Judge Will Hear Terri Schiavo’s Family’s Motion to Restore Visitation

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 14, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Judge Will Hear Terri Schiavo’s Family’s Motion to Restore Visitation

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 14, 2004

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — For a month and a half, the parents of Terri Schiavo have been prevented from visiting their daughter. They hope to change that by filing an emergency petition with Judge George Greer asking him to restore their visitation rights.

Greer, who previously authorized Terri’s estranged husband Michael to remove the feeding tube allowing her to live, has agreed to hear the motion.

The hearing is scheduled for May 26 and Greer has allotted 2 hours to consider the motion filed by attorney Pat Anderson on behalf of Bob and Mary Schindler.

Shortly after receiving the motion, Judge Greer, who presides over the guardianship matter involving Terri, refused to hear it on an expedited basis stating he does not consider this an emergency matter.

Following the suspicious discovery of puncture wounds on Terri’s arms on March 29, the Schindlers were turned away from visiting Terri by nursing staff who told them they were acting on Michael’s orders.

Last week, Deborah Bushnell, one of Michael’s lawyers, faxed a letter to Pat Anderson, an attorney for the Schindlers.

Bushnell said the Schindlers could visit their daughter, but only if they would agree to hire an off-duty police officer to accompany them. Should Terri’s parents fail to meet the request, they would continue to be denied visitation rights.

"This family is enduring a nightmare, all because of a staged incident," Anderson said. "Terri’s mother cannot even see her own daughter, comfort her, touch her or interact with her."

"It’s amazing to me that anyone would think Terri Schiavo deserves this form of punishment," Anderson explained. "For her to be confined and isolated in this fashion is something I find cruel and completely contrary to Florida statutes. Death row inmates get better treatment."

Clearwater, Florida attorney Jan Govan has filed to run against Judge Greer in his bid for re-election.

Govan has an uphill battle. He has yet to begin fundraising while Greer already has over $55,000 on hand, according to the Florida state election web site.

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s family – https://www.terrisfight.org