# It's the Feds turn for a whack at Terri Schiavo **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015 "2005-03-17T18:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/61 "2005-03-18T04:28:23Z")
> [@Eyer8](#): > > Are you going to come back and defend any of this or was your post a drive by? > > Regarding the girlfriend and the children: IIRC he would like to marry the girlfriend but would have to divorce Terry to do so. Once a divorce is finalized, he would not be able to have any control over the situation. So he has remained married to Terry to honor her through his belief that she would not want to live this way. Scumbag bastard? > > I can’t even imagine someone trying to take a decision like this out of my wife’s hands if I were in a similar state. I would be so pissed off I would probably snap out of it even if it was my mother, father or sister. I married my wife for a reason and the thought of someone trying to override my choice in the matter is infuriating. > > I am curious, what have use seen that leads you to this conclusion? Nothing I have seen makes me think that stripping him of his spousal rights and responsibilities is warranted. _tap tap_ is this thing on? Eyer8, The situation isn’t in Michael’s hands. It isn’t in the Schindler’s hands. It is in the hands of the court. Even if Michael suddenly decided to do an about face and grant custody to the Schindlers…it doesn’t matter. Do you not see? regards, widdley ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/62 "2005-03-18T04:31:24Z")
It’s in the hands of the court, the congress, the senate, the Florida state legislature and every special interest group that thinks it will further their cause. Did I mention GWB? regards, widdle ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/63 "2005-03-18T04:41:47Z")
Did anyone besides me see him on Nightline the other night? He was asked point blank why he wouldn’t just divorce his wife and go on with his life, and he started crying while saying he was trying to do what she wanted. There are people in this thread saying that they believe her parents over her husband, and I’m curious what evidence they can provide to support that belief. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/64 "2005-03-18T04:41:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by_\*\*Abbie Carmichael \*\* > > Oh yeah, the poor baby is really suffering, to the tune of 2 million. I bet he thinks of her every time he bangs his mistress. None so deaf as those who refuse to listen I guess. It has been posted over and over again THERE IS NO FUCKING MONEY!!! It’s gone. It was spent on her care. The banging the mistress thing is mean. Even the Catholic church gives divorces to people married to vegetables. Maybe he should have. It would have been easier on his new family. He could have just signed off and let the parents take over responsibility. I am guessing though, that if he had done so they would have drug her off to any wack job faith healer with internet adds for Laetrile, and he would still be being painted as the bad guy for deserting her. I am sorry for her parents. I don’t even want to imagine the pain of burying a child. I watched my mother and grandmother go through it, and hope to hell I don’t. It is just so sad that there are the vultures out there ready to take advantage of their pain. ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/65 "2005-03-18T04:50:00Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Did anyone besides me see him on Nightline the other night? He was asked point blank why he wouldn’t just divorce his wife and go on with his life, and he started crying while saying he was trying to do what she wanted. There are people in this thread saying that they believe her parents over her husband, and I’m curious what evidence they can provide to support that belief. Yes, I saw the program. He appeared genuine, sincere and in pain. He also stated, as I mentioned in previous posts, that the reason he won’t give up guardianship (which is a moot point right now since the entire case is going to be decided by courts, not the Schindlers) because the Schindlers are on record as saying they would spare no effort to keep Terri alive including amputating all of her limbs and placing her on a vent. regards, widdley ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/66 "2005-03-18T04:55:55Z")
I see we have two threads on this same sad subject. Here is my post on that other thread: The State of Florida and several groups (lumped as ‘right wing,’ ‘conservative’ or ‘religious’) are making an attack on the institution of marriage. She is married. Her husband has the right and the duty to make medical decisions for her while she is incapacitated. This is a long-established fact. Her parents have enlisted several groups into an effort to undermine the husband’s decision. The cold fact is that the parents have no legal standing in this matter and so have gone outside the law, to public opinion and politics to get what they want. They are legally and morally wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/67 "2005-03-18T04:57:55Z")
> [@](#): > > they would spare no effort to keep Terri alive including amputating all of her limbs and placing her on a vent. **widdleytinks** , why on earth would they do something like that? What benefit would that have? ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/68 "2005-03-18T05:01:03Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **widdleytinks** , why on earth would they do something like that? What benefit would that have? I have no frickin’ clue. To keep her alive I suppose. It’s documented in the court transcripts. regards, widdley ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/69 "2005-03-18T05:03:56Z")
> [@widdleytinks](#): > > I have no frickin’ clue. To keep her alive I suppose. It’s documented in the court transcripts. > > regards, > widdley Here’s a link: http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/149562.htm regarding the Schindler’s statements on amputation/vent. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/70 "2005-03-18T05:05:17Z")
> [@widdleytinks](#): > > _tap tap_ is this thing on? > > Eyer8, > > The situation isn’t in Michael’s hands. It isn’t in the Schindler’s hands. It is in the hands of the court. Even if Michael suddenly decided to do an about face and grant custody to the Schindlers…it doesn’t matter. Do you not see? > > regards, > widdley Out of curiosity, how long has that been the case? Either way, I don’t think it negates any of my response to **emarkp**. I’m confused **widdley** … I don’t see anything in my post that warrants this response. Is it my comments about the girlfriend and his children? I believe the reason I gave is the reason he still married to Terry. He made this decision irregardless of the courts decisions. He has said he will marry his girlfriend when he is widowed and not before IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/71 "2005-03-18T05:05:31Z")
