Court Won't Intervene to Save Schiavo
TAMPA, Fla. - A state appeals court refused Wednesday to block removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, ending another battle in the long-running right-to-die legal fight between the woman's husband and her parents.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland turned down parents Bob and Mary Schindler on two key issues, leaving intact the scheduled Friday removal of the feeding tube.
The court refused to overrule Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer's denial of a stay while the parents pursued further appeals in the case. The court also declined to order a new trial, which the parents claimed was necessary because Terri Schiavo had not been given an independent attorney to represent her interests.
Schiavo, 41, has been at the center of a long-running legal battle between her husband, Michael, and parents.
She suffered severe brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped beating and oxygen was cut off to her brain. Doctors have ruled she is in a persistent vegetative state and Michael Schiavo has said his wife would not want to be kept alive artificially with no hope for recovery.
Her parents dispute that she has no mental cognition and say their daughter responds to them with laughter, smiles and tears.
Greer has granted Michael Schiavo permission to remove his wife's feeding tube at 1 p.m. Friday.
Citizen's arrest attempt of Schiavo, judge
Green Beret Bo Gritz intervened in Ruby Ridge to escort family to safetyWorldNetDaily | March 17, 2005
Former Green Beret Commander Bo Gritz is trying to conduct a citizen's arrest of Terri Schiavo's husband and the judge who ordered the brain-damaged Florida woman's feeding tube removed so she can be legally starved.
The 66-year-old retired Army Lt. Colonel with his wife, Judy, arrived in Florida from their home in Nevada yesterday with the intent of arresting anyone involved in removing the life-sustaining tube.
Gritz came bearing a notarized "citizen's arrest warrant" addressed to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Attorney General Charlie Crist.
His intent is to "paper" state and federal law enforcement offices with his warrant today – one day before Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer's deadline to begin denial of food and water to Terri Schiavo.
Gritz says the "arrest" is designed to allow officials additional options as the Florida governor and legislature maneuver to save the woman from starvation.
