Posted March 18, 200520 yr House to issue subpoenas to keep Terry Schiavo alive WASHINGTON (AP) ? In a last-ditch effort to save Terri Schiavo's life, a House committee plans to issue subpoenas Friday to stop doctors from removing the severely brain-damaged woman's feeding tube. The extraordinary legislative maneuver comes after the House and Senate failed to agree on legislation to keep the woman alive before leaving Washington for their spring break. House officials hope that the subpoenas will stop doctors from removing Schiavo's feeding tube at 1 p.m. ET Friday. "We will issue a subpoena which will require hospice administrators and attending physicians to preserve nutrition and hydration for Terri Schiavo to allow Congress to fully understand the procedures and practices that are currently keeping her alive," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis said in a statement. "The subpoena will be joined by a Senate investigation as well. "This inquiry should give hope to Terri, her parents and friends, and the millions of people throughout the world who are praying for her safety. This fight is not over." The subpoenas from the House Government Reform Committee, which spent most of Thursday hearing from baseball players and officials about steroids, is the latest twist in the long-running right-to-die drama. The U.S. Supreme Court had rejected on Thursday attempts by Schiavo's parents and the state to postpone the removal of her feeding tube and Florida lawmakers could not agree to legislation that would have stopped the removal of the feeding tube. The House and Senate also could not come to an agreement on legislation to deal with the Schiavo case, although Republicans and Democrats spent much of the day talking behind closed doors trying to come up with a solution. "We've been going nonstop on this all day long," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said before the House announcement, which came after midnight. "Letters are being written and sent out. We're not giving up and we're not going to give up." It was not immediately known what effect the subpoenas will have on Friday, when the court order to remove the feeding tube takes effect. "We feel that we're on comfortable ground given the federal government's interest in long-term care," Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean said Friday morning. Earlier, David Gibbs, attorney for Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, had said: "Everything is a long shot." Gibbs said that he would ask a federal judge in a habeas corpus filing Friday in Tampa to block the removal and review the actions of state courts. Such appeals are most commonly used in death penalty cases when legal appeals have been exhausted; they require the government to justify its actions. "We are going to ask him to issue a stay because in this case, state action would be used to end the life of an innocent, disabled woman," Gibbs said. The Florida attorney general's office usually defends the state against habeas filings. A call to the office late Thursday seeking comment was not immediately returned. Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance, and court-appointed doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents dispute that, and say she could get better. "It would be such a horrible tragedy for Terri to have this delayed again," said George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo. "Either Terri's rights and wishes are going to be carried out tomorrow at 1 p.m. or there is going to be another unconstitutional intervention." Doctors have said it could take a week or two for Schiavo to die once the tube that delivers water and nutrients is removed. Republican Gov. Jeb Bush has strongly urged the Legislature to pass a bill that would save Schiavo, as it did in 2003. That law allowed Bush to order doctors to restore Schiavo's feeding tube six days after it had been removed. But that law was later declared unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court. Bush acknowledged Thursday that state legislation to intervene was halted. "The bill is certainly not dead, but it does appear that they're having some difficulty," he said. "I'm just disappointed, but that's their decision." The state Senate could consider the House version of the bill on Friday, but the bill's sponsor in the upper chamber, Republican Sen. Daniel Webster, suggested there was so little support that he might withdraw it. "I can count votes," Webster said. In Washington, both the House and Senate passed bills to move the case to federal court, but the effort stalled over differences between House Republicans and members of both parties in the Senate over how sweeping it should be. Schiavo's parents and brother spent the day in the Capitol lobbying lawmakers to pass some kind of legislation. House Republicans insisted that federal courts be given jurisdiction in similar cases questioning the legality of withholding food or medical treatment from people incapacitated like Schiavo. The Senate limited its bill to the Schiavo case only. By the time senators passed their legislation Thursday, many House members already had headed home for Easter and each side sought to blame the other for the stalemate. The U.S. Supreme Court, meanwhile, denied a request from Schiavo's parents to stop the removal of the feeding tube so lower courts could consider whether their daughter's religious freedom and other rights have been violated. The state Department of Children & Families had requested a delay in the removal of the feeding tube while the agency investigates allegations Terri Schiavo was abused, but Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer, an appeals court and the state Supreme Court denied the request Thursday. The White House was cautious Thursday not to comment on any specific legislation. Yet in a statement, President Bush left little doubt where he stands. "The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues," he said. "Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern." Also, sucks to state rights as well.
March 18, 200520 yr So you want this lady's feeding tube removed? Do you realize how inhumane that is? She wont die of starvation, she will die of thirst and dehydration. It is an extremely painful way to die. Just because she cant communicate with someone using the language, doesnt mean she doesnt feel pain and wont suffer.
March 18, 200520 yr Author She has no cerebral cortex. Let me explain this to you, you take an X-ray of her head, you would see nothing but black. There is nothing there. She is not brain dead, she had no brain. She has a spinal cord stem. Thats about it. And based on the science we have, that would mean she wouldn't feel if we through her in an vat of acid. The choice should be up to the husband. The law, as it stands, gives the right to the husband, who are we to change law on the fly? When did America become a place to change laws retro-actively? Republicans want to give more power to families in america. They show it through tax cuts and privitizing of education. But no, now they want to take the right away from Mr. Schiavo. Huh? Flip-flop. And forget state rights. Why did this become a national case? I thought republicans were the small goverment, big state goverment type. Why are they interfering with the decision the state of Florida came to? Her body is holding her soul hostage, why won't we just free this woman already? Not to mention let laws that stand go into action? I would love to see a new America where we change laws on the fly all the time. :plain
March 18, 200520 yr Making Schiavo stay as a vegetable is inhumane. But stop making this a "Let's bash all Republicans" issue.
