2005 The Schiavo Case & The Right to Die

by ABC NEWS, March 31, 2005

Terri Schiavo, the woman at the center of a nationwide debate over right-to-die decisions, died today at a Florida hospice following the March 18 removal of the feeding tube that kept her alive. She was 41 years old. The "Schiavo case," as it came to be known, centered on a dispute between Schiavo's husband, Michael, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, over the removal of her feeding tube. Michael Schiavo sought to have the tube removed, but her parents repeatedly fought to continue treatment.

On Feb. 25, 1990, Terri suffered heart failure that might have been the result of a potassium imbalance associated with an eating disorder. She suffered severe brain damage, and entered a persistent vegetative state, or "PVS," shortly thereafter, and required a feeding tube in order to keep her alive. PVS is characterized by periods of wakefulness with no apparent awareness or response to any stimulus. Her condition remained unchanged until her death.

Her death ends a bitter legal struggle that dragged on for 7 years as Michael Schiavo sought to have his wife's feeding tube removed, saying she would not want to live in a vegetative state, and her parents fought to keep her alive. The feeding tube was disconnected twice before, but her parents were able to get the courts to order it reinserted. When it was removed a third time, on March 18, after the Florida judge handling the case ruled again that Michael's wishes should be followed, the Schinders' desperate efforts failed.

The U.S. Congress even got involved, passing a law intending to allow federal courts to weigh in, but federal justices in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court were unmoved. Both federal courts rejected last-minute appeals from the Schindlers to intervene and order the feeding tube reinserted.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/LegalCenter/story?id=629023&page=1

Related resources:
"The Federal Case and related documents…" (Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation) at http://www.terrisfight.org/lead.htm
"Federal Judge Kills Bid To Bar Schiavo Ruling" (Tampa Tribune) at http://news.tbo.com/news/MGA4WL9T4KD.html
"Terri Schiavo's Right To Live" (Inclusion Daily Express) at http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/advocacy/schiavo01.htm