Terri Schiavo's Lawyers Continue Legal Efforts for Her Life
by Bill Fancher
December 7, 2004
(AgapePress) - The legal battle continues in Florida over the court-ordered removal of feeding tubes from a young invalid woman.The effort to keep Terri Schiavo alive has moved into several appeals courts. Terri's ex-husband, who has now remarried, won a court order to remove her feeding tubes. A law passed by the state legislature that prevented the removal of such feeing tubes was declared unconstitutional -- a ruling that is now being appealed by lawyers for Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
Dana Cody of the Life Legal Defense Foundation explains the attorneys' position is that Terri "has due process rights that aren't being recognized and that are being violated -- and therefore Terri's Law is still needed."
And according to Cody, another avenue of petition is being pursued. He says lawyers have filed another appeal -- a separate issue that is "going up a different chain of appeal" -- with a religious argument. "[This appeal is] saying that, based on the pope's recent statement about euthanasia and that feeding tubes should not be removed from disabled people, the court should reconsider based on Terri's Catholic beliefs," Cody explains. Terri's priest has submitted an affidavit testifying to her faith.
The original court refused to accept this new effort, which is also now being appealed. Meanwhile, Terri's parents are fighting for the ability to care for her. The original court said they have no standing in the case.
Terri's lawyers indicate her case could eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
