Terri Schiavo Judge Should be Impeached, Schindler Family Rep. Says

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 11, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo Judge Should be Impeached, Schindler Family Rep. Says Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 11, 2005

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — After a week in which Circuit Court Judge George Greer denied virtually every motion put forward by Terri Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and the state of Florida, a representative of the Schindlers says he should be impeached.

"If there is a single person following this who doesn’t believe Judge Greer has legislated from the bench, trampled Florida’s laws and deprived Terri Schiavo of her retained rights, they are simply not paying attention," spokeswoman Pamela Hennessy said.

She indicated that advocates for disabled and elderly "need to be calling for his immediate impeachment."

Hennessy said that three of Judge Greer’s actions violate Florida law and subject him to possible impeachment.

Greer ordered that the family of Terri Schiavo may not introduce oral nutrition and hydration following the removal of Terri’s gastric feeding tube. Hennessy says that violates Florida Statute 744.3215 that requires that incapacitated persons cannot be deprived of necessary services including food and water.

Greer ordered that no further neurological tests may be offered to Terri before her estranged husband Michael can start the painful week-long starvation process.

Hennessy argues that not allowing further tests to determine if Terri is in a persistent vegetative state violates Florida Statute 765.404. That law requires that a PVS state be determined before food and water can be withdrawn.

Florida law also prohibits mercy killing or assisted suicide and Hennessy says that killing Terri can be considered as such.

Greer also denied a motion to overturn the initial 2000 ruling allowing Michael to starve Terri to death. Part of his decision was based on his erroneous analysis of a conversation Terri had with a friend indicating she would not want food and water withdrawn.

Under Florida law, "clear and convincing evidence" of the patient’s intent must be determined and Hennessy argues that was not the case.

"The only evidence in support of removing Terri’s feeding tube was the self-serving hearsay testimony of her guardian," Hennessy said. "Greer systematically ruled that testimony from Terri’s friends and family was unreliable or not credible."

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