Gov. Bush to Seek Legal Options to Intervene for Terri Schiavo
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 15, 2003
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — Governor Jeb Bush, who has been rebuffed by the courts after previous attempts to help Terri Schiavo, has instructed his legal team to look for an 11th hour way to stop the removal of her feeding tube that is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Bush met with Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri’s parents, for 20 minutes this morning. He said staff attorneys are looking for some way to block the feeding tube’s removal though he doesn’t know what options may exist.
“We are going to seek whatever legal alternatives are available and seek the best minds to find another avenue to submit to the courts to see if there can be a change in this ruling,” Bush said to reporters Wednesday morning.
“I am not a doctor, I am not a lawyer, But I know that if a person can be able to sustain life without life support, that should be tried,” the governor said according to news reports.
Although the gastric tube provides Terri with food and water, she is not currently on artificial life support and is able to breath entirely on her own.
Bob Schindler, Terri’s brother, told the Associated Press he was delighted that Bush is trying to step in last minute to prevent Terri’s death.
“The family has not given up hope on Terri,” Schindler said after the meeting with Bush. “We have spoken to the governor, and he hasn’t given up hope either.”
Previously, Bush submitted an amicus brief on Terri’s behalf in an appeal the Schindlers filed in federal court recently. The court denied their motions to allow Terri to eat and drink on her own and to remove Circuit Court Judge George Greer from the case. Greer ordered the removal of the feeding tube.
A Florida appeals court on Tuesday gave the final stamp of approval for the removal of the feeding tube that is allowing Terri Schiavo to live.
Michael Schiavo’s attorney George Felos, an assisted suicide advocate, said, following the decision, "It certainly appears the legal options for the Schindlers are diminishing very quickly."
Related web sites:
Bob and Mary Schindler – https://www.terrisfight.org
