Terri Schiavo’s Parents Ask Supreme Court to Stop Starvation Death

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 17, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Parents Ask Supreme Court to Stop Starvation Death

Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 17, 2005

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Terri Schaivo’s parents on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to halt the starvation death of their daughter, scheduled to begin Friday, and to take their case seeking a new trial. The nation’s top court has twice previously denied taking the case under consideration.

Bob and Mary Schindler hope the high court will agree with their contention that killing Terri violates her religious liberties as a Catholic who opposes euthanasia. They also say that Terri’s due process rights have been abrogated because she has never had an attorney represent her interests in the decade-long legal battle between the Schindlers and her estranged husband Michael.

If the Supreme Court accepts the case, it could issue an emergency stay preventing the starvation from occurring. Michael is allowed to remove Terri’s feeding tube on Friday afternoon.

"Death by starvation and dehydration is neither quick nor painless" the Schindlers’ motion says. "A person who, like Terri Schiavo, is not terminal but is in good health will suffer and die slowly over an extended period of time."

Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy would determine whether or not the high court takes the case.

In the religious liberties argument, the Schindlers point to numerous statements by the Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II, who has called removing a patient’s feeding tube "euthanasia by omission."

A Florida appeals court on Wednesday refused to block the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube and schedule a new trial.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal also refused to grant a 60-day delay requested by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The state agency hopes to investigate more than 30 allegations of abuse and neglect of Terri at the hand of Michael.

The appellate court said that the issues the Schindlers raised were not new and have been heard before.

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