> [@Orbifold](#): > > Frist is a doctor, he should bloody well know better. I’m embarassed to share an alma mater with that man. This is a doctor who also wavers on whether HIV can be caught through exposure to someone’s tears, in contradiction of CDC pronouncements on the subject. He’s a disgrace to his profession. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/72 "2005-03-18T05:08:52Z")
> [@widdleytinks](#): > > Here’s a link: http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/149562.htm regarding the Schindler’s statements on amputation/vent. [Fixed link](http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/149562.htm) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/73 "2005-03-18T05:09:50Z")
> [@Eyer8](#): > > Out of curiosity, how long has that been the case? Either way, I don’t think it negates any of my response to **emarkp**. > > I’m confused **widdley** … I don’t see anything in my post that warrants this response. Is it my comments about the girlfriend and his children? I believe the reason I gave is the reason he still married to Terry. He made this decision irregardless of the courts decisions. He has said he will marry his girlfriend when he is widowed and not before IIRC. Eyer8, It was this: “Once a divorce is finalized, he would not be able to have any control over the situation. So he has remained married to Terry to honor her through his belief that she would not want to live this way.” The decision has been out of his hands since Judge Greer rendered the decision to remove the feeding tube tomorrow. Even if Michael had a change of heart and decided to keep the tube in…it’s coming out as of tommorrow. IOW, he has no control over the situation. regards, widdley ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/74 "2005-03-18T05:11:34Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > [Fixed link](http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/149562.htm) > 😉 Thanks, did I screw it up? I’m relatively new here, posting only intermittently, and not well familiar with the tools/features. Thank you. regards, widdley ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/75 "2005-03-18T05:15:31Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > If you are married to someone and nailing another, you’ve got a **mistress** , I don’t care what condition your wife is in. > > I have no problem with him moving on with his life. But he should have divorced her first instead of staying married to her and shacking up with the other woman and creating 2 kids with her. What are you, Doctor fucking Laura? His wife is dead, asshole. He has a new _family_. Aren’t you conservative Christian types supposed to give a fuck about families? You’re the canonical fucking Pharisee, you know that? You’re using the the letter of a moral law as an excuse to bludgeon somebody rather than showing an ounce of common sense or compassion. Jesus despised this attitude. He also wasn’t big on people annointing themselves as moral judges over others. Isn’t that job already taken? By the way, I notice you haven’t acknowledged the corrections of your ignorant assertions about the money, can we expect you to admit you were wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/76 "2005-03-18T05:18:41Z")
> [@widdleytinks](#): > > Thanks, did I screw it up? I’m relatively new here, posting only intermittently, and not well familiar with the tools/features. Thank you. > > regards, > widdley If you mouse over your link, or try to click on it, it’s blank, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/77 "2005-03-18T05:29:37Z")
Thanks Widdley, Couple of points though, Judge Greer gave his ruling on Febuary 25 of this year. The reasons I gave that Michael did not divorce Terri are valid. Finally, Judge Greer did not order the feeding tube removed, he gave permission to Michael to remove the tube. [Cite.](http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=533192) The way I read it, Michael can change his mind if he wants. Not trying to be a jerk here, but your “tap tap is this thing on” was kinda snarky. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/78 "2005-03-18T05:53:28Z")
> [@widdleytinks](#): > > The decision has been out of his hands since Judge Greer rendered the decision to remove the feeding tube tomorrow. Even if Michael had a change of heart and decided to keep the tube in…it’s coming out as of tommorrow. IOW, he has no control over the situation. He might not have control over the situation at this precise time, but for more than a decade he’s been the primary decision-maker. It’s not inconceivable, in fact seems likely, that the course of events will leave the decision in his hands once more. If he had abdicated this position (by getting divorced) at just about any time since Terri’s brain-death, the power to make decisions would presumably have passed to the parents. If he were to abdicate it now, the power to make decisions would presumably pass to the parents after any future court process. It might also be the case that he would not have standing to contest future legal issues - the court would not have to hear his point of view. For these reasons, he shouldn’t have got a divorce, and he shouldn’t in future. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/79 "2005-03-18T05:55:34Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > He might not have control over the situation at this precise time… :smack: Or, as **Eyer** points out above, he probably has control anyway. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015/80 "2005-03-18T06:07:11Z")
**Abbie** , we’ve been over why removing her feeding tube isn’t any different, medically speaking, from disconnecting a vent or discontinuing CPR. As for your comments about Michael Schiavo, he is not the villain in this case. He is not dishonoring his marriage vows by finding someone else to love. He’s honoring them by going through pure hell to try and do right by her rather than giving her parents free rein to disregard her wishes. If anyone has dishonored that marriage, it’s been her parents, who have clearly and consistently attempted to reach into the enclosure of said marriage and usurp rights that Terri freely, willingly, and with full knowlege of her actions gave to Michael. If I were in her situation, my parents had fucking well better _hope_ I never recover. I would be absolutely livid at their disprespect for my marriage and my decisions, their despicable treatment of the man I loved, and their turning my life and death into a goddam three-ring circus. Being completely and totally cut out of my life would be the best they could hope for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-feds-turn-for-a-whack-at-terri-schiavo/295015.md?page=5)