BRAIN-INJURED WOMAN WAS STARVED AND DEHYDRATED TO DEATH BY JUDGE’S ORDER
by Sharon Rondeau
(Mar. 30, 2012) — Today has been named “Terri’s Day” by the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. Schiavo passed away on March 31, 2005, after her husband Michael won a drawn-out court battle to have her feeding tube removed.
At age 26, Terri collapsed from cardiac arrest, the cause for which was undetermined, and she suffered neurological damage.
The Network is a non-profit with the purpose of “helping persons with disabilities and the incapacitated who are in or potentially facing life-threatening situations. Incorporated in 2001 to fight for the life of Terri Schindler Schiavo, the focus of Terri’s Life & Hope Network now and in the future is to help others avoid tragedies that reflect what Terri endured.” A national day of prayer has been established for Terri and to bring attention to neurologically-impaired persons vulnerable to others’ medical decisions made on their behalf.
It was reported that Michael Schiavo had refused access to Terri’s room to her parents, who wanted to be with her just before her death.
Terri’s brother Bobby and sister have been publicly speaking about the value of human life and “bioethics” since their sister’s death at the age of 41. Terri was the eldest sibling of Robert and Mary Schindler. Terri’s father passed away in 2009.
A Law of Life Summit is being held this weekend beginning today at the Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, FL. Its organizer, Royce Hood, stated that the purpose of the summit is to gather “pro-life leaders, community members and students to create measurable and achievable objectives for defending life from conception until natural death.”
Some people considered Terri a “human vegetable,” but the family did not agree. Medical personnel who treated Terri reportedly affirmed her ability to swallow. Then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush had voiced support for Terri to be allowed to live.
On March 21, 2005, a Palm Sunday Compromise was passed by Congress on an emergency basis which allowed Terri’s parents to petition a federal court to review whether or not Terri’s constitutional rights had been violated, but two federal judges refused to intervene.
This writer had exchanged an email with Terri’s father, Robert Schindler, while Terri was still alive, regarding rehabilitation possibilities at The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) in Philadelphia, which has had success with brain-injured children. Mr. Schindler had responded that he was familiar with The Institutes’ program but that Terri’s husband Michael would not permit her to undergo any rehabilitation.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), or “Obamacare,” is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court as to its constitutionality after three days of oral argument this week. The bill reportedly contains provisions for “pulling the plug” on the elderly and infirm in the name of “end-of-life counseling.”
When Terri Shiavo was killed by Judge Greer denying her water, I posted the webpage terrismurder.com in her memory. Just one page. Murder is a strong word. But it was murder.