Terri Schiavo’s Family Files Contempt Motion to Obtain Terri’s Medical Info

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 25, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Family Files Contempt Motion to Obtain Terri’s Medical Info

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 25, 2004

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — The family of Terri Schiavo, on Tuesday, filed a contempt of court motion against Terri’s estranged husband Michael. They say he is once again withholding information from them concerning Terri’s medical condition, in violation of a 1996 court order.

Last week, Terri began vomiting and Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, asked nursing and hospice staff what had caused it and what measures were being taken to treat Terri.

Terri is currently living at Park Place Assisted Living Facility in Clearwater, Florida, and staff at the facility told the Schindlers that they were under orders from Michael’s attorneys not to divulge any information.

That prompted family attorney Pat Anderson to file a contempt of court motion against Michael.

A 1996 judicial mandate by the Pinellas County Circuit Court requires Michael to provide Terri’s family with current information concerning her medical condition and treatment.

"Michael Schiavo’s flagrant violation of the simple and understandable terms of the 1996 order is deliberate and contumacious," the motion says. "Its harm to the Schindlers is continuing in nature, but they are not the only ones harmed."

The motion says the Schindlers are concerned for their daughter because the vomiting "could result in aspirational pneumonia, a life-threating condition for a patient such as Terri, especially if left untreated."

Mary Schindler said she is worried that the positioning of Terri’s body during the tube feedings is a possible cause for the vomiting.

The 1996 court order required Michael to notify any future nursing home that provides care or medical services to Terri "that he has no objections to the nursing home discussing [Terri’s] medical condition with Robert Schindler or Mary Schindler."

The order also required Michael to provide the Schindlers with any neurological reports and to inform them of any "significant changes" in Terri’s medical condition.

Additionally, a court order in September of 2003 directed Michael to provide a discharge summary from Morton Plant Hospital to Terri’s parents. He has yet to comply.

Related web sites:
Contempt motion – https://www.zimp.org/documents/022404contempt.pdf

Court order requiring Michael to provide medical info –
https://www.zimp.org/documents/1996%20Court%20Order.pdf