March 18, 200520 yr But stop making this a "Let's bash all Republicans" issue. 714068[/snapback] Thank you.
March 18, 200520 yr She has no cerebral cortex. Let me explain this to you, you take an X-ray of her head, you would see nothing but black. There is nothing there. She is not brain dead, she had no brain. She has a spinal cord stem. Thats about it. And based on the science we have, that would mean she wouldn't feel if we through her in an vat of acid. The choice should be up to the husband. The law, as it stands, gives the right to the husband, who are we to change law on the fly? When did America become a place to change laws retro-actively? Republicans want to give more power to families in america. They show it through tax cuts and privitizing of education. But no, now they want to take the right away from Mr. Schiavo. Huh? Flip-flop. And forget state rights. Why did this become a national case? I thought republicans were the small goverment, big state goverment type. Why are they interfering with the decision the state of Florida came to? Her body is holding her soul hostage, why won't we just free this woman already? Not to mention let laws that stand go into action? I would love to see a new America where we change laws on the fly all the time. :plain 714060[/snapback] Damn that thread is all false logic. First of all republicans are for the rights of the INDIVIDUAL not the rights of one person over the other. This shows how consistent republicans are, b/c they advocate tax cuts and privatizing education but are against abortion and euthanasia, which are cases in which another person decides someone else's fate. Thats a non-issue you're just looking to criticze republicans where no criticism is due. It isnt an inconsistency on their part. Furthermore if this case does not cause someone to reevaluate their position they are without question an intellectual lightweight. Had Terri Schiavo said that she wnated the feeding tube removed (via a living will) then this wouldnt be an issue, but should a husband have the right to decide a wife's life? This sends women's rights a 100 years back. I am in most cases in a favor of Euthanasia, in cases where the person decides to end their own life or if the person is beign kept alive with a respirator. Staving to death is somehting I consider inhumane, and aside fro mthat I question the husbands motives. And before some idiot tries to rebut the claim that hes in it for the money, by saying that he turned down the 1 million dollar offer, think about the fact that had he taken that offer, he would have seemed like a real prick to the public eye. If she croaks and he gets the insurance money then he comes out clean.
March 19, 200520 yr Yet not one attempt to address federalism. If you think this issue is about Terri Schiavo, then your missing the point. Its about the right to die, plain and simple. Its amazing how effective the bait and switch policy can be in this country. :banghead Call them whatever you want, neocons or conservatives, but the social conservatives are who they are and they are the brunt and strength of the party. From safety net programs to the right to die to gay marriage, we simply cannot get honest responses from people. Only debates about convenient red herrings. No better term describes it: RED HERRINGS.
March 19, 200520 yr I think neo-cons would be the correct term. Congress should not be interfering on a states' rights issue, but then again, they have been trying to do the same thing with the gay marriage ban amendment. Both of these issues should be left to the states. According to what I heard last night from an expert on the news, Schiavo doesn't have the capability to feel pain from death. Her brain is too far gone for her to feel any pain.
March 19, 200520 yr According to what I heard last night from an expert on the news, Schiavo doesn't have the capability to feel pain from death. Her brain is too far gone for her to feel any pain. Which is why its not an issue of inhumanity but more an issue of the right to die masked by the "we are starving her to death" curtain. Does anyone seriously think Jeb Bush and Tom Delay would be ok with giving her medicine for a quick death?
March 19, 200520 yr Isn't it great how this is the perfect opportunity for Tom Delay to make people forget about all of his personal problems? I think it's brilliant on his part.
March 20, 200520 yr I think that before you go slamming social conservatives you should put yourself in Schiavo's parent's shoes. It's really easy to be an armchair quarterback on touchy issues like this.
March 20, 200520 yr ...slamming social conservatives... http://lesbiencestmoi.blogspot.com/2005/03...r-cause-by.html
March 20, 200520 yr ...slamming social conservatives... http://lesbiencestmoi.blogspot.com/2005/03...r-cause-by.html 716003[/snapback] :thumbup
March 20, 200520 yr That woman doesn't know what she's talking about. It's not murder if she wanted to be put out of her misery.
March 20, 200520 yr umm... her parents dont really legally have any rights from what i know of florida law. isnt she legally married and as such doesnt her husband legally have the right to say pull it or dont pull it?
March 20, 200520 yr Author umm... her parents dont really legally have any rights from what i know of florida law. isnt she legally married and as such doesnt her husband legally have the right to say pull it or dont pull it? 716250[/snapback] Yes. And that is what 12 court decisions have all agreed to. All of those decisions also show that her last wishes would be to pass on in peace in this situation. Yet they press on.
March 21, 200520 yr That's the biggest problem with this case. Congress is going over the heads of multiple courts, all of which have ruled in favor of the husband. They are setting a dangerous precedent if they can suddenly overturn any case they don't like the results of in lower court.
March 21, 200520 yr It's fuc*ing pothetic when Congress, the House, and the President get involved in someones life. This violates her 14th Amendment Right.
March 21, 200520 yr ...slamming social conservatives... http://lesbiencestmoi.blogspot.com/2005/03...r-cause-by.html 716003[/snapback] tonyi? just felt like being the first person to say it
March 21, 200520 yr It's fuc*ing pothetic when Congress, the House, and the President get involved in someones life. This violates her 14th Amendment Right. 716303[/snapback] The Fourteenth Amendment does not say "nor shall any State deprive any person of death, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
March 21, 200520 yr Author ...slamming social conservatives... http://lesbiencestmoi.blogspot.com/2005/03...r-cause-by.html 716003[/snapback] tonyi? just felt like being the first person to say it 716307[/snapback] I said it in the other thread he opened earlier today. http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...topic=40145&hl=
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