Judge Won’t Order Schiavo Tube Reinsertion
Federal Judge Denies Request to Have Terri Schiavo’s Feeding Tube Reinserted; Parents to Appeal

TAMPA, Fla. Mar 22, 2005 — A federal judge on Tuesday refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube, denying an emergency request from the brain-damaged woman’s parents.

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore said the 41-year-old woman’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, had not established a “substantial likelihood of success” at trial on the merits of their arguments.

Whittemore wrote that Terri Schiavo’s “life and liberty interests” had been protected by Florida courts. Despite “these difficult and time strained circumstances,” he wrote, “this court is constrained to apply the law to the issues before it.”

It’s a sad day for anyone in this country who believes in the sanctity of human life.

The only hope now is that the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta rules that Terri’s due process rights were violated (this is from a prior appeal).

Just a thought: I notice that the judge made it a point to mention that it wasn’t proven that Terri would have a substantial chance of recovery. That should not ever be the standard. The standard should be whether she wanted to live in the state that she was in, which is something that there is no clear answer on. Her “husband” didn’t know what she wanted and said as much Friday. She had no living will and no power of attorney on file. Her family all contradicted what her husband, who refused antibiotics and physical therapy from day one, was claiming his wife desired.

Chance of recovery is not the issue here, Terri’s wishes are.

Source: ABC News

Choose life.