t Step Aside
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 10, 2003
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — Circuit Court Judge George Greer said Wednesday that he refuses to step aside in the battle over ending Terri Schiavo’s life. Terri’s family has filed a motion accusing Greer of bias in the case because he discussed it with the media and colleagues.
Greer called the parents’ motion "legally insufficient," and will proceed with setting a date on Thursday for Terri to be removed from a feeding tube that is providing her with food and water.
Bob Schindler, Terri’s father, said in the motion "I cannot possibly receive a fair, unbiased hearing before Judge Greer."
Also on Wednesday, Terri’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler asked Pinellas County State Attorney Bernie McCabe to call a grand jury to investigate the abuses by Michael Schiavo during the lawsuit.
The Schindlers say Michael has violated a 1996 court order requiring him to keep the Schindlers informed about Terri’s medical condition. Terri was hospitalized on two separate occasions for coughing up blood and a severe illness.
Pat Anderson, the family’s attorney, pointed out that the Schindlers had only learned of Terri’s admittance to the hospital after she phoned Michael’s attorney pleading for information.
They say Michael withdrew Terri early from a hospital and effectively denied her proper medical care. They say she didn’t fully recover from the illness.
McCabe may not help the family.
The Schindlers were disappointed he did not investigate a bone scan conducted on Terri in March 1991. The scan showed Terri was the victim of "previous traumas," indicating she may have been beaten or abused — possibly by Michael. McCabe said too much time had elapsed, and would not investigate.
Meanwhile, three nurses filed affidavits on Wednesday saying Michael has withheld proper medical care from Terri.
"He’s been trying to kill her — that’s the bottom line," said Carla Sauer Iyer, a 39-year-old registered nurse who cared for Terri Schiavo at a nursing home in 1995 and ’96. She says Terri has said words such as "Mommy," "help me" and "pain."
George Felos, Michael’s attorney, calls the nurse’s statements, "a bunch of garbage." He claims Michael has been insistent that Terri receive the best medical care possible.
Felos pointed to court records of other caregivers who say they have never seen Terri communicate. "It didn’t happen, it’s a fabrication."
Yet, videos on the parents’ web site clearly show Terri communicating with expressions to doctors and her parents.
On Tuesday, Felos filed a motion asking the 2nd District Court of Appeals to mandate that Greer order the immediate withdrawal of Terri’s feeding tube.
Removing Terri from the feeding tube would cause her death. Michael says that is her wish, but doctors for the parents say that Terri, with proper rehabilitation care, could recover. Terri Schiavo is on no form of artificial life support.
Michael Schiavo has been providing only maintenance care for his wife since receiving an insurance award that provided $300,000 to him for lost companionship and $700,000 to provide for his wife’s medical care and rehabilitation.
Michael is currently living with another woman with whom he has had a child, though he is still legally married to Terri.
Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s Parent’s Site – https://www.terrisfight.org
