The secular news media has classified the Terri Schiavo case as a “right to die” case, but in fact, Terri’s husband is attempting to deny her right to life. Terri Schiavo has serious disabilities resulting from brain injuries suffered in an obscure 1990 incident. Florida Circuit Court Judge George Greer has been the focal point of this case since 1998 when Michael Schiavo filed a motion to have her feeding tube removed. Judge Greer ruled in Michael’s favor over the united opposition of Terri’s parents and siblings. The feeding tube was removed for six days in October 2003 before legislative action allowed Florida Governor Jeb Bush to order the feeding tube restored.

Judge Greer ignored major evidence in making his ruling that Terri’s feeding tube be removed. His justification for removing her feeding tube is the contention that Terri is unconscious and in a “persistent vegetative state” coupled with her husband Michael’s claim that she expressed to him her wish not to be kept alive artificially in such a condition. How could Judge Greer ignore videos that show Terri responding to her doctor and her parents? These interactions captured on video show Terri’s ability to respond and communicate. She is clearly neither unconscious nor in a “persistent vegetative state.” At least 10 doctors testified that Terri would benefit from rehabilitative treatments and that attempts to train her to take food and water by mouth would probably be successful.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, observed, “One advocate for Terri’s death, reacting to the re-insertion of her feeding tube, declared that it is ‘simply inhumane and barbaric to interrupt her death process.’ But Terri Schindler-Schiavo is not a dying patient. She simply doesn’t function at the same level as the rest of us. There was no ‘death process’ underway until her food and water were taken away. That’s what is inhumane and barbaric. And this is a test for all of us, to see if we remember the difference.”

Now the legal battle continues over the “constitutionality” of the Terri’s Law that empowered Governor Bush to act. Circuit Judge Douglas Baird, who is presiding over the Terri’s Law case, has ruled that Bush should not be allowed to question witnesses and collect evidence. For example, Bush seeks to question whether Terri Schiavo would want her husband making end-of-life decisions for her if she knew he was living with another woman with whom he has conceived two children. Bush is appealing that and other Baird rulings.

Baird has said he is ready to rule on the constitutionality of Terri’s Law, but is awaiting the outcome of Governor Bush’s appeals. Based on his rulings so far, it appears obvious that Baird will declare the law unconstitutional. If so, that ruling will lead to another appeal. Pray that Terri’s right to life will be protected, and that she will finally receive rehabilitative treatments.

Do not be misled into signing any advanced directive that would deny you food and water (nutrition and hydration) through a feeding tube if you became seriously disabled. Instead, obtain the Patient Self-Protection Document from Illinois Right to Life (312-422-9300), or an equivalent form, to ensure that you will not be starved to death through denial of food and water as “unwanted medical treatment.”