For Bob and Mary Schindler, this past spring proved tumultuous in the battle to save their daughter’s life. Terri Schindler-Schiavo’s situation garnered international attention last fall when Michael Schiavo, Terri’s husband, had her feeding tube removed. Only the last-minute intervention of Governor Jeb Bush prevented the young woman’s death from starvation and dehydration. Bush ordered her feeding tube reinserted after the Florida state legislature passed Terri’s Law – a law that allowed the Florida governor to intervene in the case.
Michael Schiavo, who remains Terri’s legal guardian, immediately challenged the constitutionality of the law under the Florida state constitution. Over the past several months, a number of new developments unfolded within the various legal proceedings that pit Terri’s husband against the Florida governor and Terri’s family.
Following a visit by Terri’s parents on March 29, Michael accused the Schindlers of inflicting puncture wounds on her arms. Because of the alleged puncture wounds, Michael prohibited further visits from Bob and Mary Schindler. He also banned Monsignor Malanowski from Terri’s bedside. Malanowski is the retired military chaplain to whom the Schindler family have entrusted Terri’s spiritual care. He also provides pastoral support to Terri’s friends and family.
“There was little evidence to support the allegation,” said Father Rob Johansen, a close friend of the family. “What is perhaps more interesting about the timing of the accusation is that they followed closely on the Schindlers’ discovering, and making complaints about, neglect and poor care of Terri.” Johansen adds that the Clearwater Police Department investigated Michael’s accusations and found no evidence of the purported needle marks. “There was, in the words of the police report, no evidence of criminal activity and the case has been closed.”
Although the police released their findings on May 14, Michael reportedly still refused to lift the ban. According to Johansen, this refusal on the part of Terri’s husband forced her parents to seek legal recourse to regain access to their daughter. On June 4, the court ordered Michael to restore visitation rights to the Schindler family and Malanowski.
“The Schindlers are, of course, relieved and happy to be able to see Terri once again,” Johansen shared. “According to Bob, Terri started to cry … Her parents visit her each day. I am not sure when Michael last visited her. It is obvious that Bob and Mary love her. They see their daughter acting and interacting with them. They want to save her.”
Nevertheless, the disabled woman’s family faces an uphill legal battle as they attempt to vindicate Terri’s right to life. Judge George Greer recently rejected a legal motion from the Schindler family that challenged Michael’s continued legal guardianship over Terri. Michael openly acknowledges his engagement to another woman, with whom he has two children. The Schindlers feel this relationship with a third party prevents Michael from acting in their daughter’s best interest. When contacted, the Schindler family referred The Interim to a press-release on Terrisfight.org – a website established by Terri’s friends and family to disseminate information to the public. According to the website, the basis for the Schindlers’ most recent challenge was as follows: “Terri’s husband had failed to file guardianship plans on an annual basis as required by Florida Statute 744.3675, had isolated her and had apparently neglected her healthcare needs to the point that five teeth had been extracted due to decay.”
The Schindler family lost another important legal battle to Michael and his attorney, George Felos, on June 16 when the Supreme Court of Florida elected to hear Michael’s petition against Bush. A lower division court ruled in favor of Michael. Subsequently, Michael’s attorney sought to have the appeal heard in the Supreme Court of Florida in order to bypass Florida’s intermediary appeals court.
Nevertheless, the Schindler family received additional support on July 12 when a coalition of 17 American disability groups filed a brief in support of Terri’s right to life. “These groups are among the nation’s leading civil rights organizations representing people with disabilities,” the coalition stated in a subsequent press release. “They join here to support Terri’s Bill, because the standards upon which Ms. Schiavo’s life or death turn may, if defined broadly enough, also be applied to thousands of people with disabilities who, like Ms. Schiavo, cannot readily articulate their own views and must rely on third parties as substitute decision-makers.”
Max Lapertosa, attorney for the 17 groups, added: “A judge’s order to terminate the life of a woman with severe disabilities is not a private family matter … This case reflects whether our society and legal system value the lives of people with disabilities equally to those without disabilities.”
