Terri Schiavo’s Family Responds to Feeding Tube Removal Ruling
The family of Terri Schiavo, the severely disabled woman at the center of the nation’s longest-running right-to-life case, gave mixed responses to Friday’s court ruling that ordered Terri's feeding tube to be removed on March 18.
The family of Terri Schiavo, the severely disabled woman at the center of the nation’s longest-running right-to-life case, gave mixed responses to Friday’s court ruling that ordered Terri'sfeeding tube to be removed on March 18.
"It's a relief, a temporary relief," Terri's father, Bob Schindler, said in front of the Woodside Hospice where Terri resides. "I don't see it as a victory, the victory is when we take Terri home and we get her therapy."
Pinellas Court Judge George Greer, who ruled in 2000 that Terri’s tube be removed, denied the Schindlers’ requests for an emergency stay on the decision.
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“Five years have passed since the issuance of the February 2000 Order authorizing the removal of Theresa Schiavo’s nutrition and hydration and there appears to be no finality in sight to this process. The Court, therefore, is no longer comfortable in continuing to grant stays pending appeal of Orders denying Respondents’ various motions and petitions,” Greer wrote in his three-page opinion.
However, by setting the date for the tube’s removal at March 18, Greer allowed the Schindlers some reprieve to continue defending their daughter’s life.
“Even though the Court will not issue another stay, the Scheduling of a date certain for implementation of the February 11, 2000 ruling will give Respondents ample time to appeal this denial, similar in duration to previous short-time stays granted for that purpose,” Greer wrote.
Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, said he was ambivalent toward the order.
"It could have been better, it could have been worse. We're pleased we get at least three weeks. But we're disappointed some of our motions have to be heard in that time,” said Bobby.
Terri’s father, Bob, said he was glad the court allotted time to allow additional medical tests to be performed on Terri to see if she has more mental capabilities than previously thought, but said three weeks is not nearly enough time to pursue the right testing.
“Where we should have months to proceed this and give Terri the right testing, it’s all been condensed down to three weeks and I’m not happy about that,” said Bob.
Meanwhile, the Schindlers’ lawyers pledged to give the most aggressive defense in the coming weeks.
"We want to put forward the most aggressive defense we can of Terri Schiavo's life," Schindler attorney David Gibbs III said.
