Terri Schiavo’s Husband Continues Withholding Information, Judge Delays Ruling
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 26, 2004
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — A judge has again delayed a decision on a contempt motion filed against Terri Schiavo’s estranged husband Michael for refusing to make information available to Terri’s parents about her medical condition. A decision is expected in the coming days.
Judge George Greer, on Friday, heard a motion filed by Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who argue they are not receiving court-mandated information about Terri’s medical status.
Greer declined to rule whether or not Michael is violating a court order but said he would do so within the next few days.
Bobby Schindler, Terri’s brother, told LifeNews.com regarding the delay, "I feel as if Judge Greer is blatantly ignoring a very clear and concise court order."
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 if there is a "significant change" in Terri’s condition.
At the Friday hearing, Greer said he thought the court should revisit the 1996 order, issued by another judge, to reevaluate the meaning of the term "significant change."
"What about ‘change in medical condition’ requires interpretation," Schindler asked.
"With every hearing, it gets more obvious to me that this judge is working to insulate Michael Schiavo and, in the process, is causing harm to my sister and torturing my parents. God have mercy on other parents of disabled people in this jurisdiction," Schindler told LifeNews.com.
Terri’s family is still not receiving information regarding her medical condition, but Michael’s attorneys claim he is following the court orders.
In February, Terri began vomiting and the Schindlers 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 there told the Schindlers they were under orders from Michael’s attorneys not to divulge any information.
Earlier this month, Michael’s attorneys refused to agree to a hearing time, which prompted Judge Greer to "scold" them and he set a time himself.
Pat Anderson, attorney for Terri’s parents, presented evidence to Judge Greer showing that she offered three separate hearing times to Michael’s attorneys and they replied that none were suitable. They did not offer Anderson any other preferred time for the hearing.
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
Terri Schiavo’s family – https://www.terrisfight.org
